If you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth,
and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
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I will go [and] return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Sometimes the Lord withdraws Himself so we can't find Him. That's so, when we have trouble ("affliction"), we'll turn to Him. It would be better for us if we would just seek Him in the first place.
We should acknowledge our offenses and seek His face.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
The problem was a lack of knowledge. It was a lack of the knowledge that matters, a lack of knowing the Lord. They had "forgotten the law" of God.
For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.They "...left off to take heed to the LORD..." They payed attention to other things, and neglected paying attention to the Lord. They forgot about His Word, so they rejected knowledge, the important knowledge... and they didn't really know God.
We should pay more attention to the Lord's Word. We should study it personally, first thing, early in the morning. We should remember it and take heed to it. We should pursue knowledge, but not knowing vain things. We should know the Lord.
Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of [her] friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
Hosea compares idols to adultery. God and His people are like a marriage, so his people looking to other "gods" is like adultery. This makes me think about some idols we can have, by wasting time like:
Wasting time is idolatry because it gives our time, thoughts, and other resources, to serve other things instead of the Lord. We know that adultery is a wicked sin that we should never commit, but Hosea is teaching that idolatry is the same.
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.(I added the emphasis.)
For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, [which] they prepared for Baal.
The Lord is good, and created all of the good things that we enjoy:
Sin is deceitful because we can derive limited temporary pleasure from doing it. Despite the sin, the pleasure is a good thing from the Lord the whole time, not from sin.
We shouldn't think that the enjoyment we get is from the things we do wrong. We shouldn't attribute our well-being to deceitful sin. The Lord is the source of all good things. We should realize that all the good things we have are because of Him, and we should dedicate everything we have to Him.
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people, [there] it shall be said unto them, [Ye are] the sons of the living God.
I've finished the book of Daniel now, and I'm starting Hosea.
I think about how this applies to us as Gentile believers. It could have been said about us, "you are not my people", because we were not Jews, but it's like the Lord says to us, "You are the sons of the living God." because we've trusted in Jesus.
We shouldn't take that for granted.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
I usually notice the part of this promise about being somebody who turns many people to righteousness. This morning I notice the other part, about being wise:
...they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament...Here's one way to be wise: watch less TV :-)
And [some] of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make [them] white, [even] to the time of the end: because [it is] yet for a time appointed.
This chapter tells about how Greece would split into four different kingdoms, one for each compass direction. It tells about the battles between the kings of the northern kingdom and the kings of the southern kingdom. The last king of the north (the beast, #666) will temporarily ("for a time appointed") be able to persecute and kill the believers ("them of understanding.")
We should patiently endure hard times for the Lord, because they are just temporary.Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
When I saw how awesome this chapter was, I wished I had gotten up earlier to study it.
...to chasten thyself before thy God...I think that talks specifically about fasting, but it makes me think of suffering for doing what's right, in general, and giving up pleasure by giving up sin. Sometimes I have to suffer the temporary loss of some pleasure to do some good things (Like getting up earlier!) Sometimes I've given up on it because the Lord doesn't seem to be hearing me, or it doesn't seem to be doing any good.
We should know that there are things going on in the spiritual realm that we don't know about. When we start to seek the Lord, He does notice and hear us right away. We just need to keep being faithful and not give up even if we don't see results for a long time.
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which [is] Hiddekel;By the way, today happens to be the 24th day of the month.
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Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Daniel was seeking the Lord by praying and fasting, and he got to see Gabriel come and talk with him!
Daniel confessed his own sins and his people's sins. One of the sins basically sounds like they weren't listening to the Lord's Word.
We shouldn't neglect the opportunity to get up early enough in the morning to listen to the Lord's Word. When it *is* time to hear the Lord, we shouldn't distract ourselves with other things instead. Finally, we need to obey. That's what Israel's problem really was.
Here is the printable (PDF) file. Please feel free to download and distribute the file. You can print it out, fold it up, and then you can hand it out to people. It reminds people to pray for the victims of the tragedy at Von Maur, and shares how to be saved by believing in Jesus.
And I Daniel fainted, and was sick [certain] days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood [it].
The Lord showed Daniel a vision about what was going to happen in the future, but nobody understood it. However, when Daniel could, he went back to doing what he knew he was supposed to be doing.
Sometimes there are things about the Lord's ways that we don't understand. In the mean time, we should still do what we know.And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
This king, "Number 666", of the fourth kingdom, will have some kind of power against the Lord's people for a period of time (maybe 3 1/2 years.) Any of us "saints" who are there then, will have to be patient until the Lord comes and turns things around.
