Jeremiah 6

WEEK  21                                             Jeremiah 6

SATURDAY  Reflections

"Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered. They will be brought down when I punish them,” says the LORD" (verse 15, New Living Translation). If you have ever had to deal with someone who has done wrong, there is hope for them to change if they have some sense of shame or regret. The people of Jerusalem have none.

 

The question then is how do you reform/change someone who doesn't have any shame? The answer is you can't. Yes, you might be able to guard them or put them in some kind of prison to keep them from doing wrong but unless they feel some shame or regret,  then they will do the action again. This is why God has given them over to judgment. It is also why he calls them reprobate/rejected silver. They were supposed to be worth something but they aren't. It is a sad state for a people who were chosen by God for so much better. 

Jer 6:1-30
(1)  O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.
(2)  I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
(3)  The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
(4)  Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
(5)  Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
(6)  For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
(7)  As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.
(8)  Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.
(9)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.
(10)  To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
(11)  Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
(12)  And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.
(13)  For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
(14)  They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
(15)  Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
(16)  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
(17)  Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
(18)  Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
(19)  Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
(20)  To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
(21)  Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
(22)  Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
(23)  They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.
(24)  We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
(25)  Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
(26)  O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
(27)  I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
(28)  They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
(29)  The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
(30)  Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

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Joshua 15

WEEK  21                                         Joshua 15  

FRIDAY  Reflections

In the middle of this chapter, we see Caleb finding an interesting way to get a husband for his daughter, Achsah. The man has to be willing to fight and take the land they will live on. There is a taker and he wins the right to marry her. She, however, isn't happy with just the land but wants springs (water) for them. I find this exchange interesting because it is Achsah who comes to her father and asks for more. She isn't waiting for her husband to get what she feels they need. This is a sign of a strong daughter. Considering the man, Caleb, it shouldn't surprise us he has a daughter willing to go and get what she wants.

I have to wonder if it was just Caleb's idea to use this test to find a man worthy for his daughter. Personally, as a man with daughters, I think Achsah was in on the plan. If a father has to find a husband for his daughter, I think a man willing to fight and maybe die to win the right is better than any other plan.

Jos 15:1-63
(1)  This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.
(2)  And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:
(3)  And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:
(4)  From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast.
(5)  And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan:
(6)  And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:
(7)  And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:
(8)  And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:
(9)  And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim:
(10)  And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:
(11)  And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
(12)  And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.
(13)  And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
(14)  And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
(15)  And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.
(16)  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
(17)  And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
(18)  And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?
(19)  Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.
(20)  This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
(21)  And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
(22)  And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
(23)  And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
(24)  Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
(25)  And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,
(26)  Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
(27)  And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,
(28)  And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,
(29)  Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
(30)  And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
(31)  And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
(32)  And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:
(33)  And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
(34)  And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
(35)  Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
(36)  And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:
(37)  Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,
(38)  And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
(39)  Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
(40)  And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
(41)  And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:
(42)  Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
(43)  And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
(44)  And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:
(45)  Ekron, with her towns and her villages:
(46)  From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:
(47)  Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:
(48)  And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
(49)  And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,
(50)  And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,
(51)  And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:
(52)  Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
(53)  And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah,
(54)  And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:
(55)  Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
(56)  And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
(57)  Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:
(58)  Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,
(59)  And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:
(60)  Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:
(61)  In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,
(62)  And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.
(63)  As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

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1 Corinthians 1

Kids acting strange is funny, but...

WEEK   21                                      1 Corinthians 1

THURSDAY  Reflections

I have noticed people tend to glorify the first-century church. People talk about returning to primitive Christianity like it is the cure for all the problems the church faces. However, if you move past the first few chapters of Acts, the church had lots of issues. The church was filled with people from various backgrounds, maturity levels and worldviews trying to figure out what it means to be a Christian in this world. Just like the church is today.

 

 The conversation reminds me of people who talk about “the good old days” and how much better they were back then. My Grandma Drake used to say, “I remember the good old days, they weren’t that good. They were hard.” She would then talk about how bad it could be with no air conditioning, poor pest control, no modern medicines or indoor plumbing.

 

What does this have to do with 1 Corinthians? As you will see Paul is dealing with a very immature church. In many ways, the worst modern church is spiritually miles ahead of Corinth. The problems they face are huge.

 

 

Paul looks at them and says, “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus” (verse 4). Thanking God for these misfits? Yes, because these broken, flawed, immature people, were his family and God wasn’t done with them yet.

