Bible Pathways 08/19/04
August 19
Read Jeremiah 19 - 22
In Today's Reading:
Jeremiah beaten and imprisoned by Pashur; Jeremiah's grief; destruction of Jerusalem foretold; the way of life or death
During the last days of the kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah courageously faced the son of the chief governor of the high priest and said: Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself, and to all your friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies . . . and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword. . . . And you, Pashur, and all that dwell in your house shall go into captivity: and you shall come to Babylon, and there you shall die, and shall be buried there, you, and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies (Jeremiah 20:4,6).
Soon the people of Judah learned of the defeat of Assyria and then of Egypt. With Nebuchadnezzar's victory in the battle at Carchemish, Babylon emerged as the new dominant world power thus confirming what Isaiah had foretold about 100 years earlier (Isaiah 39:6-7).
Even after being fully informed of the results of rejecting the Word of God, the religious leaders not only refused to repent, but they began a campaign to discredit Jeremiah before the king and the nation. Jeremiah sat alone in prison and was momentarily discouraged as he records: I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His Name. But His Word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (hold it in) (Jeremiah 20:9).
Jeremiah may have thought that he had failed to communicate to the people the importance of obeying the Word of God. Most spiritual leaders have, at some time, felt that they failed in fulfilling their God-given responsibility. But, far beyond all his own expectations, Jeremiah has been an inspiration to millions of believers for many succeeding centuries. Our Creator has assured us: My Word . . . shall not return to Me void (without result), but it shall . . . prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).
No one who is devoted to teaching the Word of God personally, or by providing the money to make it possible for others to teach His Word, and who lives by it is a failure. Jesus promised: Verily (Truly) . . . I say to you, He that hears My Word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life (John 5:24).
Christ Revealed:
As the One who pronounces judgment upon evildoers and those who do not obey His Word (Jeremiah 19:15). For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22).
Word Studies:
19:3 his ears shall tingle = will be utterly stunned by the news; 19:9 straitness = anguish, distress; 20:3 Magormissabib = terror on every side; 20:11 mighty terrible one = awe-inspiring one, heroic champion.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for BP Staff: Mary Kay Wagner · Government Official: Rep. John Hostettler (IN) · Country: Nauru (11,000) in the central Pacific · Major languages: Nauruan and English · Religious freedom · 57% Protestant; 24% Roman Catholic; 10% Buddhist and Chinese folk-religionist
Prayer Suggestion: Praise God for the power of His Word (Hebrews 4:12).
Optional Reading: I John 1
Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 5:9
