God’s Words Shall Not Pass Away!

Today’s reading is the culmination of several of God’s promises. Sometimes, when we think of God keeping His promises, we think of His “good” promises. The promises kept here are the ones of judgment. God’s chastening and judgments show His faithfulness. Notice with me several of these promises.

God’s Word Came to Pass

In Deuteronomy 28, we have a thorough description of what would happen if God’s people forsake the Lord, detailing their condition, culture, and the siege and exile of the people. Did this come to pass? Yes. 

Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. … And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: (2 Chronicles 36:17, 20, KJV)

In 2 Chronicles 7, God warned His people that if they forsook Him, He would uproot them from the land, exiling them, and destroy the Temple that Solomon had built. The people thought that God would never destroy the Temple (Jeremiah 7:4, 8-10) and were safe to commit their idolatry so long as the Temple stood. Did God keep His word? Yes. 

Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees … And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. (2 Chronicles 36:17–19, KJV)

The Faithfulness of God in the Future

Amid the judgment of God, however, we get a peek into the future and another promise of God. 

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up. (2 Chronicles 36:22–23, KJV)

As much as God is faithful in His judgments against His people for their sins, he is steadfast in His promise to restore them to the land. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah detail this to come. 

What a reminder of how faithful God is to keep His Word! Everything that God has promised will come to pass. Even when everything seems to fall apart, God’s Word will endure! 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:8, KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35, KJV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 2 Kings 24–25; 2 Chronicles 36.

The End of God’s Patience!

Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. God’s judgment has come as was forewarned. In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 39:1–2, 8 KJV) Everything that the prophets had predicted came to pass.

Patience Proceeds Judgment

As I think about other instances of God’s judgment in the Bible, I am reminded that a period of longsuffering often preceded the judgment. The clearest example would be the flood of Noah’s day. One hundred and twenty years passed from when Noah was told to build the Ark until God shut the door with Noah’s family inside the Ark. Noah had warned, but the people rejected God’s longsuffering. What moments like this in Scripture remind us of is that God’s patience is not to be taken for granted or misunderstood as God doing nothing. How good of God to be so patient! 

Patience In The Last Days

According to the Bible, there is yet a time of judgment for this world following Christ’s return. But, once again, at this time, God is patiently waiting for there are precious souls yet to come to Christ. In fact, Christians are also exhorted to be patient, as He is patient.

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7–8, ESV)

Patiently Waiting

So, how is the world at large interpreting the patience of God? Human nature and the blindness of sin being what they are, notice how the Bible describes the present-day reaction of the wicked.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3–4, KJV)

Yes, many of the wicked are responding today, as they did in the days of Noah and like Judah and Jerusalem did to Jeremiah—sinning away the days of God’s patience as He waits for their repentance. 

Believer, the Lord’s return is nigh at hand! The sin, wickedness, and hatred of God in this world will not go on indefinitely. Let us be patient and rejoice in the patience of God as precious souls come to Christ, even in the twilight of these last days!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 38-40; Psalm 74, 79.

The Rechabite Response! 

God has an object lesson for His people in today’s reading. God has Jeremiah invite the Rechabites to the Temple. When they arrive, Jeremiah invites them to drink some wine. The Rechabite response was exactly what the Lord wanted His people to see and hear!

Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.” But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’ We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us… (Jeremiah 35:5–8, ESV)

An Object Lesson in Obedience

The Rechabites are Kenites, the people of Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. In Judges 1:16 and 1 Chronicles 2:25, we find that they became allies with Israel and embraced the ways of the Lord. Over the many generations, these nomadic, tent-dwelling people have exhibited faithfulness, obedience, and soberness by honoring their forefather Jonadab and his command to his family. So, when Jeremiah offered them wine, and they refused in the presence of those at the Temple, this was the sermon that God wanted His people to see. He wanted them to see what obedience looks like, for they had forgotten.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Go and say to the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me. (Jeremiah 35:13, NLT)

The Importance of Obedience

If we remember back to a time in King Saul’s life, the first human king Israel had, we know how much God values obedience. 

