222nd Week, Jeremiah Chapters 49-52 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

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 Click on Title for Video Intro 


Monday, Jeremiah Chapter 49
Jeremiah 49
Verse 16
Jane Jones

Verse 16:  “The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the  hill.  Though you build your nest as high as the eagles, from there I will bring you down.”

THOUGHT
This verse caught my ear when I was reading the entire chapter, possibly because of what I wrote last night about pride.  Then when I read the application study guide, it referred to this verse as well. Our chapter once again resounds more and more about pride destroying nations, tribes and towns. 

We are to be aware that pride not only destroys nations, but also individuals. Pride tells us that we can take care of ourselves without the help of God. There are times that even while we are serving God and others, it can lead to pride. 

The Bible reminds us to take inventory of our lives and service for God. May our goal today be to not let pride stand in the way of making a decision. May we always look to Jesus as our leader away from pride.

PRAYER
We ask that You will help us take inventory of our lives and service for God. We ask for assistance from You, Lord, to point out and remove any pride we may be harboring. We Love You, Jesus. AMEN


Tuesday, Jeremiah Chapter 50
Jeremiah 50
Verse 32
Jane Jones

Verse 32:  “The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up: I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.”

THOUGHT
The chapter was on the fall of Babylon. God used the Babylonians to destroy the nation of Judah, and now God was going to destroy Babylon. God was out to punish everyone who had disobeyed and acted arrogant toward Him. 

From the application study guide again God reminds us that it is our arrogance and pride that get in our way when we as individuals or nations try to be self-sufficient or believe that we don’t need God. Proud nations or persons, will eventually fall because they refuse to recognize God as the ultimate power. Getting rid of pride is not easy. The best antidote to pride is to focus our attention on the greatness and goodness of God.

I couldn’t help but think of Jeremiah yesterday while standing and waiting to see President George W Bush in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. God sent Jeremiah out to speak to nation after nation. It would be like going to see Bush yesterday day after day and having the Lord tell me to speak to the leader of our nation on what he was to do according to God. What a job Jeremiah had to do. Again and again Jeremiah sought out leader after leader telling them what the Lord had said. 

I looked around and thought, “Who would Jeremiah have been today?” One of the protesters, one of the party leaders, Senator Grassley, one of the secret service people, one of the policemen, or just a casual observer like myself?” Would we have made a faithful Jeremiah for the Lord? Would we have stood for hours to get a chance to visit with a leader of a nation? After what I experienced yesterday, it would have been very hard. I have a great deal of admiration for Jeremiah today. I now know what the book of Jeremiah is all about. Thanks be to God for people like ‘Jerry’ a/k/a Jeremiah.

PRAYER
In the whole scheme of things, Lord, we just ask You to help us with two simple things. One is - may we never let pride and arrogance get in our way of being so self-sufficient that we believe we do not need You. The second is - may we work every day at being as faithful as Jeremiah. May we reach out to You in love every day, and may we surrender all our burdens at the foot of the cross and faithfully know that You will take care of them.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN


Wednesday, Jeremiah Chapter 51
Jeremiah 51
Verses 15 & 16
Jeanie Boldt

Verses 15 & 16:  He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.  When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.  He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

THOUGHT
I so believe these verses show the power and strength that our God has.  His power and strength are far beyond our comprehension. I am glad that a God with all of this strength is my God and the one I can lay all my burdens down on. 

These words should once again help us understand that He can handle anything. SO - LET HIM!

PRAYER
Father, our Creator and all powerful God. I love Your strength and protection. However, I also know that Your Word is to be obeyed and acted upon. You mean what You say, and we must realize that there will be consequences if we do not do as You say. Help us live as You would want us to. May I recognize Your strength, but feel the gentleness of Your everlasting arms. In Your Name Jesus.  AMEN


Thursday, Jeremiah Chapter 52
Jeremiah 52
Verse 3
Jeanie Boldt

Verse 3:  It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence.

THOUGHT
Jeremiah’s prophecy opens with God saying, “I am ready to perform My Word.”, and it closes with evidence that God did what He said He would do. Jeremiah was warning the people all through the book of what the Lord would do if they did not repent and turn back to God. Well, what Jeremiah said came true. 

In the world’s eyes, Jeremiah looked totally unsuccessful. He had very little to call his own, no family and no friends. No one really even liked him but he completed what the Lord had asked him to do.

What is your purpose? What does the Lord want from you? God will measure our success with the yardstick of obedience, faithfulness and righteousness. Will the Lord smile at you when your last day has come? 

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for this study! We praise Jeremiah for his faithfulness for we have seen his example and strive to do better for You. Help us see where You want us to be. Keep us faithful and striving always to be about Your work.  May we continue to grow and listen as You speak to us.  We Love You, Jesus. AMEN


Friday, Lamentations Introduction
Lamentations Intro
Jeanie Boldt

THOUGHT
Jeremiah’s two books focus on one event - the destruction of Jerusalem. The book of Jeremiah predicts it, and Lamentations looks back on it. Known as the book of tears, Lamentations is a dirge, a funeral song written for the fallen city of Jerusalem. It contains five poems corresponding to the five chapters. Jeremiah’s grief ran deep. His tears flowed from a broken heart. He wept because the people had rejected their God - the God who had made them, loved them, and sought repeatedly to bless them. His tears were tears of empathy and sympathy. His heart was broken with those things that break God’s heart.

The purpose of this book was written to teach people that to disobey God is to invite disaster, and to show that God suffers when His people suffer. Jerusalem had been destroyed by Babylon, and her people killed, tortured, or taken captive.

What causes your tears? Do you weep because your selfish pride has been wounded, or because the people around you sin against and reject the God who loves them dearly? Do you weep because you have lost something that gives you pleasure, or because people all around you will suffer for their sinfulness? Our world is filled with injustice, poverty, war, and rebellion against God, all of which should move us to tears and to action.

Read Lamentations and learn what it means to grieve with God.

PRAYER
Father God, we grieve along with You when people reject You or have so much pride they feel they can live without You. It hurts our ears when Your Name is taken in vain or when people possess the Word of God but do not read it or do what it says. We understand why Jeremiah wept. Give us all caring hearts so that we may share the everlasting love of Christ with those we come in contact with. Lord, we need strength so that we will never forsake You or put other things in front of You. Give us tears as we read this book and mourn along with Jeremiah. In The Name of Jesus. AMEN












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