Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 16-17, Psalm 61

“On the day you were born, no one cared about you. Your umbilical cord was not cut and you were never washed, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in cloth. No one had the slightest interest in you; no one pitied you or cared for you. On the day you were born, you were unwanted, dumped in a field and left to die. BUT I CAME BY AND SAW YOU THERE, helplessly kicking about in your own blood. As you lay there, I said, ‘Live!’ And I HELPED YOU to thrive like a plant in the field… – Ezekiel 16:4-7a

The Israelites needed someone to paint a picture for them of their unfaithfulness and disrespect. In Ezekiel 16, the Lord used a parable to describe His people as a wife who is unfaithful to her husband. God had blessed His people and they had, in turn, put other things ahead of God, making idols of the very things God had blessed them with.

Reading through this parable, I could not help but see the resemblance of this kind of unfaithfulness today. We are so quick to fall in love with the things of this world instead of running after things that have eternal value. We are willing to sacrifice so much of what God has blessed us with in order to have more and more of what the world has to offer. We run after earthly possessions and accomplishments, instead of running after God. We quickly forget all that He has done for us.

“Then I bathed you and washed off your blood, and I rubbed fragrant oils into your skin. I gave you expensive clothing…I gave you lovely jewelry…And so you were adorned with gold and silver…You ate the finest food…You looked like a queen, and so you were! Your fame soon spread throughout the world because of your beauty. I dressed you in my splendor and perfected your beauty, says the Sovereign Lord.

“But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen?…

“It seems you can never find enough new lovers! And after your prostitution there, you still were not satisfied. You added to your lovers by embracing Babylonia, the land of merchants, but you still weren’t satisfied.

“What a sick heart you have, says the Sovereign Lord, to do such things as these, acting like a shameless prostitute…so eager for sin…you are the opposite of other prostitutes. You pay your lovers instead of their paying you!” – Ezekiel 16:7-16, 28b-34

In a book that describes the wrath of God and His severe punishment on a nation that was unfaithful after He had done so much for them, He uses a parable that could easily be used to describe us.

God blesses us with time and we spend it on ourselves.
God blesses us with money and we use it to buy more of what the world has to offer.
God blesses us with a television and we watch unwholesome programs.
God blesses us with beauty and we use it to bring attention to ourselves.
God blesses us with beautiful bodies and we dress immodestly.
God blesses us with a sense of humor and we participate in coarse joking.
God blesses us with intelligence and we make our own decisions.
God blesses us with talent and we allow pride to grow.
God blesses us with family and we gossip & complain about them.

Forgive us, Lord!
Forgive us for the importance we put on the things of this world and on our own physical beauty.
Forgive us for embracing “the land of merchants” and always wanting more.
Forgive us for thinking anything you have blessed us with is ours to enjoy.
Forgive us, Lord!

“I will be a sanctuary to you during your time of exile.” – Ezekiel 11:16

Wow, these words are so powerful. God was punishing His people by allowing Jerusalem to be destroyed, including their place of worship. Why? To remind them that the Temple was never meant to BE worshiped but to be a place to worship GOD. Now the Temple is gone and they are far from their homes and all God had blessed them with, but they still had God. He was with them and He desired to be their sanctuary. He stripped them of everything so that they would fall on their knees and recognize Him as the only place to go to worship.

Lord, be our sanctuary. Lord, we long to worship you this morning. We recognize your blessings all around us and we turn our attention to you. Give us eyes to see only YOU and hearts to desire only what you desire. Lord, we fall on our knees and ask you to forgive us as a nation. Lord, turn our hearts back to you and help us to once more become a nation who puts their trust in you alone.

Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings. — Psalm 61:4

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 12:21-15:8

Israel: “Time passes and prophecies come to nothing.”

God: “I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.”

New proverb from God: “The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!”

God: “I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Israel: “He’s talking about the distant future. His visions won’t come true for a long, long time.”

God: “No more delay! I will NOW do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 12:21-28

THEY HAD LOST THEIR FEAR OF GOD.

God’s people were no longer taking Him seriously. There were even false prophets telling them what they wanted to hear — that peace would come to Jerusalem. If I say everything will be alright because I want to believe that everything will be alright, it doesn’t mean that everything will be alright.