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22, KJV)

Yet Judah and Jerusalem have refused to obey; notice the consequences. 

Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. (Jeremiah 35:17, KJV)

The Blessing of Obedience

What a simple yet valuable object lesson. God is looking for obedience in our lives as believers. What is at the root of faithful obedience? What gives life and vitality to obedience? Notice the words of Jesus. If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15, KJV) Of course, Jesus is the ultimate object lesson! If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10, KJV)

Let us love our God and obey His Word, that our joy may be full! These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:11, KJV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 35-37.

Buying the Future with Faith!

Jeremiah does something interesting in today’s reading: he buys land! Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me: Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’… And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. (Jeremiah 32:6-7, 9, ESV) 

A Strange Land Purchase

Why is Jeremiah buying land? On paper, this looks ridiculous. Jeremiah is imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. King Zedekiah didn’t like what Jeremiah said about him (Jeremiah 32:3–5). Also, Babylon has put Jerusalem under siege; it is only a matter of time before Jerusalem falls (Jeremiah 32:2, 33:5). As we have read, Judah will be carried into exile for their disobedience to God. So, if it is all over, why is Jeremiah buying land at the last minute for a respectable amount?

Acting on the Promise of God

God told Jeremiah to buy this land, even though he was in prison and Babylon was about to take the city and carry everyone off into captivity. Why did God tell him to do this? 

I charged Baruch in their presence, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’ (Jeremiah 32:13–15, ESV) 

Jeremiah illustrates to the people that though it will be a long time (seventy years), God has promised to bring them back. Jeremiah, by faith, is purchasing a piece of that future. Wow!

Faith Goes Beyond Reason

Because of God’s promise and because God is trustworthy, Jeremiah’s faith and resulting obedience go beyond reason yet are not unreasonable. That is faith! It goes beyond reason, beyond how it looks on paper, but it is not unreasonable when God is the object of our faith. Jeremiah is undoubtedly in the midst of a trial, and it is often in the middle of trials that our faith is tested, yet for Jeremiah and us, faith has hope! It is a hope in the Word of God, and specifically, God’s promises to us in His Word. God had promised Jeremiah that He would bring His people back to their land. Jeremiah, by faith, bought a piece of that future. 

Promises, Hope, and the Future

Believers, regardless of the trials in which we may find ourselves, our faith is rooted in the most trustworthy object of all, God himself. He has given us exceeding great and precious promises. Therefore, our faith has hope, hope in God’s promises. Let’s buy a piece of that future that God has in store for those who walk uprightly! Though the world may think it looks ridiculous on paper, let’s walk through the present by faith with our eyes on the future, for the promises of God are many and great!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 32-34.

A Loving Father: The Fruit of God’s Chastening!

Does God love His chosen people? Reading through the prophets can be heavy. It can be hard to read about the chastisement God brings upon them for their sins. So, does God love His people?

The Chastening of God

In today’s reading, the thought that stands out to me is the picture of God chastening or correcting His people. 

“Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord. “I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him. (Jeremiah 31:20, NLT)

Does God love His people? Yes! That is why He chastens or corrects them. In love, He warned them; in love, He chastens them. 

A Changed Heart

What is the fruit of this love? 

I have heard Israel saying, ‘You disciplined me severely, like a calf that needs training for the yoke. Turn me again to you and restore me, for you alone are the Lord my God. (Jeremiah 31:18, NLT) 

The fruit is a changed heart, a heart of repentance. This heart of repentance will have a profound effect on Israel. Notice the peaceableness of Israel after the chastening. 

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes: ” ‘The Lord bless you, O habitation of righteousness, O holy hill!’ And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” (Jeremiah 31:23–25, ESV)

Peaceable Fruit in Our Lives

What a reminder that God loves His own, and evidence of this love and that we are His own is His chastening and correction. 

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:6–8, KJV) 

What is the expected result of this love? 

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. (Hebrews 12:11, NLT)

True Love 

As believers, as God’s children, let us embrace the correction of our loving Father. He is seeking a harvest of right living, which yields peaceable fruit in our lives. He is showing us His love, which should cause us to love Him more!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Jeremiah 30-31.