Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored;
Renew our days as of old, v.21
Read chapter 5
Lamentations is a great picture of how a godly man responds to sin and the results of sin. Written by Jeremiah, we see that he isn't just passive and does nothing about Israel's sin and its result into captivity, rather he suffers alongside them, calls them out in truth of their sin, and leads them as a nation to repentance. This shows a nations repentance leads to a nations blessing. He identifies himself included in the sin of Israel, as he is an Israelite, though he was righteous before God. Throughout this book we have seen Jeremiah's extreme distress of their situation- the destruction of Jerusalem and all Judah and Israel either killed or in captivity. The only result to the mess they're in is to turn back to the Lord to be restored. And notice it is God acting first. He's the one to turn them back. By themselves they will never turn to the Lord, yet by His grace to allow them to return is it possible.
It all comes back to God- EVERYTHING!
Jeremiah, a godly man, didn't just ignore or become indifferent to sin and neither should we who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus. How do you react to sin of others around you? Why do we so often choose to ignore sin and its results? How do you notice that everything in this life comes back to God?
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Lamentations 4
How the gold has become dim!
How changed the fine gold!
The stones of the sanctuary are scattered
At the head of every street.
How changed the fine gold!
The stones of the sanctuary are scattered
At the head of every street.
The precious sons of Zion,
Valuable as fine gold,
How they are regarded as clay pots,
The work of the hands of the potter! vv.1-2
Read chapter 4
Have you ever seen how gold is collected and found? It's not just someone walking around with a metal detector and when he hears beeping he digs in the ground and discovers a block of gold. Actually it can be unseen to the naked eye (unless you're a geologist). My sister is a geologist of a gold mine in Australia. I've gone out to visit her and of course that included going to her work mine site and getting a whole in-depth tour. It consisted of putting on all this gear to go under ground and drive around in huge rigs to different drill sites, hear how and where they choose to drill and then see what they've excavated from the earth of the process of sifting, melting, purifying the dross away to finally getting a brick of gold. It's insane and a bit over my head. I remember my first thought was that everything just looks like piles of dirt, but from this mountain of dirt they would get so many ounces of gold. It may take hundreds of thousands of dollars of all the work that goes in to getting maybe one kilo of gold, but that kilo is worth so much more. Well this is the picture that we get here in this chapter of Lamentations. God calls His people precious and valuable- as fine gold, yet the Babylonians only see them as clay pots. Clay pots are just common utensils that no one looks or thinks twice about. And if a clay pot broke it was just replaced rather than fixed because it had so little value so not worth the effort to repair. The Babylonians had smashed/killed many of the Israelites and those that were left that were taken into captivity were regarded as just a common thing that could be replaced when needed.
How do you feel like a clay pot sometimes? How do you feel like fine gold? Only when gold has gone through all the refining process does it truly go from dirt, to dim, to shine! Let the Lord refine you.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Lamentations 3
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!” vv.22-24
Read chapter 3
I had a hard anguish type day last week that I just couldn't seem to kick, even as I laid on my bed at night I tossed and turned and just cried out in prayer to the Lord for what was troubling me. When I woke up the next morning my soul felt renewed, my problems weren't solved but my spirit was refocused and started anew that day. I immediately recalled this verse of the Lord's mercies are new every morning.
This book is the prophet Jeremiah's lamenting, his cry of anguish; yet in the middle of it he praised the Lord and has hope as we read here in these verses in the middle of this long chapter of anguish. Remember all of Israel and Judah have just gone into captivity and Jerusalem has been destroyed, I'm sure smoke was still in the air from its destruction as Jeremiah is looking on Jerusalem and writing this. And what do we see Jeremiah remind himself?
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!” vv.22-24
Read chapter 3
I had a hard anguish type day last week that I just couldn't seem to kick, even as I laid on my bed at night I tossed and turned and just cried out in prayer to the Lord for what was troubling me. When I woke up the next morning my soul felt renewed, my problems weren't solved but my spirit was refocused and started anew that day. I immediately recalled this verse of the Lord's mercies are new every morning.
This book is the prophet Jeremiah's lamenting, his cry of anguish; yet in the middle of it he praised the Lord and has hope as we read here in these verses in the middle of this long chapter of anguish. Remember all of Israel and Judah have just gone into captivity and Jerusalem has been destroyed, I'm sure smoke was still in the air from its destruction as Jeremiah is looking on Jerusalem and writing this. And what do we see Jeremiah remind himself?
- The Lord's compassions never fail
- The Lord's mercies are new every morning
- The Lord is faithful
- The Lord is all he needs- his portion
You may be thinking how could anyone cry out in the middle of such loss and anguish or only a prophet can do that. The reason though is that Jeremiah knew God could triumph over any trouble and turn a curse into a blessing, he knew God's character and promises that he could cling to and trust in. Even through hard times the Lord is working, He has not abandoned, He gives us the strength we need for each day.
How can you lift up your head to the God of mercy in a time of anguish in your life?
