God Speaks
The LORD Commissions Jeremiah to Preach Both His Judgment and His Restoration Over His People
Verse of the Day: [Oh that we, the LORD God’s people today, would repent of our sins as depicted in these verses.] From our youth shameful gods [ideologies and actions] have consumed the fruits of our ancestors’ labor–their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters. Let us lie down in our shame, and let disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our ancestors; from our youth till this day we have disobeyed the LORD our God. (Jeremiah 3:24-25 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Jeremiah 1-3:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Jeremiah 1
1. God chooses and directs His spokespeople like Jeremiah.
2. People need to acknowledge their inadequacy apart from God to carry out the tasks He has assigned them.
Jeremiah 2
1. God has messages to His people that He wants to have delivered.
2. People need to pay attention to and obey the words of the LORD.
Jeremiah 3
1. God pleads with His people to return to Him in the right way for the right reasons.
2. People often want the things God can give or do for them, but they don’t want to obey Him just because of who He is.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Jeremiah 1-3?
Dear loving Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the One who chooses Your servants; we don’t just volunteer on our own. Please, Holy Spirit, empower those You have chosen to “stand up against nations and kingdoms [and people groups]. Some [they] must uproot and tear down, destroy, and overthrow. Others [they] must build up and plant.” I see that in Your loving mercy and grace, Father God, You must discipline Your children for all our evil. We insist upon worshiping objects or ideologies we have made with our own hands and minds. Thank You for the ways You have fortified Your chosen servants to stand up against the onslaughts coming against them. Because You are with them and will take care of them, their enemies will fail. Please work in believers’ hearts so that we are as eager to please You, LORD, as a new bride is eager to please her husband. May all who seek to harm Your people be declared guilty and have disaster fall on them. Forgive us, O LORD, for our ingratitude for all You have done for us. Our priests (and we as individuals) have not sought Your position or perspective on various matters. Instructors have ignored or spoken against Your word. Rulers have turned against You. Those tasked with helping us anticipate and prepare for the future have turned to false “gods.” Future generations will suffer because of this. Your people have exchanged their relationship with You, our glorious God, for worthless idols and ideologies. Help us to “see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the LORD [our] God and to not fear Him.” Holy Spirit, please shine the light of Your love in our hearts and turn us back to the LORD God. We have been like an unfaithful spouse. We “have chosen crooked paths and have forgotten the LORD [our] God. Say again to Your wayward children, “Come back to Me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” We have engaged in delusions, but only in the LORD our God will Israel (or any other people group) ever find salvation. From the dawn of time, we human beings have never obeyed You completely. Only Jesus has. Please forgive us on the basis of His sufficient sacrifice. Only then will we be able to truly bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Jeremiah 1-3? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will take an hour in prayer and repent of specific sins on behalf of my nation and myself.
- I will obey the LORD when He gives me an assignment even if I don’t understand or feel qualified.
- I will pray for missionary candidates who are being trained and equipped to serve the LORD in cross cultural situations.
- I will discuss with an influencer (within my sphere of influence) in each of the seven mountains of culture how we can work and pray to turn that mountain back to the LORD.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.