August 15 - Jeremiah 25-27
There are several important spiritual principles for us in this passage, which begins with Jeremiah telling us that he had been delivering God's word to the people for 23 years at this point in his life. He had been faithful to speak just what God told him to speak. He did not "diminish a word." (26:2) He fulfilled his role as a prophet to be faithful to God, and to give the people a chance to repent so God could relent from His punishment. (26:3) The sad thing is that the people did not listen to God's word through Jeremiah. Today, we must be faithful to deliver the word of God just as He gives it to us, even if the people don't listen like Jeremiah did then.
One thing Jeremiah told the people of Judah was that God had determined to send them into exile in Babylon for 70 years, but then, they could return to the land and start over. (25:11,12) At that time God would punish the king of Babylon for his sins. In fact, God told Jeremiah to tell all of the nations around them that they all would be punished by God for their sins whether they believed in Him or not. God always punishes sin. That is one way people who don't believe in God and His word can come to see Him. They see the consequences of their sin, and they know that God must be behind them.
Then, in chapter 26 we see that the leaders called for Jeremiah to be killed for his messages against Jerusalem. He told them that they could kill him, but that would really bring innocent blood on the land, because he was just speaking God's words to them. (26:14,15) Jeremiah had a man named Ahikam who stood up for him, so he was not killed. However, Urijah, another prophet of God, was killed. Why was one killed and the other lived? Perhaps God was still going to use Jeremiah, so He spared him. However, it is one of those life lessons. We must trust that God always knows what is best, and He does the right thing. We should not question His wisdom.
Finally, the people are told that if they will submit to God's punishment by Babylon, they can stay in the land. That is what God wants. If they rebel, they will die by other means, and the vessels of the Temple will all be taken to Babylon. He does not want that, but eventually that is what happened, because the people refused to listen. We need to see that when God comes to punish us, we need to submit to His punishment, or something worse will come. We will never get out of the punishment. Instead, we will just make it worse. We should know that God is gracious and merciful. We should know that His punishment is never too severe, and He will lead us through it if we trust Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 28-30.
One thing Jeremiah told the people of Judah was that God had determined to send them into exile in Babylon for 70 years, but then, they could return to the land and start over. (25:11,12) At that time God would punish the king of Babylon for his sins. In fact, God told Jeremiah to tell all of the nations around them that they all would be punished by God for their sins whether they believed in Him or not. God always punishes sin. That is one way people who don't believe in God and His word can come to see Him. They see the consequences of their sin, and they know that God must be behind them.
Then, in chapter 26 we see that the leaders called for Jeremiah to be killed for his messages against Jerusalem. He told them that they could kill him, but that would really bring innocent blood on the land, because he was just speaking God's words to them. (26:14,15) Jeremiah had a man named Ahikam who stood up for him, so he was not killed. However, Urijah, another prophet of God, was killed. Why was one killed and the other lived? Perhaps God was still going to use Jeremiah, so He spared him. However, it is one of those life lessons. We must trust that God always knows what is best, and He does the right thing. We should not question His wisdom.
Finally, the people are told that if they will submit to God's punishment by Babylon, they can stay in the land. That is what God wants. If they rebel, they will die by other means, and the vessels of the Temple will all be taken to Babylon. He does not want that, but eventually that is what happened, because the people refused to listen. We need to see that when God comes to punish us, we need to submit to His punishment, or something worse will come. We will never get out of the punishment. Instead, we will just make it worse. We should know that God is gracious and merciful. We should know that His punishment is never too severe, and He will lead us through it if we trust Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 28-30.