Victory in Christ

In a book with the name Lamentations, it is expected to read of much sorrow. Jeremiah is thought to be the author of these miseries of Jerusalem. He speaks of how drastically times have changed for the people. “Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and wandering all the precious things that were hers from days of old. When her people fell into the hand of the foe, and there was none to help her, her foes gloated over her; they mocked at her downfall.” (Lamentations 1:7) But about half way thru his lamenting, we see a positive turn. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23) Some of these words may be familiar to you from song lyrics that you have been singing. These words were penned about a time when God’s people had sinned and were suffering greatly. But they recognized that they had to turn back to and serve Him. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:24-26)

Today’s reading: Lamentations 1-2

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Jeremiah chapter 52 describes the destruction of Jerusalem. We are told many of the details about the temple being destroyed, down to even the day that it happened. “In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. And he burned the house of Jehovah, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned he with fire.” (Jeremiah 52:12-13) As terrible as it was for this building to be destroyed, God’s power was not affected. “But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,” (Acts 7:47-48) Each of us have a temple of God that we need to protect and honor. “Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 51-52

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The Israelites turned from God at times, but in this section of scripture we see them turning back to Him. “In those days and in that time,” says the Lord , “The children of Israel shall come, They and the children of Judah together; With continual weeping they shall come, And seek the Lord their God.” (Jeremiah 50:4) He desires the same from us today. “that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” (Acts 17:28)

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 49-50

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In this section of scripture we read of God’s judgement on Moab. One of the things He had against them was their pride. “We have heard the pride of Moab (He is exceedingly proud), Of his loftiness and arrogance and pride, And of the haughtiness of his heart.” Jeremiah 48:29 James reminds us of God’s feeling on pride and the alternative attitude we should have. “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 46-48

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Several times in this section of scripture we see the words, “thus says the Lord”. God was speaking thru His prophet Jeremiah. We do not have prophets today, but we have the perfect source of His words. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:1-2) He has preserved His word thru the Holy Bible so that we can know even today, “thus says the Lord”.

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 41-45

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Thru the prophet Habakkuk God let the people know that His ways are more than we can understand. “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” (Habakkuk 1:5) These works were punishing the people for not following Him, but Jesus explains that if we do follow God and trust Him, He will take care of us. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

Today’s reading: Habakkuk 1-3

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Our lives would have so much more joy if we could have the attitude shown in this last verse of Psalm 79. “So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.” (Psalms 79:13) 

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 38-40; Psalms 74,79

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God is love (1 John 4:8), but that does not mean that His people are free to disobey His word. God sent word thru Jeremiah to the Jews letting them know His displeasure with their actions.“Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’  But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods.  Therefore my wrath and my anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they became a waste and a desolation, as at this day.” (Jeremiah 44:4-6) The wrath of God is something to be feared, but we have opportunity to be saved from that wrath.“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:8-9) We are all given the chance to come in contact with that saving blood of His death. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3)

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 35-37

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Jeremiah brought commands from God to King Zedekiah, but the king doubted the plan. “King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest I be handed over to them and they deal cruelly with me.” Jeremiah said, “You shall not be given to them. Obey now the voice of the LORD in what I say to you, and it shall be well with you, and your life shall be spared.” (Jeremiah 38:19-20) Sometimes like King Zedekiah we may not understand God’s plan, but His plan is always better than anything we could do on our own. We are not promised a life without pain and suffering, but if we are like Jeremiah and put our full trust and obedience in Him we will be saved. “For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the LORD.’” (Jeremiah 39:18)

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 32-34

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