Friday Faithfuls Two: Jeremiah

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Jeremiah.  I was, like, reading through instead of skimming...maybe I should just do a study of Jeremiah next?  I kind of shook myself this morning and went back to chapter one to skim through...get back on track...and I was kind of subconsciously wondering what there is about Jeremiah that pushes me to grief.

Jeremiah is the record of the last days of a once-great nation that had abandoned the foundation upon which it was built, with leaders who were outright contemptuous of  both those roots and those who were pleading with the people to return to their roots. Likewise,  the people refused to listed to any of God's true prophets and accused them of treason when the prophets didn't tell them what they wanted to hear. One prophet named Uriah had gone so far as to flee to Egypt due to the threats on his life and Jehoiakim (who was a true slimeball) sent soldiers after him.  They captured him there and drug him back to Jerusalem, where he was put to death (Jer. 26:20 - 23).  It was GRIM. Jeremiah's mistreatment was just an example of how those who spoke on God's behalf were treated.

So...despite the wonderful promises that are in Jeremiah for those who remain faithful to God, the remnant that God will bless and restore, the verse that grabbed my attention today is Jeremiah 2:19...a warning....

"Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you.  Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

Words to ponder in a nation that is increasingly stopping the ears and singing 'Lalalalala' when presented the words of God....