God gives notice to the people

JEREMIAH  CHAPTER 4

The Lord asks Israel to come back to him and throw away their detestable idols. He says that if they will swear by his name and live honest lives then they would be like a blessing to the nations of the world and all people would praise the name of God.

God uses the analogy of plowing the fields to tell the people to plow up the ground of their hearts and cleanse their minds or his anger will burn like fire. He urges the people to shout an alarm throughout the land to not delay, for he will bring destruction upon them from the north. He warns of a lion stalking them and headed for their land who will put their towns to ruin. And in that day, the king and officials will tremble in fear and the priests and prophets will be struck with horror.

Then Jeremiah says to the Lord, that the people were deceived by what the Lord told them. They were promised peace for Jerusalem, yet now a sword is poised to strike them dead. And still the Lord tells of destruction to come and asks the people to cleanse their hearts and be saved.

Jeremiah weeps for his people and feels his heart pound within him, yet he cannot be still. For he has heard the blast of enemy trumpets and wonders how long he must be surrounded by war and death. But the Lord looks upon the people as foolish children who do not understand, clever enough to do wrong, but no talent for doing right.

The Lord says that the land will be ruined but not destroyed completely. All the cities have been abandoned and no person remains. He asks the sinners if they would dress in their finest clothing and jewelry or paint their eyes, but it will not save them from their allies who despise them.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The disaster from the north would come from Babylon when Nebopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar II would attack. In verse 10, Jeremiah is so moved by God's words that he tries to intercede for the people.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? God is sick of his people sinning and hardening their hearts to his message. He warns them of the destruction he will pour down on them. Could this happen to us today? Yes, it could happen. We are often so tied up with satisfying our own selfish needs that we become hardened to the word of God. We have idols just like in ancient time. Our idols are often riches, success, power or any obsession that takes us away from God.

It is important to notice that God gives warning. He gives us notice. He is giving us notice right now in our world today. He asks us to come back to his teachings. Do we listen? Often not. Do we face destruction. Eventually, whenever God decides. Can we stop the coming of destruction? Yes, he gives us the tools. He asks us throw away our idols and spread his word. It is never too late. Pray for the leaders of our world. Pray for the clergy who seem bent on doing what is popular instead of what is right. Pray for your own soul and those of others.

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: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.