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I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7(II Kings 24, Jeremiah 24, 48-49)

Jehoiakim, Judah’s king, must have had a death wish. He burned the scroll, God’s Word, dictated by Jeremiah to the scribe Baruch. Judah was also being harassed on all sides by enemies on their borders. Jehoiakim was destined to live in constant conflict. If that wasn’t enough, he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzer by refusing to pay his taxes. As the Babylonian army approached, Jeoiakim suddenly died. His son Jehoiachin became king and did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He was taken captive when he surrendered Jerusalem and Nebuchadnezzar set up a puppet king, Zedekiah, the third son of king Josiah. He would be Judah’s last king.

Jeremiah is extremely concerned that false prophets are still saying all is well, even though it clearly isn’t. He took the opportunity to prophesy against all those who have oppressed God’s covenant people. The list includes Ammon, Edom, Syria, Hazor, Elam and Moab, and as predicted, Nebuchadnezzar conquered these nations. He then turns his energies on those masquerading as the voice of God. Then, the LORD gave Jeremiah a vision, a hope for the future. The good figs in chapter 24 were the best people, those carried into captivity, including Daniel and Ezekiel, who would remain faithful. For them, God is shaping the future.

Out of the worst possible scenario, came the absolute best possible outcome. They would return and from this land would come a Savior, Christ the LORD, Emmanuel, King of Kings. Don’t micro-manage God. Let Him shape the future.

Love,

Gretchen

I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7(II Kings 24, Jeremiah 24, 48-49)

Jehoiakim, Judah’s king, must have had a death wish. He burned the scroll, God’s Word, dictated by Jeremiah to the scribe Baruch. Judah was also being harassed on all sides by enemies on their borders. Jehoiakim was destined to live in constant conflict. If that wasn’t enough, he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzer by refusing to pay his taxes. As the Babylonian army approached, Jeoiakim suddenly died. His son Jehoiachin became king and did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He was taken captive when he surrendered Jerusalem and Nebuchadnezzar set up a puppet king, Zedekiah, the third son of king Josiah. He would be Judah’s last king.

Jeremiah is extremely concerned that false prophets are still saying all is well, even though it clearly isn’t. He took the opportunity to prophesy against all those who have oppressed God’s covenant people. The list includes Ammon, Edom, Syria, Hazor, Elam and Moab, and as predicted, Nebuchadnezzar conquered these nations. He then turns his energies on those masquerading as the voice of God. Then, the LORD gave Jeremiah a vision, a hope for the future. The good figs in chapter 24 were the best people, those carried into captivity, including Daniel and Ezekiel, who would remain faithful. For them, God is shaping the future.

Out of the worst possible scenario, came the absolute best possible outcome. They would return and from this land would come a Savior, Christ the LORD, Emmanuel, King of Kings. Don’t micro-manage God. Let Him shape the future.

Love,

Gretchen

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8  (Daniel 1-2)

While king Jehoiakim was creating problems for Jeremiah, Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar had already begun removing people into exile. Among these early captives was a young man, of noble blood, and three of his friends.  They were handsome and noticeably brilliant, therefore, they were chosen to be trained for the king’s court. One of the perks was a lavish diet of gourmet foods sacrificed to the gods of Babylon. Daniel and company gently requested the right to a better way.

Many years ago, God made a covenant with Israel. The laws that were part of this great commitment and promise set a chosen nation apart from the rest of the world.  It was not a thing of prejudice or entitlement, but a conduit for God to reach out, in love and blessing, through this Holy people.  Daniel, as young and frightened as he probably was, refused to compromise his devotion to these laws of The One True God.

Throughout his lifetime, Daniel remained Holy, and because of this faithfulness, he ministered to an idolatrous king, Nebuchadnezzar, who amidst all the idolatry of Babylon, acknowledged Daniel’s God as The God.

Being set apart isn’t a quest to be better, it’s doing what’s right to be available and ready for what God asks.

Happy Weekend!

Gretchen 

So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them. Jeremiah 36:32 (Jeremiah 25, 35-36, 45)

The first captives have been taken from Judah into Babylon. God tells Jeremiah that the captivity will last 70 years then Babylon will be punished. He then command Jeremiah to write down all that He said, so the ages will know God’s sovereign authority. Jeremiah employs the services of the scribe, Baruch. After several months of hard word, Jeremiah, who was banded from the temple, sent Baruch to read God’s word. King Jehoiakim reacted by burning the scroll piece by piece. He intended to put an end to God’s inconvenient and uncomfortable truth. He failed.