“You have discouraged the righteous with your lies, but I didn’t want them to be sad. You have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins.” – Ezekiel 13:22

No more lying. No more telling people what they want to hear. No more building popularity. It is time to obey God and say what He is telling you to say.

THEY HAD LOST THEIR PURPOSE FROM GOD.

God also expressed his frustration toward those who were embracing things that were leading them into sin. They were pursuing the things of the world and then seeking God for advice or answers. God let them know that if they were going to reject him, He was going to reject them. They could not be apathetic towards God and still benefit from His blessings. Like a vine that bears no fruit, they had become useless. And if a vine exists for the purpose of producing fruit, yet produces no fruit, what else is it good for?

When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it. – Hebrews 6:7-8

“And this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Jerusalem are like grapevines growing among the trees of the forest. Since they are useless, I have thrown them on the fire to be burned. And I will see to it that if they escape from one fire, they will fall into another. When I turn against them, you will know that I am the Lord. And I will make the land desolate because my people have been unfaithful to me. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 15:6-8

Vines are only good for bearing fruit. If they are not going to bear fruit, then they are only useful for building fires — but even their fires burn too quickly, so they are still useless. We are created to live a fruitful life — a life of righteousness and good works that flow out of our faith relationship with God.

GOD WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH US.

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.” – John 15:1-6

Father God, thank you for creating us with a purpose in mind for our lives. Thank you for placing a desire in our hearts to please you and to serve you. As we go through our day, give us quiet moments of pondering the purpose for which you have us here today. Prune us and mold us into a grapevine whose produce comes straight from the desires of your heart. May your words in Ezekiel encourage us to turn our attention to You and remove every trace of idols from our lives. May it never be said of us that we have become useless; may our hearts be tender and responsive towards God.

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. – Ezekiel 11:19-20

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 8-12:20; Psalm 94

The story of Ezekiel’s life is both bizarre and interesting. It can be summarized in one simple statement: Ezekiel was willing to be whatever God called him to be. He was willing to be strange if that’s what God wanted him to be, if that’s what it took for God to get the attention of His people. He was willing to do whatever God asked him to do, no matter what those around him thought of his antics. Which is good because things were about to get even crazier for Ezekiel.

God took ahold of Ezekiel. In a split moment, Ezekiel went from entertaining the leaders of Judah in his home to facing what appeared to be a man who looked like gleaming ambers from the waist up and a burning fire from the waist down. In a vision God reached out with what seemed to be a hand and took Ezekiel by the hair, lifting him into the sky and transporting him back to Jerusalem.

God showed Ezekiel the detestable and wicked sins that were being committed in the Temple, sins committed in dark secret rooms but seen by God. Then Ezekiel watched as God’s wrath was poured out on the city – no mercy, no pity. The Temple courtyards filled with corpses. Then Ezekiel saw what appeared to be a throne above the heads of the cherubim.

“Then the glory of the Lord rose up from above the cherubim and went over to the door of the Temple. The Temple was filled with this cloud of glory, and the courtyard glowed brightly with the glory of the Lord. The moving wings of the cherubim sounded like the voice of God Almighty and could be heard even in the inner courtyard…Then the cherubim rose upward…Then THE GLORY OF THE LORD MOVED OUT from the door of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim…” – Ezekiel 10:4-5,15a,18

EVERY SIN HAD BEEN SEEN BY GOD AND EVERY THOUGHT KNOWN BY GOD.

God knew those who remained in Jerusalem were bragging about their freedom and how they would now get all the land that was owned by those who had been taken into exile. Even in the horrible situation they were in, they continued to be greedy and prideful (11:5,15-16). They continued to have rebellious hearts, refusing to see and hear the God they believed was still in the Temple in Jerusalem (12:2).

So God called Ezekiel to be WEIRD once more. During the day, Ezekiel packed all of his belongings and moved them outside of his home – a scene that immediately caught the attention of God’s people. Then, as night fell, Ezekiel went back into his home and began digging a hole in the wall with his bare hands, just as a captive would need to do in order to escape imprisonment. He then crawled out of the hole and lifted his pack on his shoulder. His WEIRD antics had everyone’s attention now. He then gave them a message from the Lord, prophesying about the way in which King Zedekiah would soon be leaving Jerusalem. He would be captured and brought to Babylon to be a captive just as they would be. His army would be scattered and their last chance at being rescued by their king would vanish (Ezekiel 12).

