Saturday, August 13, 2011
August 11th
Jeremiah's letter to the captives in Babylon speaks of hope. God has not forgotten them even though it seems like they are being so harshly punished. Remember that these are people like Daniel. He instructs them to pray for the land that they are in, because if it prospers so will they. I think that there are many lessons here for us as well.
August 10th
In today's reading it says that Nebuchadnezzar hauled off all of the Temple treasures away from Jerusalem. Does this include the Ark? I have always been fascinated with where it ended up. Is it in Egypt? Is it buried in Babylon? Did God take it up to heaven? I wish I knew!
August 9th
Jeremiah 49:
12 This is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear by myself,” declares the LORD, “that Bozrah will become a ruin and a curse,[b] an object of horror and reproach; and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”
This gets to a hard truth. There were many faithful people that had to endure this punishment of going into exile. In fact, if I understand the scriptures correctly, most of the people that went were the most faithful. In that way God protected them to bring them back after 70 years. Those left behind were wiped out. It's a hard truth that sometimes all of us have to endure the Lord's discipline, but we must remember that we are the clay and He is the potter.
12 This is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear by myself,” declares the LORD, “that Bozrah will become a ruin and a curse,[b] an object of horror and reproach; and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”
This gets to a hard truth. There were many faithful people that had to endure this punishment of going into exile. In fact, if I understand the scriptures correctly, most of the people that went were the most faithful. In that way God protected them to bring them back after 70 years. Those left behind were wiped out. It's a hard truth that sometimes all of us have to endure the Lord's discipline, but we must remember that we are the clay and He is the potter.
August 8th
Some days are filled with the best reading and this is one of these days.
Nebuchadnezzar has always fascinated me. He was so powerful and also really intimidating. This whole thing where he demanded that the wise men tell him the dream that he was dreaming or they would be put to death exemplifies this attitude. He was a hard man. This gives more of a chance for Daniel to shine through with the Lord's true power of foretelling the future. This dream and interpretation is so powerful, because the dates of these books can so accurately be established through the dead sea scrolls. I heard a man say the other day that the most powerful thing to show nonbelievers is prophesy and this one really brings that home.
Nebuchadnezzar has always fascinated me. He was so powerful and also really intimidating. This whole thing where he demanded that the wise men tell him the dream that he was dreaming or they would be put to death exemplifies this attitude. He was a hard man. This gives more of a chance for Daniel to shine through with the Lord's true power of foretelling the future. This dream and interpretation is so powerful, because the dates of these books can so accurately be established through the dead sea scrolls. I heard a man say the other day that the most powerful thing to show nonbelievers is prophesy and this one really brings that home.
August 7th
It took a lot of guts for Jehoiakim to burn the scroll that Jeremiah had written to him from the Lord. As each page was read aloud he then had it burned. It just goes to show that you can have unabashed courage that is often misplaced. Perhaps he was mostly arrogant and impressed with himself and his idols. Or perhaps he listened to all of the false prophets that were saying, "Peace and safety." I'm sure that the Lord will bring this matter up to him again some day soon.
August 5th
Hab. 2
18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
It is covered with gold and silver;
there is no breath in it.”
20 The LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
The last verse really strikes me. So many people of yesterday worshiped idols and today we worship ourselves and money. Very few of us take time to stop and be silent before the Lord. Oh Lord, help us to truly understand (as best we can) who you are so that we will be silent before you.
18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
It is covered with gold and silver;
there is no breath in it.”
20 The LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
The last verse really strikes me. So many people of yesterday worshiped idols and today we worship ourselves and money. Very few of us take time to stop and be silent before the Lord. Oh Lord, help us to truly understand (as best we can) who you are so that we will be silent before you.
August 3rd
As I have said before, I love Josiah for his commitment to God. I was sad to see him killed in battle especially after being warned from the Pharaoh, but I wonder if God didn't just call him home because of the punishment that He had in store for Judah.
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