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.We should learn to be patient and stand firm for the Lord, even when we have temporary periods of difficult time and trouble. Our trouble is just temporary. The Lord is going to take care of everything in the end.
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Here some people in high places wanted to accuse Daniel for something (maybe because they were jealous of his higher position, but it doesn't say that.)
This is the way I'd like to be. Walking so closely with the Lord that people couldn't find any fault with me if they tried.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.I love the book of Daniel. This is awesome. Here Daniel knew that he would get in trouble with the people in authority if he kept these prayer times. He knew he would even be condemned to a terrible death if he didn't break them off just temporarily, for 30 days. But he stood firm for the Lord and what he knew was right. He kept his good habit, just like he did before.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.Why was he safe? "because he believed in his God." That's what we need to do.
Believe in the Lord so much that you stand firm for Him, despite people in high places threatening to do terrible things to you.
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
Daniel didn't demand the rewards for his prophesy, but he asked to give them all up. I think that's because he acknowledged that the prophesy was from the Lord and not from himself.
I saw that I should be more willing to do things to serve other people for no payment sometimes.
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
I should humble myself so the Lord doesn't have to make me humble like He did with Nebuchadnezzar.
[Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
It talks about "the God... who... yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God." There are different ways that we could yield our bodies to serve other things besides God.
[That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
There was this huge show with a huge golden image and "all kinds of music" with all kinds of instruments. That idolatry made me think of videos and surfing the web. I think both are good tools that we should use for fun other purposes, but they become idolatry when they get in the way of us serving and worshiping God.
I'm going to work on cutting down the amount of time I spend on things like that. That way I can be serving the Lord instead of wasting time.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Once we've done wrong, and He's forgiven it, He doesn't call it to remembrance any more. We should forgive other people the same way.
When people have apologized and I've forgiven them, I won't call their sin back up to remembrance again. I'll try to forget about it.
That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon.
The king of Babylon was going to have all the wise men in Babylon killed. He had a dream that made him really upset so he couldn't sleep, but he forgot what the dream was. None of the wise men could tell him what it was and what it meant.
The wise men and religious or spiritual people couldn't help. Daniel told his 3 friends about it, so they could seek for God's mercy about it.
Sometimes something bothers us so much it breaks off our sleep. Where do we turn when we're so upset? We should turn to the God of heaven, to desire His mercies about the matter.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Here's an excellent example of standing firm for what's right, but still meekly entreating your authorities. Daniel was still determined to not do what he knew was wrong, but he wasn't belligerent. We should be meek, but firm, like that.
[It was] round about eighteen thousand [measures]: and the name of the city from [that] day [shall be], The LORD [is] there.
We should be holy because the Lord is with us. If there's something we need to apologize for, we should do that.
And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
This reminds me of the blessed man who delights and meditates in the law of the Lord, in Psalm 1:3.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.We should keep spending time in the Lord's Word, and coming to Him to heal and forgive us.
Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.
Last night one of my friends said that since we're not under the old testament law, the Lord has greatly simplified our lives. Another one of my friends told me about a book he was reading. He said it encourages people to get by themselves and worship the Lord personally.
I know it's Biblical to worship the Lord when we gather together. When I read this verse I thought about how we can also worship the Lord any time and place. Sometimes we should personally worship the Lord by ourselves.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
When we need help, we should take advantage of the opportunity to come to God through Jesus. He always makes intercession for us.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.
People shouldn't use their authority to be unfair and oppress other people. We should speak and act patiently and compassionately instead of getting mad and being unkind. When we have the say in a situation, we should make decisions that are equal and honest.
And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I [am] their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I [am] their possession.
I noticed how the Lord worked through His people. When He was the one that provided for the Levites, He provided for them through His people. When the Lord was the One the Levites served, they served His people too. We can serve the Lord by serving His people, and that's what we should do.
This is the tall version of the memorial. See my original article for the wide version.
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
If we don't follow our desires to do wrong, we have to suffer that way. Christ suffered in His body by doing the will of God instead the will of His body. We ought to arm ourselves with the same mindset of being willing to suffer.
Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.
Through the pattern of this temple, Israel could see how perfect the Lord's pattern is for things. When they see His perfect pattern, and how far they've strayed from being able to achieve it, it would make them ashamed for their sin. It shows us our need for Him.