“Even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night through a hole in the wall, taking only what he can carry with him. He will cover his face, and his eyes will not see the land he is leaving.” – Ezekiel 12:12

EVERY SIN HAD BEEN SEEN BY GOD AND EVERY THOUGHT KNOWN BY GOD.

Even the appointed king would experience the consequences of his actions. When given the opportunity to humble himself and surrender to God’s plan, Zedekiah had cowered in fear and chose to do things his own way. There were no more chances; he had refused to obey God for the last time. His sins were laid out before the Lord and he showed no regret.

So what happens if God asks us to humble ourselves before him and repent? What will we do if God asks us to swallow our pride and surrender our authority? How will we respond if He asks us to do something out of the ordinary for Him? What happens if He asks us to do something that seems unreasonable, ridiculous, or just plain WEIRD? Are we willing to go there? Are we willing to put pride aside and do whatever God asks us to do? Are we willing to confess our sins and make restitution, taking every step the Lord requires of us?

“The Lord isn’t looking,” they say,
“and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.”
Think again, you fools!
When will you finally catch on?
Is he deaf—the one who made your ears?
Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?
He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you?
He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing?
The Lord knows people’s thoughts;
he knows they are worthless! – Psalm 94:7-11

Lord, help me to focus my eyes on you and you only. May my heart reflect the desires of your heart, giving me the willingness to daily respond in obedience to you. I want to be in the center of your will; I want to be open to anything you ask me to do for you, even if it’s far from what I expected and far from what others expect of me. Lord, send your Spirit to point out any sin in my life and guide me through the steps of restoration I need to take to make things right with other people. Melt away my pride so that I can bring you glory in my attitudes and actions today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 7; Psalm 84

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Clap your hands in horror, and stamp your feet. Cry out because of all the detestable sins the people of Israel have committed. Now they are going to die from war and famine and disease. Disease will strike down those who are far away in exile. War will destroy those who are nearby. And anyone who survives will be killed by famine. So at last I will spend my fury on them. – Ezekiel 6:11-12

“THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.” (6:14b)

The Lord had given the people of Israel chance after chance to repent. He had sent message after message revealing the punishment that would come if they did not stop their wicked ways and fully surrender their hearts to the God who had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. He had provided blessing after blessing in the land He had promised their ancestors, and yet they still were not giving God their full attention.

Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel:
“The end is here!
Wherever you look—
east, west, north, or south—
your land is finished.
No hope remains,
for I will unleash my anger against you.
I will call you to account
for all your detestable sins.
I will turn my eyes away and show no pity.
I will repay you for all your detestable sins.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.” – Ezekiel 7:1-4

“THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.” (7:4b)

The Lord, whom we know to be slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion (Numbers 14:18), is also the God who commands obedience. The Lord of compassion and mercy is slow to anger and filled with faithfulness (Exodus 34:6), but He does not tolerate disobedience and disloyalty. He is prepared to get our attention so that we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is the Lord!

Soon I will pour out my fury on you
and unleash my anger against you.
I will call you to account
for all your detestable sins.
I will turn my eyes away and show no pity.
I will repay you for all your detestable sins.
Then you will know that it is I, the Lord,
who is striking the blow. – Ezekiel 7:8-9

“THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.” (7:27b)

Does God have your full attention during this season of your life? Do you know with confidence that you are allowing Him to be Lord in every area, with every decision, and in every relationship? Have you surrendered everything to God so that you can fully experience His kindness?

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong. – Romans 11:22-24

Lord, we place our trust in you today. Thank you for pursuing us even when our fickle hearts have strayed. We are grateful to be recipients of your grace and mercy. We declare today that we want you and only you to be the Lord of our lives. May we experience joy today as we choose to trust in you wholeheartedly. Amen.

A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you. – Psalm 84:10-12

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 4-6, Psalm 51

I am a visual learner, which means I prefer to read information over listening to it. I remember facts better if I can see them. When a speaker or preacher tells a story that allows me to visualize what is happening, I am on the edge of my seat. I am more engaged if I can picture what the speaker is describing. God used some very dramatic visual aids to be performed by or lived out by Ezekiel, getting the attention of his audience with visual messages that would be hard to forget.

