Observing the Sabbath, Jeremiah Chapter 17

“This is what the Lord says:’Listen to My warning! Stop carrying on your trade in Jerusalem’s gates on the Sabbath day. Do not do your work on the Sabbath, but make it a holy day. I gave this command to your ancestors, but they did not listen or obey. They stubbornly refused to pay attention or accept My discipline.

But if you do obey Me, says the Lord, and do not carry on your trade at the gates or work on the Sabbath day, and if you keep it holy, then kings and their officials will go in and out of these gates forever. There will always be a descendant of David sitting on the throne here in Jerusalem. Kings and their officials will always ride in and out among the people of Judah in chariots and on horses, and this city will remain forever.” (vv 19-25, NLT)

Jeremiah’s Trust in the Lord, Jeremiah Chapter 17

“Like a partridge that hatches the eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means. At midlife they will lose their riches; in the end, they will become poor old fools. But we worship at your throne – eternal, high, and glorious! O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who turn away from You will be disgraced. They will be buried in the dust of the earth, for they have abandoned the Lord, the fountain of living water.

O Lord, if You heal me, I will be truly saved. My praises for You alone! People scoff at me and say, ‘What is this message from the Lord you talk about? Why don’t your predictions come true?’

Lord, I have not abandoned my job as a shepherd for Your people. I have not urged You to send disaster. You have heard everything I’ve said. Lord, don’t terrorize me! You alone are my hope in the day of disaster. Bring shame and dismay on all who persecute me, but don’t let me experience shame and dismay. Bring a day of terror on them. Yes, bring double destruction upon them!” (vv. 11-18, NLT)

Jeremiah’s Prayer of Confidence, Jeremiah Chapter 16

“Lord, You are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Nations from around the world will come to You and say, ‘Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols. Can people make their own gods? These are not real gods at all!’

The Lord says, ‘Now I will show them My power; now I will show them My might. As last they will know and understand that I am the Lord.'” (vv. 19-21, NLT)

A Warning against Pride, Jeremiah Chapter 13

“Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God before it is too late. Acknowledge Him before He brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains. For then, when your look for light, you will only find terrible darkness and gloom. And if you still refuse to listen, I will weep alone, because our your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be led away into exile.” (vv. 15-17, NLT)

Jeremiah Questions the Lord’s Justice, Excerpt from Chapter 12


“Lord, You always give me justice when I bring a case before You. So let me bring You this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy? You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but You are far from their hearts. But for me, Lord, You know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts. Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered. Set them aside to be slaughtered!

How long must this land mourn? Even the grass in the field has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land. For the people have said, ‘The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us.” (vv 1-4, NLT)

A Plot against Jeremiah, Excerpt from Jeremiah Chapter 11

Then the Lord told me about the plots my enemies were making against me. I was like a lamb being led to the slaughter. I had no idea that they were planning to kill me! ‘Let’s destroy this man and all his words,’ they said. ‘Let’s cut him down, so his name will be forgotten forever.’

O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, You make righteous judgments, and You examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see Your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you.

This is what the Lord says about the men of Anathoth who wanted me dead. They had said, ‘We will kill you if you do not stop prophesying in the Lord’s name.’ So this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says about them: ‘I will punish them! Their young men will die in battle, and their boys and girls will starve to death. Not one of these plotters from Anathoth will survive, for I will bring disaster upon them when their time of punishment comes.'” (vv 18-23, NLT)

Excerpt from Jeremiah Chapter 10

“Say this to those who worship other gods: ‘Your so-called gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will vanish from the earth and from under the heavens.’

But God made the earth by His power, and He preserves it by His wisdom. With His own understanding He outstretched the heavens. When He speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and releases the wind from His storehouses. ” (vv. 11-13, NLT)

Deception by False Prophets, Excerpt from Jeremiah Chapter 8

“Jeremiah, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord says:

When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for dong wrong? Does anyone say,’What a terrible thing I have done?’ No! all are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They return at the proper time of the year. But not my people! They do not know the Lord’s laws.

How can you say, ‘We are wise because we have the word of the Lord, when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies? These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness, for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they so wise after all?'” (vv 4-9, NLT)

Jeremiah’s Call and First Visions, Excerpts from Jeremiah Chapter 1

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

“O Sovereign Lord, I said, ‘I can’t speak for you! I am too young!'”

“The Lord replied,’Don’t say, I’m too young, for your must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of 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 you 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 form an almond tree.”

“And the Lord replied,’That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and will certainly carry out all my plans.'” (vv. 1-12, NLT)

“‘Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land – the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you.

I, the Lord have spoken!'” (vv. 17-19, NLT)