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Lamentations 2
My eyes fail with tears,
My heart is troubled;
My bile is poured on the ground
Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people,
Because the children and the infants
Faint in the streets of the city. v.11
Read chapter 2
I've realized lately that I get horrible stomach pains when I'm under stress or struggling with something. I used to think only if I got headaches was a sign of stress, but know after understanding the gut more, I've realized that is where stress release and confirmed by doctors and scientific studies and results. Jeremiah knew this already as we read hear in his lamenting while he's crying and feeling heartbroken that his bile is poured out on the ground. He's referring to this horrible stress, sadness, destruction of Jerusalem and the wrath of God on Israel.
Have you ever had a gallstone or kidney stone? It's insanely painful. I had a gallstone once and when was asked by the medics what my pain level was I said, "Well I've never had a baby so imagine that's worse, but this has got to be right up there!" I learned afterwards more about gallstones and that it can be caused by a block of bile in your stomach and gallbladder. When Jeremiah says his bile is poured on the ground I wonder if he's referring to the pain of that bile build up and had to pass stones? Today we talk about the heart as the seat of emotions for pain as that seems like a prettier image, but really it's the gut that is the core of our emotions which are effected by stress, hardship, depression, etc.
Have you felt this pain before? Literally or metaphorically? How have you seen the effects (primarily or secondarily) in your gut when facing highly emotional situations or seasons?
My heart is troubled;
My bile is poured on the ground
Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people,
Because the children and the infants
Faint in the streets of the city. v.11
Read chapter 2
I've realized lately that I get horrible stomach pains when I'm under stress or struggling with something. I used to think only if I got headaches was a sign of stress, but know after understanding the gut more, I've realized that is where stress release and confirmed by doctors and scientific studies and results. Jeremiah knew this already as we read hear in his lamenting while he's crying and feeling heartbroken that his bile is poured out on the ground. He's referring to this horrible stress, sadness, destruction of Jerusalem and the wrath of God on Israel.
Have you ever had a gallstone or kidney stone? It's insanely painful. I had a gallstone once and when was asked by the medics what my pain level was I said, "Well I've never had a baby so imagine that's worse, but this has got to be right up there!" I learned afterwards more about gallstones and that it can be caused by a block of bile in your stomach and gallbladder. When Jeremiah says his bile is poured on the ground I wonder if he's referring to the pain of that bile build up and had to pass stones? Today we talk about the heart as the seat of emotions for pain as that seems like a prettier image, but really it's the gut that is the core of our emotions which are effected by stress, hardship, depression, etc.
Have you felt this pain before? Literally or metaphorically? How have you seen the effects (primarily or secondarily) in your gut when facing highly emotional situations or seasons?
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Lamentations 1
Her uncleanness is in her skirts;
She did not consider her destiny;
Therefore her collapse was awesome;
She had no comforter.
“O Lord, behold my affliction,
For the enemy is exalted!” v.9
Read chapter 1
The book of Lamentations is written by the prophet Jeremiah after all Israel was taken captive and Jerusalem made desolate. It's a lament, a passionate expression of grief and sorrow, over the once great city. She, the city, is portrayed in public nakedness, a sign of disgrace and impurity. Even other nations look on her in despise. She failed to consider her future as she played the harlot with other gods and nations, but has now finally come to face.
For the first time we see the city cry out to God since captivity had set in, this small glimmer of hope they still had in the Lord. She cries aloud in her pain and grief as even the first words of knowing nothing else to say but cry:
She weeps bitterly in the night,
Her tears are on her cheeks;
Among all her lovers
She has none to comfort her.
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
They have become her enemies. v.2
Nothing or no one comforts her. She has nowhere else to turn but to the Lord. Can you relate to Jerusalem's depression? How has sorrow or suffering caused you to lament and cry out? How can considering your future effect what you do today?
She did not consider her destiny;
Therefore her collapse was awesome;
She had no comforter.
“O Lord, behold my affliction,
For the enemy is exalted!” v.9
Read chapter 1
The book of Lamentations is written by the prophet Jeremiah after all Israel was taken captive and Jerusalem made desolate. It's a lament, a passionate expression of grief and sorrow, over the once great city. She, the city, is portrayed in public nakedness, a sign of disgrace and impurity. Even other nations look on her in despise. She failed to consider her future as she played the harlot with other gods and nations, but has now finally come to face.
For the first time we see the city cry out to God since captivity had set in, this small glimmer of hope they still had in the Lord. She cries aloud in her pain and grief as even the first words of knowing nothing else to say but cry:
She weeps bitterly in the night,
Her tears are on her cheeks;
Among all her lovers
She has none to comfort her.
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
They have become her enemies. v.2
Nothing or no one comforts her. She has nowhere else to turn but to the Lord. Can you relate to Jerusalem's depression? How has sorrow or suffering caused you to lament and cry out? How can considering your future effect what you do today?
