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Jeremiah 2:23-5:19<\/strong><\/span> Today in Jeremiah chapter 2 verse 26 we read this sad statement \u2013 \u201cLike a thief, Israel feels shame only when she gets caught. Kings, officials, priests, and prophets\u2013all are alike in this.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>How about us in our lives today?\u00a0 Do we only feel shame when we get caught?\u00a0 Do we realize that God knows exactly what we are doing even if we think we might be doing something in \u201csecret\u201d?\u00a0 Do you realize there are absolutely no secrets with God? <\/span><\/p>\n We read some harsh words today from God to Israel in Jeremiah chapters 2 & 3 \u2013 calling the nation a prostitute and an adulteress.\u00a0 These are not words a person wants to hear from God \u2013 much less an entire nation hearing these words!\u00a0 Jeremiah wrote this book during the last 40 years of Judah\u2019s existence, which is not surprising to consider when we read this in chapter 3 verses 8 through 10 \u2013 \u201cBut now Judah, too, has left me and given herself to prostitution. Israel treated it all so lightly\u2013she thought nothing of committing adultery by worshiping idols made of wood and stone. So now the land has been greatly defiled. But in spite of all this, her faithless sister Judah has never sincerely returned to me. She has only pretended to be sorry,\u201d says the LORD.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Again, not words you want to hear from God.\u00a0 Can you imagine a much worse insult from God?\u00a0 A prostitute?\u00a0 An adulteress?\u00a0 As harsh as these words are \u2013 I almost hesitate to ask this \u2013 But I think I should \u2013 Today, are we ourselves ever a \u201cprostitute\u201d or an \u201cadulteress\u201d to God?\u00a0 Do we give ourselves over to sins and lusts and false loves that break God\u2019s heart because of his love for us?\u00a0 Well, when we act in such a bad way, we are fortunate that God says things like he did in verse 1 of chapter 3 of Jeremiah today \u2013 \u201cBut you have prostituted yourself with many lovers, says the LORD. Yet I am still calling you to come back to me.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Even though we may sin gravely against God, he still calls us to come back to Him!\u00a0 Through Jesus today we can come back to Him!\u00a0 Do you need to come back to Him in any way in your life?\u00a0 Will you?\u00a0 Will you leave behind any and all \u201cadulteress\u201d or \u201cprostitute\u201d behaviors, and return to Him simply as the child of God that you were always made to be?<\/span> Today in Jeremiah chapter 5 verses 14 through 17 we read God\u2019s words to Israel about the coming of the armies of Babylon! \u201cTherefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty says: \u201cBecause the people are talking like this, I will give you messages that will burn them up as if they were kindling wood. O Israel, I will bring a distant nation against you,\u201d says the LORD. \u201cIt is a mighty nation, an ancient nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you cannot understand. Their weapons are deadly; their warriors are mighty. They will eat your harvests and your children\u2019s bread, your flocks of sheep and your herds of cattle. Yes, they will eat your grapes and figs. And they will destroy your fortified cities, which you think are so safe.\u201d<\/em><\/span> Per Tyndale\u2019s One Year Bible Companion today \u2013 \u201cBabylon was indeed an ancient nation.\u00a0 The old Babylonian empire had lasted from about 1900 B.C. to 1550 B.C., and earlier kingdoms had been on her soil as early as 3000 B.C.\u00a0 Babylon in Jeremiah\u2019s day would shortly rebel against Assyrian domination, form its own army, conquer Assyria, and become the next dominant world power.\u201d<\/span> Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings in Jeremiah reminded me of the David Crowder song on the radio called \u201cHow He\u00a0Loves.\u201d Here\u2019s an artist named Jared Anderson covering this song live.\u00a0Beautiful song!<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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