No Effort Unnoticed08.21.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday August 21, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Jeremiah. Today's study will be in two parts as I was not able to get one out yesterday do to weather conditions here in Florida. Thank you for your patience and understanding this week.

Please read Chapters 19-22 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & Paste to the browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2019-22&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the beating and imprisonment of Jeremiah by Pashur; Jeremiah's grief; the destruction of Jerusalem foretold; and the way of life or death. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that doing God's Work does not go unnoticed. We are not alone nor failing, no matter what we feel God is with us and will bless us for our efforts.

During the last days of the kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah met with Pashur, the son of the high priest. "Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD., heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD" (Jeremiah 20:1-2).

He courageously faced Pashur, "For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword. Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon. And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies." (20:4-6). Soon the people of Judah learned of the defeat of Assyria and then of Egypt.

Nebuchadnezzar's victory in the battle at Carchemish, Babylon emerged as the new dominant world power thus confirming what Isaiah had foretold about 100 years earlier (See Isaiah 39:6-7). Even after being fully informed of the results of rejecting the Word of God, the religious leaders not only refused to repent, but they began a campaign to discredit Jeremiah before the king and the nation.

Jeremiah sat alone in prison and was momentarily discouraged, "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." (20:9). Jeremiah may have thought that he had failed to communicate to the people the importance of obeying the Word of God. Most spiritual leaders and teachers have, at some time, felt that they failed in fulfilling their God-given responsibility. However, we never fully understand the impact that is placed by one person seeking to tell the truth. Jeremiah has been an inspiration to millions of believers for many succeeding centuries.

No one who is devoted to teaching the Word of God personally, or by providing the money to make it possible for others to teach His Word, and who lives by it is a failure. Jesus promised, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).

Have a safe and blessed day.
God bless,
Christina

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