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Malachi 4
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
6 And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” vv.5-6
Read chapter 4
Would you say that Christ's first coming on this earth was a great and dreadful day? If you know about Jesus you know that He came to save the world in His first coming, He did not judge or take vengeance on His enemies, rather He forgave them and died for them.
So then why do people say that John the Baptist is reincarnated Elijah coming back to fill this prophesy? First off we never read of reincarnation in the Bible. Well we see words of Jesus in Matthew 11:13-14 say that he is, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come."
but then we also see John the Baptist flat out say he is not in John 1:21, "And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
So why does there seem to be contradiction? One thing we lose sometimes in translation are indefinite articles we have in English that aren't in Greek; the word 'a'. The verse quoting Jesus should read better "he is an Elijah." This makes sense also when the angle tells Zechariah that his son (John the Baptist) will come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), but not Elijah himself. Jesus is saying that just as it will be in the future day of the Lord when rebels will not even listen to Elijah, this test of someone similar to what Elijah will do they've already failed.
But oh what a beautiful time that will be of hearts of fathers and children turning toward each other, for just as a child is eager to learn and believe so too in adults- a sad thing that that goes away today as we get older.
What is your opinion on reincarnation? How have you lost your childlike heart of belief and desire for the Lord? How can you still retain it as you grow older?
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
6 And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” vv.5-6
Read chapter 4
Would you say that Christ's first coming on this earth was a great and dreadful day? If you know about Jesus you know that He came to save the world in His first coming, He did not judge or take vengeance on His enemies, rather He forgave them and died for them.
So then why do people say that John the Baptist is reincarnated Elijah coming back to fill this prophesy? First off we never read of reincarnation in the Bible. Well we see words of Jesus in Matthew 11:13-14 say that he is, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come."
but then we also see John the Baptist flat out say he is not in John 1:21, "And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
So why does there seem to be contradiction? One thing we lose sometimes in translation are indefinite articles we have in English that aren't in Greek; the word 'a'. The verse quoting Jesus should read better "he is an Elijah." This makes sense also when the angle tells Zechariah that his son (John the Baptist) will come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), but not Elijah himself. Jesus is saying that just as it will be in the future day of the Lord when rebels will not even listen to Elijah, this test of someone similar to what Elijah will do they've already failed.
But oh what a beautiful time that will be of hearts of fathers and children turning toward each other, for just as a child is eager to learn and believe so too in adults- a sad thing that that goes away today as we get older.
What is your opinion on reincarnation? How have you lost your childlike heart of belief and desire for the Lord? How can you still retain it as you grow older?
Monday, January 1, 2018
Malachi 3
You have said,
‘It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the Lord of hosts? v.14
Read chapter 3
It's okay to go to God in your anger and wrestle with Him of your struggles, doubts, sadness, etc. Yet what about attitude of disrespect or selfishness in seeking God? These Israelites hear have spoken bold harsh words to God (v.13). Yet these people loved to protest their innocence of it. They claimed that they kept His religious commands, yet the clearly didn't as we read throughout the Old Testament, and say it hasn't profited them anything. Their hearts said it was empty to serve God cause didn't get you anything out of it. It was an idea, then and now, that they need to get something out of it, if not why bother serving God. Believing in God isn't just a safety get out of jail (hell) free card, like a back up plan in case eternity with Jesus really is true. Choosing to follow Jesus in this life isn't because everyone's doing it or because God will give you everything you ever wanted. Believing and following Jesus is because we realize we were created for Him and His glory and without it we are empty and everything is vain.
As we serve God, lives start to change and that is worth more than money can buy. Someday we'll see that the Lord saw and remembered as we are given the hope in verse sixteen, "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
And the Lord listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the Lord
And who meditate on His name."Why do you choose to serve and follow God? Is it to get something out of it? How has that idea failed you?
‘It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the Lord of hosts? v.14
Read chapter 3
It's okay to go to God in your anger and wrestle with Him of your struggles, doubts, sadness, etc. Yet what about attitude of disrespect or selfishness in seeking God? These Israelites hear have spoken bold harsh words to God (v.13). Yet these people loved to protest their innocence of it. They claimed that they kept His religious commands, yet the clearly didn't as we read throughout the Old Testament, and say it hasn't profited them anything. Their hearts said it was empty to serve God cause didn't get you anything out of it. It was an idea, then and now, that they need to get something out of it, if not why bother serving God. Believing in God isn't just a safety get out of jail (hell) free card, like a back up plan in case eternity with Jesus really is true. Choosing to follow Jesus in this life isn't because everyone's doing it or because God will give you everything you ever wanted. Believing and following Jesus is because we realize we were created for Him and His glory and without it we are empty and everything is vain.
As we serve God, lives start to change and that is worth more than money can buy. Someday we'll see that the Lord saw and remembered as we are given the hope in verse sixteen, "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
And the Lord listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the Lord
And who meditate on His name."Why do you choose to serve and follow God? Is it to get something out of it? How has that idea failed you?
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