The plight of Jeremiah and Baruch seems bleak, but God promises to protect them from harm.

God continues to seek man. Even when all seems lost, God is reaching out. One burned scroll at the hand of a wicked king did not stop God’s work of grace. The singular, most amazing thing about God’s grace is His persistence and long suffering. We are a loved creation, when our Creator has become our Savior, again and again and again. God’s not giving up, don’t you either!

Love,

Gretchen

This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3 (II Kings 23-24, II Chronicles 35:20-27, 36, Jeremiah 22, 26, 46 and 47)

Josiah had cleaned all of Judah and Samaria of the temples and false prophets of Baal. A revival and return to worship occurred. But, there was unrest all around Judah as three world powers fought for dominance. Nineveh fell, bringing Assyria to its knees. Babylon, the new empire, had to contend with Assyrian outliers as well as a rising Egypt to the west. Josiah, out of an act of loyalty to Assyria, but contrary to Jeremiah’s recommendation, went into battle against Neco, Pharaoh of Egypt, and was mortally wounded.  Judah’s most faithful king was gone and Judah’s fate was sealed.  Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and finally Zeddekiah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. This was the end of the temporal kingdom of Judah, but from this seed came the Christ, the everlasting Savior and King.

Jeremiah has been to the gates of hell, faced his doubts and fears, and walked away the victor. He now has the fortitude to endure whatever God has in store. Josiah was Jeremiah’s advocate and with him dead and buried, Jeremiah is in jeopardy again. He declares that killing him will not silence God and some of the elders stepped forward in his defense. He survived, but his contemporary Uriah was martyred.

God will not tolerate misrule and corruption. Jeremiah, like Jesus, suffered persecution by those who claimed to know God intimately. God knows the purity of man’s heart and will judge accordingly. Be watchful of wrongly placed loyalties, reckless reactions and scripture-less theologies. Be holy, kind and if all else fails…..love. In this you will never go wrong.

Love,

Gretchen

This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the window, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3 (II Kings 23-24, II Chronicles 35:20-27, 36, Jeremiah 22, 26, 46 and 47)

Josiah had cleaned all of Judah and Samaria of the temples and false prophets of Baal. A revival and return to worship occurred. But, there was unrest all around Judah as three world powers fought for dominance. Nineveh fell, bringing Assyria to its knees. Babylon, the new empire, had to contend with Assyrian outliers as well as a rising Egypt to the west. Josiah, out of an act of loyalty to Assyria, but contrary to Jeremiah’s recommendation, went into battle against Neco, Pharaoh of Egypt, and was mortally wounded.  Judah’s most faithful king was gone and Judah’s fate was sealed.  Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and finally Zeddekiah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. This was the end of the temporal kingdom of Judah, but from this seed came the Christ, the everlasting Savior and King.

Jeremiah has been to the gates of hell, faced his doubts and fears, and walked away the victor. He now has the fortitude to endure whatever God has in store. Josiah was Jeremiah’s advocate and with him dead and buried, Jeremiah is in jeopardy again. He declares that killing him will not silence God and some of the elders stepped forward in his defense. He survived, but his contemporary Uriah was martyred.

God will not tolerate misrule and corruption. Jeremiah, like Jesus, suffered persecution by those who claimed to know God intimately. God knows the purity of man’s heart and will judge accordingly. Be watchful of wrongly placed loyalties, reckless reactions and scripture-less theologies. Be holy, kind and if all else fails…..love. In this you will never go wrong.

Love,

Gretchen

“Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.” Jeremiah 20:13

God sends Jeremiah to the potter’s house where Jeremiah witnesses the power of the craftman/creator to change the outcome of a marred vessel. Jeremiah is sent with this illustration and the message that God has the ability to alter the destiny of Judah. Following this, Jeremiah takes a valuable, beautiful vase and shatters it before the leaders of Jerusalem. In this act, he announces Jerusalem’s ruin.

There is a continual counter campaign among the false prophets and again, Jeremiah’s wellbeing is threatened. In fact, he is put in stocks, a wooden frame that holds the body in a distorted, painful pose. Jeremiah is fed up with his pitiful life and God’s incomplete purpose. He lashes out in anger as he is publicly ridiculed and scorned. THEN! His sorrow becomes joy as he realizes his Hope is in the LORD alone. His pity party becomes a cathedral of praise.

