Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 44:16-18

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 44:16-18
"As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.
But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine."

It's interesting how they twisted things. They thought because they had stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven that was why the sword and famine came upon them. They had not understood it was because they had sinned against the God of Israel and did not repent that those things happened. They didn't follow all that the prophet had told them to do. You can't be half committed and figure you will have blessings. You are either all-in or all-out. Obviously, they were still committed to the queen of heaven and not the God of Israel.

Day 4006

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 42:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 42:2-3
"And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do."

Now that Babylon has conquered Jerusalem and carried many way, those that remain turn to the prophet Jeremiah. They want him to speak the Lord and tell them what they should do. They swear they will follow whatever the Lord tells him. After ten days the Lord tells Jeremiah that if they abide in the land He will build them up. To not be afraid of the king of Bablyon, for the Lord will deliver them from his hands. He also tells them that they are not to go into Egypt, for if they do they will be overtaken there by the sword, famine, and pestilence. The Lord is very clear on what they should and should not do. Will they listen and obey?

Jeremiah knows they will not. He tells them they dissembled in your hears (have deceived your souls) when they sent him to inquire of the Lord. The will only listen to the prophet when he says what they want to hear.

"For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it." (Jeremiah 42:20)

Day 4005

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 38:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 38:19
"And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me."

Jeremiah tells Zedekiah what he must do, that if he goes now to the Chaldeans he will live. Instead of obeying the prophet, who's words Zedekiah implied he wanted to hear, he says instead that he can't. He's afraid the Jews there will mock him. Even though the prophet tells him what will happen to Jerusalem, his women and children, it seems the fear of being mocked has a greater pull on him. I pondered on pride and faith, both can't exist at the same time. Either Zedekiah lost his pride and followed the prophet's words, or he doubted the prophet and would lose his life. Sadly, Zedekiah pride ruled over faith and he lost his life.

Day 4004

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 36:23, 32

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 36:23, 32
"And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words."

We can't so easily dismiss the words of God by burning the pages they are written on. A prophet can dictate the words again. I thought about how people can ignore the scriptures, never pick them up or read them. Yet, the prophesies and counsel for us are still there. The only one that is hurt is ourselves. The best part of my day is when I sit and read and study the scriptures. It brings peace to my soul.

Day 4003