A Drought comes to Judah

JEREMIAH  CHAPTER 14

The Lord gave Jeremiah the message explaining why he held back the rain. All business in Judah came to a halt because of the drought and a great cry arose from Jerusalem. All the wells were dry and the livestock and wild animals suffered. Finally the people said to the Lord that they realized their wickedness had caught up to them. They asked the Lord why he abandoned them and he replied that he no longer accepted them as his people and was punishing them for their sins.

Then the Lord told Jeremiah to no longer pray for the people because he would no longer hear their prayers. And Jeremiah said that the other prophets were predicting no war or famine. The Lord was angry and said that the other prophets told lies and thus he would punish them by war and famine.

Meanwhile Jeremiah continued to weep for his people as he wandered the streets littered with bodies of those slaughtered by the enemy and those who died from starvation. And he asked the Lord if he had completely rejected Judah? And did he hate Jerusalem? They had hoped for a time of healing, but none came. They confessed their wickedness and that of their ancestors and begged the Lord to not abandon or forget them. Now they realized that only one God made rain to fall and they would wait for him to help them.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? How ironic that those of us in the heartland are experiencing the worst drought in many decades. Easy to identify with the people whose businesses dried up and whose food supply with it.

Poor Jeremiah, tried to intercede for the people, but the people in Jermiah's time had received many warnings from God and they didn't even consider turning from their wickedness until now. And God does know those who were insincere in their repentance.

Interesting that the false prophets told the people what they wanted to hear. Often false prophets, teachers, leaders, earn fame and money by leading people away from God. My bible notes say that if we encourage false teachers, we are as guilty as they are.

Can you point to false prophets in today's world? I can. Just turn on your television and listen to the "feel good" preaching going on. These false prophets don't want to tell you that you are responsible for your actions and your actions have consequences. Instead, they preach what many people want to hear. I call it "lite diet" faith-food. Somehow this lite food satisfies folks and they never question the consequences of a sinful life. How sad.  Pray that they will turn  back to the true teachings of God.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our famers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.