God Speaks
The LORD Calls Out the False Prophets, the Unfaithful Priests and the Uncaring Shepherds
Verse of the Day: [The LORD promises to those who respond well to His discipline (like those who obeyed Him in Babylon):] My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jeremiah 24:6-7 NIV 2011)
Read or listen on BibleGateway.com
Watch TBR Day 225
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Jeremiah 23-25:
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 23
1. God holds leaders responsible for how they take care of the people they lead and rewards those who remain faithful under difficult circumstances.
2. People are to look forward to a God-sent ruler who is righteous, wise, and just and who will rescue the people and keep them safe.
Jeremiah 24
1. God sometimes sends His people into bad situations (like exile in a foreign land), but these are meant to protect and grow them, not to harm them.
2. If people don’t respond to God’s discipline but continue to rebel, they will be disgraced, mocked, taunted, cursed, and scattered. They will suffer war, famine, and disease until they have vanished from the land.
Jeremiah 25
1. After God has used cruel people or nations to discipline His children, He will turn His vengeance and anger on those people or nations who have bullied them.
2. The people God finally rejects because of their stubborn rebellion against Him and His ways will find no place to hide; there will be no way to escape.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Jeremiah 23-25?
O LORD God, You are so kind, gracious, and patient, but You do need to step in and hold us, especially leaders, accountable for our attitudes and actions. Over the millennia, we human beings have continued to wander further from your plans for us. Even though You have provided a Good Shepherd who searched out and died to rescue His lost and wounded sheep, most of us rejected Him. Now You promise that He will return as a righteous ruler full of wisdom and justice. He will rescue us from cruel slave masters and keep us safe. Sometimes, You send Your disobedient children into situations that teach us to depend on and obey You and Your ways in order to survive. Once we’ve learned that lesson, You allow us back into Your presence and keep us safe. If we don’t respond to Your discipline and continue to rebel, we open ourselves up to disgrace, mocking, poor mental or physical health, strained relationships, and many other adverse consequences. LORD, please help me to turn back and follow You. Thank You, Father God, that, in Your time and in Your way, You will deal with those who have hurt or oppressed Your children, including me. Even at that, You only reject or punish people or nations that have stubbornly resisted, rebelled against, or rejected You and Your provision of salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Dear LORD who hardens hearts, I trust that You also soften them. Please soften the stubborn hearts of multitudes of people (including the ones I hold dear) so that they turn to You, become part of Your kingdom-family, and 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 23-25? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will take to heart these warnings from the LORD trusting that He knows best even when things look bad.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to say and do everything that the LORD wants me to say and do and nothing that He doesn’t.
- I will watch how people are leading the flock of God and follow the example of the good shepherds.
- I will prepare to face opposition to the LORD God and His ways.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.