God called Ezekiel to be WEIRD. I am not sure that there is a better word to describe his calling. Ezekiel could have let pride get in the way and could have said, “No God, that’s just WEIRD. What would people think of me?” But instead Ezekiel experienced things like no one else ever had or ever will, all because he was willing to be WEIRD for God.

EZEKIEL WAS WILLING TO BE WEIRD IF THAT’S WHAT GOD WAS CALLING HIM TO BE.

Ezekiel took a brick and drew a map of Jerusalem on it. Similar to a young child playing with Legos, Ezekiel built a wall around the brick and then set up enemy camps to surround the city/brick, with little miniature siege ramps and battering rams. He took an iron griddle and placed it between himself and the brick (Ezekiel 4:1-3).

Then Ezekiel lay on his side facing the replica of Jerusalem and placed the sins of Israel on himself. He was tied up with ropes and confined to this position for 390 days, one day for each year of Israel’s sin. Then Ezekiel turned over and on his right side for another 40 days, one for each year of Judah’s sin. For 430 days (that’s 14 months), Ezekiel laid on his side, tied up with rope, baring his arm and prophesying Jerusalem’s destruction (4:4-8).

During this time, Ezekiel ate food he had prepared in advance and rationed out. He did this to show how food in Jerusalem would be hard to find and rationed in small portions. God asked him to prepare this bread using human dung to show how the Israelites would be forced to eat defiled bread in the Gentile lands to which they would be banished. This was when Ezekiel had a please-not-that-God moment. God relented and allowed Ezekiel to bake his bread over cow dung instead (still gross, but not quite as WEIRD).

GOD SHOWED MERCY IN THE MIDST OF THE HARD THING HE WAS ASKING EZEKIEL TO DO.

Then Ezekiel shaved his head and divided the hair into three piles. He took 1/3 of the hair and laid it on the brick replica of Jerusalem. He then acted out the siege with his miniature enemies, just as a young child would play with their toys. He took another third of his hair and spread it across his battle ground and then chopped it up with a sword. Then he took the last third of his hair and lifted it for the wind to scatter. He then took some of the hair in front of him and threw it on the fire. Some of God’s people would not survive the famine, some would die violent deaths in the battle, and some would be scattered into exile.

“But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world. Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins. They will know that I alone am the Lord and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them.” – Ezekiel 6:8-10

The story of Ezekiel’s life is bizarre and interesting, but it comes down to one simple statement – Ezekiel was WEIRD because God called him to be WEIRD. He was willing to be WEIRD if that’s what God wanted him to be, if that’s what it took for God to get the attention of His people.

HOW WILL WE RESPOND IF GOD CALLS US TO DO SOMETHING WEIRD?

What happens if God asks us to do something outlandish for Him? What happens if He asks us to do something that seems unreasonable, ridiculous, or just plain WEIRD? Are we willing to go there? Are we willing to put pride aside and do whatever God asks us to do? Hmmmm. Will we give God our “yes” no matter how others may question or criticize us? That’s a hard question that needs some time to process in order to answer honestly. I think I will go back for a second cup of my morning coffee and seek the heart of God on this one.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you. – Psalm 51:12-13

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 1-3, Psalm 89

Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. – Psalm 37:24

While Jeremiah was hearing from God from within the walls of Jerusalem, Ezekiel had already been exiled to Babylon when “he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him” (Ezekiel 1:3). I love that description! Can you testify to that action in your life?

HAVE YOU FELT THE HAND OF THE LORD TAKE HOLD OF YOU?

The call on Ezekiel’s life was a very difficult one but God equipped him for what was ahead, just as He equips us today. Through visions, Ezekiel’s eyes were opened to the horrific things God’s people were doing — the reason God was so angry and His punishment was so harsh. That is a lot for one person to know; that is a heavy burden for one man to carry. With this call came a great deal of responsibility, which added to the weight already on Ezekiel’s shoulders.

“Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. If I warn the wicked saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.” – Ezekiel 3:17-19

The call on Ezekiel’s life was great, but so is the God who called him and who would equip him! All he had to do was respond in obedience to what God was calling him to do and say. He was not responsible for the choices of others, but he would be held accountable for his own response to God.