There's a place the Lord has prepared for us in heaven. It's a great place of reward for those who remain faithfully serving the Lord. Our sin would keep us from those great things. When we see a picture of them, and how great they'll be, we should be ashamed of our iniquities and turn to the Lord.And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
The Lord has promised great things to us, that we can have to hope for. When things are hard, it's tempting to get lazy and let things slide. We should patiently endure now, and afterward we'll get what was promised.
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.We shouldn't be slothful. I'll work on getting up at 06:00.
Then said he unto me, The north chambers [and] the south chambers, which [are] before the separate place, they [be] holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place [is] holy.
There were special places in the temple that were supposed to be separate from other places and separate from other things because they were holy. Our lives, as the temple of the Lord, are supposed to be like that. Our hearts should be Holy and separate from sin, in order to offer service to the Lord.
The altar of wood [was] three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, [were] of wood: and he said unto me, This [is] the table that [is] before the LORD.
This chapter continues to describe the pattern of the temple that some people believe is the Millennial Temple.
This [is] the table that [is] before the LORD.This was just the dimensions of the altar of wood, but what it said stuck out to me. It reminded me of how we're always in front of the Lord's eyes and He can always see what we're doing. Sometimes we behave better when certain people are watching. We should behave like the Lord is right there watching, all the time, because He is.
And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew [them] unto thee [art] thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 40 is a long chapter (49 verses), describing the pattern of a temple, with many measurements and details. Would I have been able to remember it all?
...hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee...We should set our hearts on what we hear from the Lord.
Please leave what you're thankful for in the comments! The idea is to get to one thousand things.
And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
Ezekiel 39 concludes the judgment of Gog, talking about things like the incredible job it will be to bury them (v13). The idea is to show that the Lord is real. The reason His people were led into captivity before, was not because of a lack of the Lord defending His people. He does defend His people, and in extraordinary ways, like He defended them against Gog.
The reason the Lord would allow us to be destroyed by our enemies, is because of our sin. We should make sure we're on the Lord's good side.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, [that] at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
Ezekiel 38 seems to talk about the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. It started when the chief prince Gog was tempted. He saw the Lord's people living without defenses, and wanted the spoils of war, so he assembled a massive multinational army (v5).
The Lord, in His wrath, sent the ultimate earthquake (v20) and rained fire out of heaven (v22) onto that army.
I've been noticing in my own life that sin and it's damaging effects often starts out the same way. "...thou shalt think an evil thought..." When we start to strategize how we could do something that would be against the Lord, we should cut off that line of thought right away.But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Discernment seems kind of like exercise. Sometimes we suffer, being tempted.
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
It's difficult to make the right decision, to choose the good and refuse the evil. But, as we do, it becomes a habit and we get better at it.
And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and performed [it], saith the LORD.
The Lord delivers people from being near death to be back in their own land. He speaks with His Word, and He does what He says.
This chapter reminds me of how the Lord does great things, in answer to prayer.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].
The Lord was going to judge His people by famine and war and letting the other nations take over and destroy their land. But that wasn't the end of the story, as we see in Ezekiel 36. The other nations were going to have their turn for judgment too, and the Lord was going to restore His people in their land.
This chapter seems to emphasize that it wasn't because His people deserved it that the Lord would restore them. He was doing it, despite His people's ways, for His own reputation. He's the one who deserves the credit.
Now He has a new way for His people. We can be cleaned from all our wrongdoing. He can replace our hearts with a new heart.
Praise the Lord for putting His Spirit in me!
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
The answer is supposed to be with meekness. The answer isn't supposed to be, "Because I'm so great." It says, "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts". The answer is supposed to be that it's because of Him.
It says, "every man that asketh you". The question might not exactly be, "what is a reason of the hope that is in you?" The question might just be something like, "how can you still be happy today, with the stock market down so low?" Of course, we're not going to get questions like that unless we are happy in that situation. That's why our hope needs to be based on the Lord.
It says to, "be ready always to give an answer". It says, always. That reminds me of 2 Timothy 4:2.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.I'll tell people about the Lord when there's an opportunity, even if it's not my regular outreach time.
Therefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.We should hate doing violent things, and we should hate the violence of blood. We shouldn't entertain ourselves by watching violent things, like blood, displayed.
As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, [even] all of it: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.
The Lord would judge "mount Seir, and all Idumea" (the Edomites). The Lord would judge the Edomites because of what they did to Israel, because Israel was His people. The Lord was going to do to the Edomites, like they had done.
The Edomites rejoiced because of the bad things that happened to Israel. We shouldn't do bad things to the Lord's people and rejoice about it. If we do, we should fear the Lord and His judgment.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
When I feel overwhelmed by my situation, I'll come to the throne by praying for grace, mercy, and help.
