God's Commands 08.18.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Monday August 18, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Jeremiah. Please read Chapters 11-14 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2011-14&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Jeremiah's proclamation of God's Covenant; the plot against Jeremiah; his complaint; the ruined gridle; wine filled bottles; and a famine in the land. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that if we want God's power to flow through our lives we need to be obedient to His Word.

All Israelites were called to be holy and to serve the Lord and God didn't forget the conditions of His Covenant which He made with Israel as they entered the Promised Land. God told Jeremiah to remind them of their that covenant, "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD. Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them." (Jeremiah 11:1-6).

God promised to provide for all of their needs, yet instead of obeying the covenant the majority of the people had forsaken Him to worship idols. God illustrated this by commanding Jeremiah to bury a girdle. "Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water. So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins. And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock. So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there. Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing." (13:1-7).

Although it seems strange that God would command Jeremiah to travel so far and bury a gridle until it was falling apart God has a plan and purpose for everything that He commands, even from us today. God continued and explained His purpose for this, "Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear." (13:9-11). The marred girdle represented their relationship with God, they were not profitable, they chose to follow false gods and live in sin rather than be blessed even more by following Him.

The inhabitants of Judah were the chosen people of God, and the kingdom that had access to Him above all other nations. They refused to accept the Word of God as it was spoken by Jeremiah and unfortunately were destroyed because of it.

Like the Isrealites, many today refuse to accept and obey the Word of God, they have wonderful God given talents yet reject the opportunity to use them according to God's Will. Unfortunately, many will discover this when it is too late and will see destruction as well. "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." (Hebrews 12:16-17).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed as the Hope of Israel and the Savior. (Jeremiah 14:8-9. Christ is not only the Hope of Israel, but of all mankind.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Jesus, help me to remain faithful to You and your calling upon my life. Strengthen and grow my faith as I daily search Your Scriptures and apply their truths to my spiritual walk. As I go through the trials and experiences of my earthly journey would You fix my eyes and my ever-wandering heart upon You. Search me, Lord and if there is any evil in me help me to break free from the bondage of it, repent and use my talents for Your glory. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderful day!
God Bless,
Christina

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