Just as Ezekiel saw the horrible and heartbreaking actions of his people, he also saw the glory of God and was filled with the Spirit. He had difficulty finding the right words for what he saw, so he described it as best he could by using phrases such as “looked like” or “what appeared to be”. He expressed his humanity by saying, “This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me.”

Above the surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me. “Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.” The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. – Ezekiel 1:26-2:2

I am so thankful that the Spirit of the Lord continues to fill us and set us on our feet when we feel overwhelmed. God also gives us His words to fill and prepare us for what is ahead.

“Open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom. The voice said to me, “Son of man, eat what I am giving you – eat this scroll! Then go and give its message to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. “Fill your stomach with this,” he said. And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth…Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.” Then the Spirit lifted me up… – Ezekiel 2:8b-3:3,10-12a

What God is calling you to do today is no heavier than the call He gave Ezekiel. Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed and have fallen on your face before the Lord. Trust God’s Spirit to lift you up off your face and fill you.

REST IN HIS HAND AS YOU FEEL THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD’S HOLD ON YOUR LIFE

“The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on me was strong.” – Ezekiel 3:14

Notice Ezekiel did not say that he went in joy and peace, but rather bitterness and turmoil. God allowed Ezekiel’s heart to break at the things that were breaking His heart. The road ahead of Ezekiel would not be an easy one but neither would God leave him alone to face what He was calling him to do. In the same way, God will not leave you alone.

Are we ready to accept God’s call? When He places His Word in front of us and tells us to eat, will we find the time to consume his words and let them sink deep into our heart, listening carefully to what He has to say to us?

DO YOU FEEL THE HAND OF THE LORD ON YOUR LIFE? HIS HOLD ON YOU IS STRONG – Do not resist.

I will steady him with my hand; with my powerful arm I will make him strong. – Psalm 89:21

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 36:1-21, Psalm 74

O God, why have you rejected us so long?
Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?
Remember that we are the people you chose long ago,
the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession!
And remember Jerusalem, your home here on earth.
Walk through the awful ruins of the city;
see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary. – Psalm 74:1-3

REMEMBER YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR PEOPLE, OH LORD!

Remember what Jerusalem used to be before the enemy arrived to destroy what had once been beautiful. Remember the days when your people faithfully worshiped you. Remember your love for this sinful nation — a love undeserved and now unreciprocated.

Likewise, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful. They followed all the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, desecrating the Temple of the Lord that had been consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Lord, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple. But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done. – 2 Chronicles 36:14-16

REMEMBER YOUR LOVE FOR THE LORD, OH PEOPLE!

For 23 years, Jeremiah had preached a message of repentance. He relayed every warning and each prophecy that he received from the Lord, yet the people did not listen. Then his message had changed to a declaration of the coming judgment, yet God’s people hardened their hearts and continued to desecrate the temple by worshiping false gods instead of the God who had so faithfully led them across the Red Sea, fought their battles for them, and provided for them over and over again. There would be no more talk of the coming destruction of Jerusalem; the time for judgment was now.

Then the Lord sent bands of Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Judah to destroy it, just as the Lord had promised through his prophets. These disasters happened to Judah because of the Lord’s command. He had decided to banish Judah from his presence because of the many sins of Manasseh, who had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. The Lord would not forgive this. – 2 Kings 24:2-4

The king took home to Babylon all the articles, large and small, used in the Temple of God, and the treasures from both the Lord’s Temple and from the palace of the king and his officials. Then his army burned the Temple of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, burned all the palaces, and completely destroyed everything of value. The few who survived were taken as exiles to Babylon, and they became servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. – 2 Chronicles 36:18-20

There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries;
there they set up their battle standards.
They swung their axes
like woodcutters in a forest.
With axes and picks,
they smashed the carved paneling.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground.
They defiled the place that bears your name.
Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!”
So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped. – Psalm 74:4-8

These things happened because of the Lord’s anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile. – 2 Kings 24:20

REMEMBER YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR PEOPLE, OH LORD!