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
We should pray for people who are in need, like people that are starving. We should serve people, like the people in our families, in practical ways like serving them food. We should preach the Word of God to His people, to feed His flock with Spiritual food. We shouldn't be too taken up with ourselves, to do these things for other people.
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.I especially note the first part of this verse. It's an encouraging promise that the Lord will answer the prayers we've been praying for people in need, particularly the sick.
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness.
I go to a lot of Bible studies. I come, and sit down, and hear the Lord's Word like one of His people. But where is my heart?
It's good to come and listen to the Lord's Word. But I should determine to do something about the Lord's Word when I hear it.
When we go to a Bible study, we should take note of at least one practical thing we can do about what we learn there. Then we should look at that note before the next Bible study in that series, and remind ourselves to do something about it.
I like to mark one part of my notes from the meeting by drawing a star by it, so I can look back at my notes later, and quickly see where I put down a star, so I can see whether I've been doing what I was determined to.
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:
When we suffer, we should take it patiently, even when we suffer for doing what's right.
For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with [them that are] slain with the sword, [even] Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
This chapter seems to conclude talking about the judgment of Pharaoh, and the judgment of Egypt. It's the fourth chapter in a row in Ezekiel that talks about it (Ezekiel 29, 30, 31, and 32), just like Ezekiel talked about Tyrus for the 3 chapters before that.
I have caused my terror in the land of the living...Egypt was going to be in the place of the dead with many other countries the Lord judged, which caused terror in the land of the living (v23,24,26,27). So the Lord would cause His terror in the land of the living, on them.
And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
Once again, it seems to be talking not only about the fall of Egypt in history, but the future events leading up to the end of the world.
When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I [am] the LORD.It all seems to be about everyone knowing that God is the Lord. Pharaoh isn't the Lord. Tyrus isn't the Lord. none of the other countries are. We should be humble, and not treat ourselves, other people, or even our country, like they're God. We should know that God is the Lord.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
It's depressing how many people we love, turn away from the Lord in these last days. Turning from the Lord is really from unbelief. But it's especially ourselves that we should make sure don't have an evil heart.
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Here's one way I need to make sure I'm not departing from the Lord. We should hold on tight to rejoicing in our hope. I'll make sure I'm rejoicing.
To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
Ezekiel 31 compares the king of Egypt to an Assyrian who was a tree in the garden of Eden. The Lord made the tree fall because it raised itself up exceedingly high, and above all the other trees.
We should be humble. We should be willing to sacrifice our own convenience or pleasure out of humility.
For the day [is] near, even the day of the LORD [is] near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.
This was talking about the day the Lord was going to judge ancient Egypt and their allies by bringing Babylon against them to destroy them in war. But it also seems to talk about the future day of the Lord's judgment when Jesus will return and destroy the earth.
We should stay close to the Lord so we're ready for the day of His return and judgment.
Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river [is] mine own, and I have made [it] for myself.
Maybe this was about a spiritual creature, but Ezekiel 29 compared the king of Egypt to a sea monster. We shouldn't make the same mistake that Pharaoh did. We should realize that the Lord has given us the things we have, and they belong to Him.
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart [is] lifted up, and thou hast said, I [am] a God, I sit [in] the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou [art] a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
The judgment of Tyrus, which has been in these last three chapters in Ezekiel starting with Ezekiel 26, seems to be drawing to a close. This chapter started by talking about the prince of Tyrus, a human prince ("...thou [art] a man...") that became so great he said he was God. Big mistake.
The chapter continued about a spiritual creature the Lord had created that used to be a covering Cherub in the mountain of God. Somehow he must have been associated with ruling over Tyrus as well, because he was called the king of Tyrus. Because of his beauty and brightness, his heart was lifted up and he sinned. The Lord was going to cast him to the ground.
We shouldn't be proud of our wisdom, good looks, popularity, or high position. We should learn from what happened to the prince and king of Tyrus because of pride.
And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, [saying], What [city is] like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?
Tyrus was a great city in many ways, but even a great place can have a terrible destruction because of sin. We should be ready for our world to be judged.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
As we see any illusion of hope we have in this world slipping away, that should provoke us to be more zealous for the Lord.
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
This chapter mentions suffering several times (v9 & 10). I don't have any of the real serious kind of suffering compared to what Jesus or even many believers have experienced. But I've had many opportunities to enjoy sinning. Jesus was willing to suffer to save us, so we should be willing to suffer like Him by giving up sinful pleasures.
