Matthew 13

WEEK  13                                             Matthew 13

THURSDAY  Reflections

This chapter contains several parables of Jesus. They all have one theme though each has truths that each of us should learn from. The theme is growth and reward. In each parable, the desired outcome is that there is to be growth but in the parable of the sower and the weeds there are complications. In the parable of the hidden treasure and pearl, there is a great reward for those who give it all. In the parable of the net, we are shown there is going to be a reward of fish with the bad thrown out. The parables end with Jesus giving a story about storing the truths from the past and the new ones together.

 

The lesson I like to take from the sower is the sower has to realize that not all the seed he cast out is going to bring forth a harvest. Yes, a harvest is coming but ¾ of the seeds landed on places that would not bring forth a harvest. It is discouraging at times to work for God and think growth is taking place, but people ignore the truth, get distracted from the truth and fall away. Yet the sower has to realize a harvest is coming. The difficulty for most of those who are sowers is that we don’t know which heart is stone, weedy, rocky, or good. Often, we think someone is hard but later the harvest comes forth. At the end of the day, we must realize a harvest is coming.

 

The parable of the weeds reminds us that not everyone in our midst is true blue. God will judge and separate at his time. Here we learn to trust God to separate the true from those that look good, the false from those who are immature. At the end of the day, God will separate, but know this, there will be a harvest in spite of the weeds.

 

The parable of the mustard seed and the yeast remind us that small things can bring big results. The old saying is “Don’t despise small beginnings.” We never know what may come so don’t be discouraged.  

 

The parables of the hidden Treasure and the Pearl remind us that in order to get the greater reward we need to be willing to leave everything else behind.

 

The parable of the net reminds us again that God is going to separate the good from the bad. In the end, God will take care of it all. There will be a reward in a great harvest of fish and God will take care of those that aren’t good.

 

We get to the final story, Jesus tells us to store the truths away both the past (Old Testament) and the new (New Testament) truths. There is great reward in holding onto the truth.  

 

Finally, we come to the end of the chapter where Jesus is rejected by those who know him best. Instead of accepting the miracles and the teaching, they doubt him because they know him. This is a reminder that there are some who will never accept us no matter what we do. They rejected Jesus and he was perfect, so don’t be discouraged when people decide to reject what God is doing in your life.

Mat 13:1-58
(1)  The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
(2)  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
(3)  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
(4)  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
(5)  Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
(6)  And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
(7)  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
(8)  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
(9)  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(10)  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
(11)  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
(12)  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
(13)  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
(14)  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
(15)  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
(16)  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
(17)  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
(18)  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
(19)  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
(20)  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
(21)  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
(22)  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
(23)  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
(24)  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
(25)  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
(26)  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
(27)  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
(28)  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
(29)  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
(30)  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
(31)  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
(32)  Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
(33)  Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
(34)  All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
(35)  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
(36)  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
(37)  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
(38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
(39)  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
(40)  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
(41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
(42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
(43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(44)  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
(45)  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
(46)  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
(47)  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
(48)  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
(49)  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
(50)  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
(51)  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
(52)  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
(53)  And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
(54)  And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
(55)  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
(56)  And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
(57)  And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
(58)  And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

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Ecclesiastes 10

WEEK  13                                        Ecclesiastes 10

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Are we in Ecclesiastes? This chapter sounds much more like Proverbs though maybe a darker version. The one idea which hits me is how life is bad when the leaders aren't doing what they are supposed to do. Either they have been placed low or their actions are selfish. Even in life under the sun there are some constants. Bad leaders make life miserable and good leaders are a source of life.

 

What bit of wisdom do you see in this chapter?

Ecc 10:1-20
(1)  Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
(2)  A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
(3)  Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
(4)  If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
(5)  There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
(6)  Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
(7)  I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
(8)  He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
(9)  Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
(10)  If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
(11)  Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
(12)  The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
(13)  The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
(14)  A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
(15)  The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
(16)  Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
(17)  Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
(18)  By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
(19)  A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
(20)  Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

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1 Kings 16

WEEK  13                                              1 Kings 16

TUESDAY  Reflections

Why did God prophecy that all the sons of Jeroboam and now Baasha would die? Did God cause these sons to die? Though it could be argued that since God didn't stop it that He did, but I don’t agree.