Give us ears to hear your words of warning. May we see the sins of the world around us and respond in repentance instead of rebellion. We pray for revival to break out across the world, drawing all people into a growing relationship with their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Forgive us for our unfaithfulness and lead us back into your arms of grace. Amen.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. – Matthew 6:9b-13(NKJV)

So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said. – 2 Chronicles 36:21

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 37-38

God gave one man the opportunity to save the city of Jerusalem from destruction. King Zedekiah was given the chance to surrender to God by surrendering to the Babylonians, saving his own life and sparing Jerusalem from being burned to the ground. He could have changed history; he could have saved his people. But out of fear, the king chose to ignore God’s message and keep Jeremiah in prison. In great selfishness, Zedekiah put his own needs above the needs of the people he was called to lead (Jeremiah 38:17-28).

BUT GOD HAD PUT A PLAN IN MOTION THAT THE DISOBEDIENCE OF ONE MAN COULD NOT STOP.

God had a plan to use one man to bring his people back into a covenant relationship with Him. Through the obedience of this one man came the gift of salvation; from the sacrifice of God’s only Son came a new and life-giving way.

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will NOT be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves a wife,” says the Lord. “But this is the NEW COVENANT I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…And I will forgive them their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” – Jeremiah 31:31-34

These words of God are repeated in Hebrews 8:8-12 and explained in Hebrews 9 & 10, helping us understand that the new covenant was put in place when Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins. Let’s look at Paul’s words in his letter to Rome.

“The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.” – Romans 8:3

SIN NO LONGER HAS CONTROL OVER US BECAUSE OF THE OBEDIENCE OF GOD’S SON.

But why did the temple have to be destroyed? Why didn’t God preserve Jerusalem and simply exile the people to foreign lands, giving them the opportunity to come back in 70 years to a city intact? The writer of Hebrews explained why the temple and its traditions had to be destroyed just as Jeremiah prophesied:

That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth…When these things were in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. – Hebrews 9:1,6-8

With the old covenant, God’s people were not given access to freely enter His presence as we are given now. Because Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins by the power of the eternal Spirit, He mediates a new covenant with God as he appears before God on our behalf.

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. – Hebrews 10:20-22a

LET’S GO RIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITH SINCERE HEARTS FULLY TRUSTING HIM.

So here I am today, enjoying my morning coffee in the presence of a God I can trust and it all goes back to the time we have studied as we read through 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, as well as the books of the prophets and now the book of Jeremiah. The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple Solomon built led the way to a new and everlasting covenant through the death of the perfect sacrifice – Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for writing this covenant on my heart. You have given me one heart and one purpose — to worship you forever! You have placed a desire in my heart to worship you and I will never leave you! I will find joy in doing good for you because you find joy in doing good for me. I will serve you faithfully and wholeheartedly because you are a faithful and wholehearted God! Lord, I soak in your presence this morning with a sincere heart, fully trusting you! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 35-36, Psalm 50

When we choose a spouse, we are not only getting a husband or wife, we are getting a whole family! Some of you are already laughing because you know the hard core truth of that statement. The love of your life comes with parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. They come with their traditions, their norms and their expectations. So when I said my vows to Scott, I was also making a commitment to become a Sherwood. I love them with all my heart. They are my people.

“I will be their God and they will be my people.” – Exodus 6:7

These are the powerful words of God when He made a covenant with His people; this is the promise Moses held onto as he went to Pharaoh with the command to let His people go. It is not a coincidence that God uses these words again through the prophet Jeremiah as His people are once more entering captivity. He reminds them that, just as He rescued them from Egypt, He has plans to deliver them from the exile they are beginning in Babylon.

We may read right over those words without thinking much of them, but to the people of Judah, “I will be their God and they will be my people” meant something. It reminded them of their covenant with God to obey His commandments, the first of which they broke over and over again: “You must not have any other god before me” (Exodus 20:3).

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will NOT be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves a wife,” says the Lord. “But this is the NEW COVENANT I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…And I will forgive them their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” – Jeremiah 31:31-34

I WILL PUT MY INSTRUCTIONS DEEP WITHIN THEM, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.

This new covenant would not be written on stone tablets; it would be written on their hearts. The old covenant required obedience and faithfulness to the God who was willing to meet with their leader on the mountain while they stayed at a distance. The new covenant would be deep within each individual child of God, written on their hearts as each one had the opportunity to experience a personal God living within them.

What a God of restoration we serve! God’s people were experiencing the fury of God while He equipped Babylon to destroy Jerusalem and take His people captive for 70 years. Yet, in the midst of this sentencing, God was expressing love and promising to bring them home again starting over with a new covenant that would draw them closer to Him instead of pushing them away – a covenant that would last forever!