Some examples of little sinful pleasures are sleeping in too late when I should get up earlier, watching too many videos, and surfing the web when I should be doing my schoolwork. These might not seem hugely wrong, but they are sin. When I have to give up these pleasures it's some little kind of suffering.
The other day I was surfing the Internet when I knew I should stop and do my school work or something. I made myself close the web page I was going to before it finished loading. It seems like no big deal, but it really was kind of hard and made me feel bad to do it. That's the kind of thing we need to be willing to do more.
When I'm tempted to enjoy the pleasure of sin in wasting time, I'll remember that Jesus suffered for us. I'll be willing to suffer the loss of that sinful pleasure like Him, by redeeming the time.
Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken [that was] the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, [now] she is laid waste:
This chapter is about how the Lord would judge the city of Tyrus, and this verse tells why. It was because Tyrus said, "Aha...". They and seemed to be glad for themselves about the Lord judging His people in Jerusalem.
We shouldn't be glad to see other people get God's judgment.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
When the Lord judged His people, other countries saw their chance to take their revenge on the Lord's people. The Lord didn't like that, so He used this chapter to tell them that He was going to take His revenge on them.
The Lord is the one who's supposed to repay people for the wrong they've done. We shouldn't take revenge into our own hands. We should leave taking revenge to the Lord.
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Sometimes we have heavy trials and temptations (v6). There's a way to still have great joy. That's by believing in Jesus.
I want to have joy in hard times, so there are several ways I'll work to believe in Jesus and love Him more:
In thy filthiness [is] lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
It says, "...I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged...". After we have repented from sin and the Lord has forgiven us, we must not go back to it.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
We should be like Jesus and love righteousness and hate iniquity.
I'll remember that I'm supposed to hate sinning, and I'll work on doing that, hating sin.
And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
This is pretty serious judgment. But this chapter describes pretty serious sin. I remember a saying I thought up a little while ago, to tell myself in temptation.
If I sin, that would be the worst thing that could possibly happen.
As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.
The people of Israel had been doing very bad things. In Ezekiel 22 the Lord was letting them know what they had done wrong, and why He was going to punish them the way He was. They were committing idolatry, lewdness, violence, and taking bribes.
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed [difference] between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
We should make a clear distinction between what is holy, and sinful things. Everything we are and everything have, including our lives, our bodies, and our time, are supposed to be "holy", specially set apart for the Lord.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, [I say], that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
The enemies were going to come with swords and destroy Israel in war because of their sin. We should remember the serious judgment there is for sin, and repent from it. The sin I think of is my slothfulness. We should be diligent.
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.
Surfing the web and watching videos and things like that can be idols. They're generally OK things, but not if we idolize them, defile ourselves with them, or watch things that are abominations.
We should cast our idols away.
Thy mother [is] like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
It was as if the princes of Israel had a mother who was vine.
But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
The fruit reminds me of our modern economy. The strong rods represented scepters for rulers. That reminds me of our election. We could be in for some judgment. As the Lord's people, we should learn not to sin from this judgment that was on Israel.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
This teaches that repentance is one of the things that we're supposed to preach in Jesus' name... But repentance in what way?
I think that we should preach for people who don't know Jesus to repent in their hearts from their unbelief, so they can be saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. I think we should preach for believers to turn from what unbelief in Him they might still have. I also think we should preach for believers to repent from wrong-doing, so they can walk with the Lord in a way that's worthy of the salvation we've received.
Of course, it would be great if people who don't know Jesus would turn from sin too. However, telling unbelievers to stop sinning is not the gospel. We can't really stop without His help. Even if we could, it wouldn't do us any good because we can't save ourselves. The most important thing we need is to believe in Him. Only by believing in Him can we be saved in the first place, and only by believing in Him can we really repent from our sins.
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Sin leads to death.
...every one according to his ways...
We're individually responsible for our own sin, not other people like our parents are responsible.
...Repent, and turn [yourselves]...
That's what we need to consider. What sins do we know we need to be repenting from now?
But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such [things]? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?
Israel broke their contract with Babylon by going to Egypt for help to rebel against Babylon. The Lord compared Israel to a vine planted by one eagle that stretched out to another eagle and gave fruit to it. What would the first eagle do? The Lord would judge Israel because they had not just despised Babylon's oath, but they had really despised the Lord's oath.
This is hard to understand because Babylon wasn't such a great place. Except for Israel's sin and judgment, it's not really where they were supposed to be. The government there wasn't even really following the true Lord. But it was where the Lord had them.
