Leaders would also die

JEREMIAH       CHAPTER 21

The Lord spoke through Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur the priest to speak to him. They begged Jeremiah to ask the Lord to help them defeat King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as he began his attack on Judah. But Jeremiah told him to go back to King Zedekiah and tell him that the Lord would make his weapons useless against the king of Babylon and he himself would fight against Zedekiah because God was angry. He would send a terrible plague upon the city and survivors would be handed over to the king of Babylon to slaughter without pity or mercy.

Jeremiah was told by God to tell all the people that the Lord said to take your choice of life or death. But anyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine or disease. But those who go and surrender to the Babylonians will survive. He was told to tell the royal family of Judah to listen and give justice to the people they  judge. For if not, they will burn in an unquenchable fire because of their sins. And God himself would fight against Jerusalem.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: This Pashhur is not the same man as in the previous chapter. Jerusalem was built on a plateau with valleys on three sides. Because of its location, the inhabitants thought they were safe.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? If a prophet of the Lord came to us today and told us to repent or die, what would you do?  I expect you would probably want to know what repentance was necessary. In this chapter, Jeremiah made it abundantly clear that because the people had sinned, they would die. How often have we heard of a people who were so despondent, they gave up? But maybe God has more for these despondent people to do. We are still needed. God has important work for us to do.

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 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 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.