Jeremiah wears a Yoke

JEREMIAH     CHAPTER 27

The Lord sent a message to Jeremiah during the reign of Zedekiah and said to make a yoke and fasten it on his neck with leather thongs. Then send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon through their ambassadors to King Zedekiah in Jerusallem. Give them the message that I am the Lord Almighty, God of Israel and by my power I have made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose. Now I will give your countries to King Nebachadnezzar of Babylon. All the nations will serve him and his son and grandson until his time is up. Then many nations will conquer and rule over Babylon. So if you must submit to Babylon's king, then put your neck under Babylon's yoke. I will punish any nation that refuses to be his slave.

Further, the Lord said to not listen to false prophets because they all were liars. But the people of any nation that submits to the king of Babylon will be allowed to stay in their own country to farm the land.

Thus the message was repeated to the King Zedekiah of Judah and Jeremiah asked him why he didn't just submit to the king of Babylon and not suffer the war, famine and disease that the Lord would bring to him. Then Jeremiah spoke to the priests and people and told them what the Lord said: to not listen to prophets who claim that soon the gold utensils taken from the Temple would be returned from Babylon. Surrender and live.

The Lord said that the bronze pillars in front of the temple, the bronze Sea in the temple courtyard an bronze water carts and all ceremonial articles, all left by King Nebuchadnezzar when he exiled Jehoiachin to Babylon - all will be carried away to Babylon and will stay there until the Lord sends for them and someday he will bring them back to Jerusalem again.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW:  Nebuchadnezzar took many important people back with him. Among them was Daniel and Ezekiel. They were both captives, but also leaders who had an impact on the exiles and leaders in Babylon.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Can you see the turmoil brewing in Jerusalem as King Nebachnezzer prepares to invade? And all the people had to do was just submit to his rule and they could live. Sounds like a plan that has happened more than once in history, including in our own century.

King Zedekiah was in bad predicament. Others were telling him to fight. He thought surrender would make him look like a coward, a disgrace for his honor. Now this is the exact time that Zedekiah needed to pray to the Lord. Pray for all he was worth and show his heart to the Lord and ask the Lord to guide him. And all this time Jeremiah walked around with the yoke on his neck. This was both an interesting time and a confusing time in history. A trainwreck that could not be stopped.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

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.

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 too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

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.