Maybe the Lord has us, His people today, in the place where He wants us. Our situations might be unpleasant. We might be serving under authorities who aren't so great, who don't really follow the Lord, and weren't the Lord's original plan. But it's where the Lord put us, where He wants us, and where He told us to be right now. We have a commitment. We need to keep our commitment to stay where the Lord has us and follow Him here. If we rebel, we rebel against Him, and He will judge us for that.
My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, [wherewith] I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and [thus] it was, saith the Lord GOD.
Israel used the great things the Lord had provided for them in His love to them to do wrong. When we're tempted to do things that don't please the Lord, we should consider how the Lord has provided the good things we have. For example, He provided our time that we could potentially use in valuable ways. We shouldn't use those precious things for sin.
And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.
Doing wrong is destructive. We can't just do little things wrong and maintain the status quo. We need to be serious about doing what's right. If we aren't, we'll end up like the burned vine this chapter talks about, that doesn't supply any valuable wood.
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
We can't trust in being delivered by having righteous people in our families.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
When we tell people what says, we need to make sure to do it faithfully, and not say that He said something He didn't say.
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
This is the way Jesus' followers were after they witnessed His resurrection and ascension, and this is the way we should be. I noticed that they worshiped Jesus Himself.
And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.They were:
Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?
We can do things to illustrate the Lord's Word that we share, and call people's attention to it.
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
The Lord is still merciful, and even though He'll pour out terrible judgment on people for their sin. If we're His people, even if bad things happen to us, He will be a sanctuary for us. This is an encouraging promise.
And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, [even] under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter [them] over the city. And he went in in my sight.
I'm not completely sure that scattering those coals of fire over the city meant judgment, but it makes me think of judgment.
The Lord could judge the United States for our sins like He judged that city in Israel for their sins.
There's a judgment for sins, and we should remember that and go away from sinning.And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
We shouldn't condone sin.
Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
This hole-in-the-wall, where Ezekiel dug in and went through the closed door, reminds me of the imaginations in our minds. What they "do in the dark" drawing creatures on the walls and offering worship to them, reminds me of what we do in our minds.
We shouldn't imagine about things that aren't right. It also reminds me about wasting time surfing the web. There's a lot to see on the web, like images and such. We shouldn't surf the parts of the web where there could be things that aren't right, or when we should be doing something else.
And he said unto them, What manner of communications [are] these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
Jesus had just risen from the dead, but the two people walking there were all depressed. It was because they were hesitant to believe the Scriptures. We can be sad in our walk with the Lord if we're fools and slow of heart to believe.
When I'm sad in my walk with the Lord, I'll remember to believe the Scriptures and how Jesus got the victory over death.
The sword [is] without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that [is] in the field shall die with the sword; and he that [is] in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.
Today, instead of a "famine", we call it a "food crisis". With the stock market down, the war in Iraq, and unrest in other regions, the United States and the world seem to be near a slightly similar situation to Israel's situation in Ezekiel 7. Bad things happen because people sin. We shouldn't commit abominations.
And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
It says, "they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed". That makes me think of how after I sin, I regret it and kind of hate myself for it. We think it might be wrong, but it will make us happy. It doesn't end up making us happy either. We shouldn't do those things.
And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that [are] round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
I was convicted about the sin of not listening to the Lord's instructions. We should repent from the sin we know we've done.
That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.
Israel lacked food because of their sin. That makes me think of the economic situation and high prices of food today.
It's good to be wise and make some plans. However, instead of worrying about what we'll eat, or what we'll wear, we should make sure we're right with the Lord.
And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
The believers today are like the house of Israel in those days, because we're the Lord's people.
We should speak to believers with the Lord's Words.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
The people falsely accused Jesus, despised Him, and mocked Him. His response was to ask God to forgive them. We should be like Jesus.
People don't treat me anywhere near as badly as people treated Jesus, but sometimes people do treat me me badly. When they do, I'll remember this and handle it with forgiveness.
For [they are] impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
The Lord sends prophets to speak to His rebellious people. We should speak the Lord's Word to His people even if they're rebellious.
Their wings [were] joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
We should be like this, that we go straight forward to serve the Lord and do what's right, without turning from that even in adversity.
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
I noticed the part that said Persis, "laboured much in the Lord". We should labor much in the Lord.
I've had applications lately to do good for people and to serve. Sometimes that's a lot of work. I'll do it anyway.
The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
Sin brings great woe. The things like orphans and starvation in this chapter remind me of the effects of AIDS in Africa. Sin doesn't just hurt ourselves.