“They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an EVERLASTING COVENANT with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.” – Jeremiah 32:38-41

I WILL NEVER STOP DOING GOOD FOR THEM.

Oh the heart of a God who loves us that much! He finds joy in doing good for us, even when we have a history of walking away from Him. He puts a desire in our heart to worship and serve Him. He is a God of justice who calls us to follow Him and live out the righteousness His Spirit is producing inside of us, and He is also a God of grace and mercy who pursues the restoration of our relationship with Him. He is the kind of God who can look at His rebellious children and say, “I will be your God and you will be my people.”

“Bring my faithful people to me—
those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.”
Then let the heavens proclaim his justice,
for God himself will be the judge. – Psalm 50:5-6

“If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the path of salvation.” – Psalm 50:23b

Father God, we thank you for the patience you reveal to us over and over again. Forgive us for the many times we have disappointed you with our selfishness and sinful choices. Forgive us for the times when we have gotten so wrapped up in the things of this world that we have lost the focus we once had on you. Lord, we thank you for the sacrifice that you made in order that we might live in relationship with you. Your goodness and your love have washed over us once again this morning as we lift our voices in surrender to you — You will be our God and we will be your people! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 32–34

A big part of Jeremiah’s message to the people of Judah was that there was HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE. Jeremiah wanted the people to know they could trust God and that this return to Jerusalem someday was possible because nothing was too difficult for God. What a great message to sweeten the bitterness of my morning coffee.

God told Jeremiah to buy a piece of land that Jeremiah’s cousin was going to ask him to purchase from him. He wanted Jeremiah to do this in order to show the people that he trusted God and fully believed the Promised Land would once again be theirs. As you can imagine, for anyone to purchase land at this point in the battle would appear very foolish yet what Jeremiah was doing was MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE THAT GOD WAS PROMISING – that’s how much he trusted his God!

DO WE TRUST GOD THAT MUCH?

“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and the earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!… You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles… You have made your name famous to this day. You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty signs and wonders, with a strong hand and powerful arm, and with overwhelming terror. You gave the people of Israel this land that you had promised their ancestors long before – a land flowing with milk and honey.

Our ancestors came and conquered it and lived in it, but they refused to obey you or follow your word. They have not done anything you commanded. That is why you have sent this terrible disaster upon them…Everything has happened just as you said. And yet, O Sovereign Lord, you have told me to buy the field – paying good money for it before these witnesses — even though the city will soon be handed over to the Babylonians.” – Jeremiah 32:17-25

This sounds like a conversation we might have with God at times. We boldly point out to God how ridiculous it is that He would ask us to do ______________________when we are in the midst of ___________________. Go ahead and fill in the blanks for how that applies to your life right now. God is calling us to trust in His promises, just as He wanted Jeremiah to show his trust in his God.

Then the message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” – Jeremiah 32:26

TRUST IN GOD, WHO CAN DO ANYTHING!

This is the same question God asked Sarah when she struggled to believe in His promise that she would bear children, even at her age (Genesis 18:14). She quickly learned that God can be trusted to keep His promise.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. — Hebrews 10:23

And this is what God was promising His people at this time as they were gathering everything they could from within the city of Jerusalem to strengthen the walls against the siege ramps, trying hard to fight the Babylonians and resist captivity:

“Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their towns. I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellions. Then this city will bring me joy, glory and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.” – Jeremiah 33:6-9

ENTER INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND TRUST HIM.

What battle are you fighting right now? I pray you are reminded this morning that we serve a God who heals, restores, rebuilds, cleanses and forgives. I encourage you to enter into the presence of your God and trust that nothing is too hard for Him!

What is God asking you to do today to show that you trust Him, regardless of the circumstances in your life? Enter into the presence of your God and listen closely with a heart willing to obey.

What is your answer to God when He asks, “Is anything too hard for me?” Enter into the presence of your God and seek the answer to that question.

Nothing is too hard for our God. He wants us to enter into His presence, trust in His promises and give Him every situation we are facing. He wants us to remember how He conquered death and believe in His power to conquer anything. Let’s go to Him with sincere hearts, fully trusting in our great and mighty God.

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, LET US GO RIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD with sincere hearts fully trusting him. – Hebrews 10:20-22a