 

For us, today, as we look at a church, which we may feel is nowhere near what it should be, let’s be reminded this isn’t a new problem. It’s a people problem. Remember God loves these people and so should we. We should be thankful for them, even when they drive us crazy.

1Co 1:1-31
(1)  Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
(2)  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
(3)  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
(4)  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
(5)  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
(6)  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
(7)  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(8)  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(9)  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
(10)  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
(11)  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
(12)  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
(13)  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
(14)  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
(15)  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
(16)  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
(17)  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
(18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
(19)  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
(20)  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
(21)  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
(22)  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
(23)  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
(24)  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
(25)  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
(26)  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
(27)  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
(28)  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
(29)  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
(30)  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
(31)  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

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Joshua 14

WEEK   21                                             Joshua 14 

TUESDAY  Reflections

As Joshua and the leaders of Israel begin to divide the land among the tribes, here comes Caleb. Caleb and Joshua are the only ones of the previous rebellious generation still alive. Now at eighty-five, Caleb is ready to take the land Moses had promised him more than forty years earlier. He acknowledges the place is full of powerful forces and fortified cities, but this doesn't bother him. He doesn't even ask for the rest of the tribes to help him as he knows God is on his side. This shows the faith of Caleb even after decades of waiting. May God give us this kind of faith and patience. 

Jos 14:1-15
(1)  And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
(2)  By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
(3)  For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.
(4)  For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
(5)  As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
(6)  Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
(7)  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
(8)  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
(9)  And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
(10)  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
(11)  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
(12)  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
(13)  And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
(14)  Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
(15)  And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

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Joshua 13

WEEK   21                                         Joshua 13    

MONDAY  Reflections

There is still much to do, but you're old. Can you imagine God telling you this? What this reminds me of is that many times there is more that needs to be done, but we will not be around to see it completed. The work of change, especially changing a people or a culture cannot be done in just one generation. There comes a time when we have to leave the work to others.

 

The year I am writing this I have had a dear saint step down from the church board. He was turning 90 and felt he needed to be available to take care of his wife. I appreciated his decision and I hope he felt that he was leaving the church in good hands. It would have been very sad to have seen him try to stay just because he thought the work was not done because the work of the church is never done. Only when Christ returns will the work of the church truly be complete. 

 

Joshua was being prepared to hand the work over to others. The tribes will be expected to take more land as they continue to grow. However, I am reminded there comes a time not just to let go, but to charge others to finish the work. It isn't a time to feel shame, it's just a time of change.

Jos 13:1-33
(1)  Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
(2)  This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
(3)  From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
(4)  From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
(5)  And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.
(6)  All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
(7)  Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
(8)  With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;
(9)  From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;
(10)  And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;
(11)  And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
(12)  All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.
(13)  Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.
(14)  Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.
(15)  And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
(16)  And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;
(17)  Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,
(18)  And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
(19)  And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,
(20)  And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,
(21)  And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.
(22)  Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
(23)  And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.
(24)  And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.
(25)  And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;
(26)  And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;
(27)  And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.
(28)  This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.
(29)  And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.
(30)  And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:
(31)  And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
(32)  These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
(33)  But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

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Jeremiah 5 One honest salesperson

WEEK  20                                   Jeremiah 5

SATURDAY  Reflections

Can you find one honest businessman?

 

Thankfully, I believe there are some in this country. However, God says that all of the righteous-sounding people of Jerusalem were liars and didn’t seek God. He said if one person could be found that he would halt judgment.

 

It would be easy to look at this and focus on God’s judgment, but I see God’s mercy. One person could stop a judgment? One! This reminds me of the conversation between Abraham and God about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps this is the picture God is trying to show. The truth that a few people can make a difference. They can change the destiny of a people. However, these few can make a change, not because they are in political power but because they live right. It’s not that they post the right words on Facebook, or go to church but because they are truthful in their lives and they seek the truth (God).

 

Are you one of the few? Are you seeking the right things?

 

     Then you can make a difference.

Jer 5:1-31
(1)  Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
(2)  And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.
(3)  O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
(4)  Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.
(5)  I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
(6)  Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
(7)  How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
(8)  They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.
(9)  Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
(10)  Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S.
(11)  For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.
(12)  They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
(13)  And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
(14)  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
(15)  Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.
(16)  Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.
(17)  And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.
(18)  Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.
(19)  And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.
(20)  Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,
(21)  Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
(22)  Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
(23)  But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
(24)  Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
(25)  Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
(26)  For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
(27)  As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
(28)  They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
(29)  Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
(30)  A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
(31)  The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

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