Our fathers have sinned, [and are] not; and we have borne their iniquities.
And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
There are many temptations, like to forsake the Lord and run away, to deny that we ever knew Him, or to sleep when we should be doing something else like watching and praying. How can we stay out of temptation? Pray.
I'll pray that I won't enter into temptation.
For the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
The people were starving to death and the riches were scattered. The people who should have been upright leaders were responsible for the sin.
If I sin, that would be the worst thing in the world for me. I need to look at it that way.
[It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
We should patiently wait in the situations we have, even when they're very difficult situations. We should hope in the Lord's salvation.
It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
No amount of physical good could pay for the spiritual work we've received from saints. When saints are in physical need and we have the means, we should be pleased to make a contribution to them.
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
When people visit, I'll be receiving of them.
Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord [...]
When we're almost overwhelmed with our trouble and with everything, we should pour out our hearts to the Lord. We should pray, telling the Lord how we feel, what we think, and what we really want.
But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
We should be servants, like Jesus was a servant at the last supper.
I'll be a servant.
Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
Lamentations talks about the miserable punishment on the Lord's people because of their sin. We should seriously consider whether we have any sin, and thoroughly repent from it.
For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
The Lord is merciful, but the judgment for sin is inevitable. We shouldn't do evil in the sight of the Lord.
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.
We shouldn't do any thing that would cause another believer to be tempted to sin.
I won't waste time and tempt other people to waste time with me when they or I are supposed to be doing something else.
Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan.
Jeremiah 51 talks all about the Lord's judgment of Babylon and the destruction of Babylon. The problem verse 52 talks about is "graven images" which is idolatry. We should watch out for idolatry.
In your patience possess ye your souls.
It's critically important to be patience, even when we're mistreated.
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death.
I'm not being betrayed to be killed or anything like that. But the people in this verse are good people to practice being patient with. I'll be patient with my parents and siblings.
Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;
The Lord used Babylon to judge His people, and then the Lord was going to judge Babylon for the way they acted.
When other people do things wrong, and the Lord uses us to reprove them for that, we shouldn't be like, "Oh goody!"
But it shall come to pass in the latter days, [that] I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.
Several times in this chapter, the Lord mentioned how He, in the future, would bring people back from captivity. He has much serious judgment for many nations and cities, but He's still merciful. That's encouraging.
We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.
Jeremiah 48 is all about the judgment of Moab. Verse 29 uses all kinds of words about pride:
We shouldn't be like that. We should be meek and humble.
How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.
This verse is talking about the sword of the Lord that won't be put back into its sheath. It's going to be judging the Philistines. The Philistines make me think of the enemies of the Lord's people. I think of the verse that says:
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
The Lord will deal with our enemies.
Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.
If you're the Lord's servant and you sin, He won't completely blow you away. But He won't leave you without punishment either.
We should be examining our hearts, and consider to make sure we're right with the Lord.
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek [them] not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
We shouldn't seek for great things for ourselves. We should just be happy that the Lord will save us.
They are not humbled [even] unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.
Following what the Lord says has to do with humility and fearing Him. If we're going to be humble and fear the Lord, we need to follow what He says.
Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:
"All the proud men" didn't listen to the Word of the Lord through His servant. They claimed he was speaking falsely and that the Lord hadn't send him to say that. We shouldn't be proud. We should listen to the Lord's Word and exhortation.
If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull [you] down, and I will plant you, and not pluck [you] up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
We shouldn't be afraid of what's going to happen to us if we obey the Lord.
Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I [am] with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
If we stay where he wants us, He will be with us and help us.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
One way we can show love for others is by doing good things for them.
I'll do that.
And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.
When we meet someone, we should be aware that they might be someone they don't seem like. I was preaching the gospel to someone yesterday that acted like a believer, but then I found out she was a Mormon.
Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
The scribes acted like that because of their pride. They were selfish. We shouldn't be like that.
I'll remember the aspect of charity to not seek to benefit myself. (1 Corinthians 13:5)
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
Often our situation isn't optimal, and our authorities have issues, but we should serve in the situation God puts us, and we'll do well.
The king seemed to be getting away by following his own idea, but the enemy chased him down and dealt with him just like the Lord had said. But to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, the Lord promised that he would not be delivered to the people that he feared.
For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.
His life was saved because he put his trust in the Lord. He had shown his trust when he begged the king to save Jeremiah's life. Even when we're in the middle of a catastrophe, we should put our trust in the Lord and He'll deliver us.
But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver [thee]. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.