When ungodly kings and dictators take over the first thing they normally do is eliminate any threat to their power. The children of previous kings are the first threat as they have a claim to the throne by birthright. Jeroboam and Baasha both could have been blessed by God but choose to rule their own way. This resulted in their kingdom not being protected by God and therefore they were wiped out. This isn't God being mean. God giving them what they wanted. They wanted to do things on their own and God let them have the reward of it but the reward was death for their family line. 

Read carefully, do you see another prophecy come to pass? It's an old one from the days of the beginning of Israel. 

1Ki 16:1-34
(1)  Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
(2)  Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;
(3)  Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
(4)  Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
(5)  Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(6)  So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
(7)  And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
(8)  In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
(9)  And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
(10)  And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
(11)  And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.
(12)  Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
(13)  For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
(14)  Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(15)  In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
(16)  And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
(17)  And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
(18)  And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,
(19)  For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
(20)  Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(21)  Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
(22)  But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
(23)  In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
(24)  And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
(25)  But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
(26)  For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
(27)  Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(28)  So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
(29)  And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
(30)  And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.
(31)  And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
(32)  And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
(33)  And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
(34)  In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

1 Kings 15 Family Division

WEEK  13                                              1 Kings 15

MONDAY  Reflections

At times, following God means there will be division in the family. Jesus said, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.  From now on there will be five in one family, divided against each other, three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

 

When we look into 1 Kings 15:13, we see that Asa removed his own grandmother from being queen because she made an idol. Asa was determined to serve the Lord even if it meant he had to choose to depose his own grandmother. Jesus knew that the choice to follow him would cause this because others in the family would refuse.

 

It must have been a tough decision for Asa, but he chose God over his family. Throughout history, people have been forced to choose; some had to do like Asa, others have been put out of their families, and others lost their lives. Choosing God may have negative ramifications in this life, but the eternal rewards are worth it.

1Ki 15:1-34
(1)  Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
(2)  Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
(3)  And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
(4)  Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:
(5)  Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
(6)  And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
(7)  Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
(8)  And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
(9)  And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.
(10)  And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
(11)  And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
(12)  And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
(13)  And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.
(14)  But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.
(15)  And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.
(16)  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
(17)  And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
(18)  Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
(19)  There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
(20)  So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
(21)  And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
(22)  Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
(23)  The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.
(24)  And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.
(25)  And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.
(26)  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
(27)  And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.
(28)  Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
(29)  And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:
(30)  Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.
(31)  Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
(32)  And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
(33)  In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.
(34)  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

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Jeremiah 49

WEEK  12                                           Jeremiah 49

SATURDAY  Reflections

Jeremiah continues to warn the nations around Judah that God is going to judge them as well. There is an interesting note in that for Ammon, Elam, and others, there is a promise of returned fortune. God is going to bring judgment, but it isn't the end. For me, this seems to be a reminder that not all judgments/bad times mean the end of everything. There are times when God does bring judgment, but not every time does it mean that there will be complete destruction. This perhaps can give us hope when things go bad for a time. This may mean that everything isn’t gone forever.

Jer 49:1-39
(1)  Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?
(2)  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.
(3)  Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.
(4)  Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?
(5)  Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.
(6)  And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.
(7)  Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?
(8)  Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.
(9)  If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.
(10)  But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.
(11)  Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.
(12)  For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.
(13)  For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.
(14)  I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.
(15)  For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.
(16)  Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.
(17)  Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.
(18)  As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.
(19)  Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
(20)  Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.
(21)  The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.
(22)  Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
(23)  Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
(24)  Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
(25)  How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
(26)  Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
(27)  And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
(28)  Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.
(29)  Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.
(30)  Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.
(31)  Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.
(32)  And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.
(33)  And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.
(34)  The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
(35)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.
(36)  And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
(37)  For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:
(38)  And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.
(39)  But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.

Photo by Raúl Nájera on Unsplash