God’s relationship to man should be like that of the clay in the potter’s hands. His will, the pressure or gentle nudge of His palm, determines what we become, even when it is nothing like we imagined. In God alone we are perfected for His divine purpose, so spin without abandon, in the Master’s hand.

Love,

Gretchen

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.” Jeremiah 17:7 (Jeremiah 13-17)

The people of Judah, in the face of false, but comforting, prophecy, seek a second opinion and wish to silence Jeremiah’s inconvenient truth. Still reeling from the threat to his life, Jeremiah questions himself, his message and his authenticity.  He receives a very clear response! God gives this faithful servant two tangible examples of what is to come for those who reject his message. One is the linen belt, or loincloth, (Chapter 13) which would have been bejeweled with elaborate stones and was a sign of Jeremiah’s position. God gave instructions to place it in a crevice (see post script for Jeremiah’s grotto) where it became ruined. Jeremiah was then instructed to wear it as an example of God’s beloved and glorious people becoming nothing because of their sin and self-imposed separation from God.

Although Jeremiah is reassured, his plight does not improve. In fact, God says, don’t go to funerals or celebrations and do not marry.  These things are the normal milestones of life, but to invest in them is to say, “All is well.” This is no time and place to start a family. Those who turned to false gods will rely on the work of their hands, but it is futile, all hope is gone because no one is seeking salvation and life is about to get real ugly.

In the middle of God’s declaration of doom are words of encouragement for those who remain faithful. Obedience is faith, faith is confidence in God, even when there is drought and you are thirsty too.

Hang in there!

Gretchen

P.S. The crevice, or cave, Jeremiah placed the linen cloth in was one of several hiding retreats he fled to when grief overwhelmed him. In these moments, Jeremiah spoke with God, heard from his LORD, gained new perspective and returned to urgent prayer and action for his fellow Judeans. This particular place has been found at the base of Golgotha, the site of Love’s greatest sacrifice. It is fitting that Jeremiah sacrificed his own will for the hope of the unrepentant. By the way, I don’t believe in coincidence.

You are always righteous, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? Jeremiah 12:1 (Jeremiah 11 & 12)

The covenant between God and Moses/the Hebrew children defined righteousness, promised blessings, stated consequences and set God’s chosen nation apart from the rest of the world and quested them to carry out His blessing to all the earth. Israel’s failure was colossal but God did not quit loving. He was, and is, long suffering and sent Jeremiah with a message to repentance and a warning of dire punishment that would come to those who refused.

Jeremiah’s message was so harsh and persistent that the people of his hometown plotted to kill him. God intervened and he escaped, but his fear gave way to anger and he lashed out at God. “Why do the wicked prosper?”  Jeremiah wasn’t the first, nor will he be the last to ask this question. God responded with hope. The day of the LORD will come. For the believer there will be eternal glory, for all those who have rejected God or oppressed the faithful, they will be wiped off the face of the earth…..in God’s time.

God’s purpose is first and foremost, salvation, redemption and restoration. Final judgement is His last option. His Son, Jesus, is the highest model of righteous servitude in our relationships with each other, but to the people of Judah, God waited and waited in the hope of humble confession and redirection. He modeled patient love.

Do not wish judgment on anyone. Just love and let God be God.

Love,

Gretchen

If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. Jeremiah 7:5-7 (Jeremiah 7-10)

Repentance and obedience are game changers!

The people of Judah were stubborn to the very end, but they had a strong superstition about the temple of God.  Although they had many false gods, they still offered sacrifices and practiced a weak semblance of worship. Jeremiah’s message insisted this was not Holy or pleasing and would bring judgement. The false prophets of the day were smooth talkers seeking their own comfort. They preached peace and pointed to Jeremiah as an alarmist. He was not.

Oddly, as things worsened for Judah, there was a boom in the idol making industry. God created the trees these worthless gods were carved from. The miracle of His creative power made the gold that gilded them. Jeremiah and God both grieved for this unrepentant nation who chose ridiculous, empty securities.

It was not God’s desire to destroy. He is a kind and loving God that brings new life to those who ask.  Repentance and obedience change everything.

Love,

Gretchen