Fear of shame kept the king from doing what the Lord said. Jeremiah couldn't make the king obey, but he begged him to obey.
We should entreat other people to obey the Lord, and we shouldn't be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.
Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.
We should appeal to people when it's very important, like to save our life. When we do, we should be very humble, like he said, "I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee".
Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.
A few times lately, people have "made intercession" to me about things like to not waste time, or to not sleep in. We should listen to people entreating us.
And they watched [him], and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
They were trying to trick Jesus and trap Him.
I won't try to take hold of people's words like that.
The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.
If people can keep commitments to other authorities, we should listen to the Lord. We don't always have to work hard to figure out what the Lord wants for us. He works hard to get us to listen, "rising early and speaking".
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
When we make a commitment to obey the Lord, we must never go back on it.
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Sometimes people do bad things to us, and we're tempted to be angry and strike back.
Returning good for evil isn't just a nice sounding notion, it's what the Lord says for us to do.
When someone does or says something inconsiderate to me, I'll do something good for them.
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
We should have the faith to ask the Lord to do great things.
And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose [him]? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
The donkey must have been valuable to the owners, but they were willing to let him go for the Lord. We should be like that.
I'll be willing to give up my time to do good things for other people.
Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,
Jeremiah really didn't understand why the Lord could be telling him to buy this field from his cousin, when the country was going to be taken over by the Babylonian empire. However, when he knew it was what the Lord wanted him to do, he did it.
After that, he prayed to the Lord and asked Him about how it could be. The Lord explained that He would bring the people of Israel back to their own land again some day because He's the Lord and there's nothing to hard for him.
We should obey what we know the Lord says, even when we don't understand how it could be.
Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
We should turn from backsliding and turn to the Lord. He'll have mercy on us and not remember our sins or iniquities any more. We should praise the Lord for the hope we have in the future.
And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who [is] this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.
It's a great thing to have a desire to be near the Lord. He'll reward us for having that kind of heart.
And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
The people God promises will find Him, are the people who seek for Him with all their heart. If we want to find God, we should seek for Him with all our heart.
I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
Sometimes situations (like being a servant to a foreign king) don't seem like the ultimate situation for us. It can still be where the Lord wants us.
We should be servants.
Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
We should wisely invest the things the Lord has given us.
Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
Jeremiah was willing to speak exactly everything that the Lord told him to, even though he nearly died for it. He didn't make 1 word of the message into anything less than it was supposed to be, even to save his own life. The Lord used others to stand up and speak, to defend him. The Lord was his defense.
As for me, behold, I [am] in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.
We should preach the gospel and preach the word boldly like this, fearing God instead of fearing other people. We shouldn't diminish one word.
And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending [them]; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
This says, "rising early", and it makes me think of the morning. We can hear from the Lord in the morning by reading the Bible and taking notes like this. Wen we do, we should "incline our ears to hear".
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
We should be humble, and examine ourselves for sin.
When I get ready for worship, I'll get ready for the remembrance by examining myself for sin.
And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am] the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Jeremiah 24 compares people to very good figs, and figs that are so bad they can't be eaten. We should return to the Lord with our whole heart. Then we can be "good figs" :-)
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
Speaking the Lord's Word faithfully can cause people to turn and be saved. When the Lord gives us His Word to speak, we should speak it faithfully.
Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
Don't be telling people that the Lord says something, unless He really did... or you'll be sorry!
Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
If someone provides a service for us, we shouldn't wrongly use their work without paying them. When we're working on a project, we should build it by righteousness, not by wrong.
O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver [him that is] spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench [it], because of the evil of your doings.
We should do what's right early in the day, and in the morning.
Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
We should sing to the Lord and praise Him today.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.
This chapter talks about serious judgment for serious sin. We shouldn't be stubborn and uncaring about what the Lord says. We should be diligent to keep examining ourselves, and repent from our sins.
Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
We should look at our lives, and consider what we need to change, in order to repent from our sin and walk closely with the Lord.
[As] the partridge sitteth [on eggs], and hatcheth [them] not; [so] he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
I've been doing much work and school lately. This verse warning about getting riches by doing what's not right, is a good reminder again to make sure I'm painfully honest with my work.
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
We shouldn't be like that.
And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
Don't imagine evil things or act from evil imaginations. Listen to the Lord.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
In a situation where it's difficult to rejoice, we should listen to the Lord's Word. We should rejoice to read the Bible and think about it.
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
We should be glad about the gospel.
We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, [and] the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.
When we get punished, we should repent and acknowledge our sin.
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