Category: Scripture

Jeremiah Weeps for His People

My heart, my heart-I writhe in pain! My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still. For I have heard the blast of the enemy trumpets and the roar of their battle cries. Waves of destruction roll over the land, until it lies in complete desolation. Suddenly my tents are destroyed; in a moment my shelters are crushed. How long must I see the battle flags and hear the trumpets of war?

“My people are foolish and do not know Me, “says the Lord. “They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!” (vv. 19-22, NLT)

Jeremiah’s Call and First Visions

The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you to be My prophet to the nations.”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m to young!”

The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for your must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tel you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord have spoken!” Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,

“Look, I have put My words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

Then the Lord said to me, “Look Jeremiah! What do you see?”

And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”

And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all My plans.”

Then the Lord spoke to me again and asked, “What do you seen now?”

And I replied “I see a pot of boiling water spilling from the north.”

“Yes,” the Lord said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land. Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the nor to come to Jerusalem. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (vv. 4-15a, NLT)

These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. The Lord first gave messages to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year of the right of Josiah son of Anon, king of Judah.The Lord’s messages continued through the reign of King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, until the eleventh year of reign of King Zedekiah, another of Josiah’s sons. In August of that eleventh year the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives. (vv. 1-3, NLT)

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool Could you build Me a temple as good as that? Could you build Me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! :

“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at My word. But those who choose their own ways-delighting in their detestable sins- will not have their offerings accepted.” (vv. 1-3a, NLT)

Hear this message from the Lord, all you who tremble at His words: “Your own people hate you and throw you our for being loyal to My name. ‘Let the Lord be honored!’ they scoff. ‘Be joyful in Him!’ But they will be put to shame. What is all the commotion in the city? What is that terrible noice from the Temple? It is the voice of the Lord taking vengeance against His enemies. (vv. 5-6, NLT)

“As surely as My new heavens and earth will remain, so will you always be My people with a name that will never disappear,” says the Lord,

“All humanity will come to worship Me from week to week and from month to month. And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against Me. For the worms that devour them will never die, and the fir that burns them will never go out. All who pass by will view them with utter horror.” (vv. 22-24, NLT)

Judgment and Final Salvation

“Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad and rejoice forever in My creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in My people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.

No longer will babies die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young! In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards. Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses and confiscate their vineyards. For My people will live as long as trees, and My chosen ones will have time to njoy their hard-won gains. They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed by misfortune. I will answer them before they even all to Me. While they are still taking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

The wolf and lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days now one will be hurt or destroyed on My holy mountain. Ik the Lord, have spoken!”(vv. 16-25, NLT)

Future Glory for Jerusalem

“Arise Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come into your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.” (vv. 1-3, NLT)

“Foreigners will come to rebuild your towns, and their kings will serve you. For though I have destroyed you in anger, I will now have mercy on you through My grace. You gates will stay open day and ight to receive the wealth of many lands. The kings of the world will be lead a captives in a victory procession. For the nations that refuse to serve you will be destroyed.” (vv. 10-12, NLT)

“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your days are mourning will come to an end. All your people will be righteous. They will possess the land forever, for I will plant them there with My own hands in order to bring Myself glory. The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord will make it happen.” (vv. 19-22, NLT)

Warnings Against Sin

For our sins are piled up before God and we testify against us. Yes, we know what sinners we are. We know we have rebelled and have denied the Lord. We have turned our backs on our God. We know how unfair and oppressive we have been, carefully planning our deceitful lies. Our courts oppose the righteous, and just is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.

The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. He was amazed to see that no on had intervened to help the oppressed. So He Himself stepped in to save them with His strong arm, and His justice sustained them. He put on righteousness as His body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on His head. He clothed Himself with a robe of vengeance and wrapped Himself with a cloak of passion.

He will repay His enemies for their evil deeds. His fury will fall on His foes. He will pay them back even to the ends of the earth. In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify Him. For He will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.

“The Redeemer will come back to Jerusalem to by back those in Israel who have turned from their sins,” says the Lord.

“And this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I the Lord have spoken!” (vv. 12-21, NLT)

“Keep the Sabbath Holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance. I promised to your ancestor Jacob, I the Lord have spoken!” (vv. 13-14, NLT)

Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die. (vv. 1-2 NLT)

God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so My people can return from captivity.” The hight and lofty One who lives in eternity says this:
“I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. (vv. 14-15, NLT)

Blessings for All Nations

This is what the Lord says, “Be just an fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and do display My righteousness among you. Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath day of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.”

“Don’t let foreigners who commit them selves to the Lord, say, ‘The Lord will never let me be a part of His people.’ And don’t let the eunuchs say, ‘ I’m a dried up tree with no children or no future.’ For this is what the Lord says, I will bless those eunuchs who keep My Sabbath days holy and who choose to commit their lives to Me. I will give them-within the walls of My house-a memorial and a name far greater than sons or daughters could give. For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear!” (vv. 1-5, NLT)