Judgment for worshipping idols

JEREMIAH    CHAPTER 44

The message that the Lord gave to Jeremiah concerning the Judeans living in the northern part of Egypt and throughout southern Egypt too, was that they saw what the Lord did to Jerusalem and all the towns of Judah. They were now in ruins because of the Lord's anger at their worship of idols.

The Lord gave the Judeans several chances and pleaded with them not to worship idols, but they did it anyway. Now he asked those in Egypt why they want to have the same thing happen to them. He told them they would also be destroyed for worshipping idols.They showed no remorse or reverence, so he had made up his mind to destroy all of them and they would fall in Egypt, killed by war and famine and only a handful would escape.

Then all the women and men who were aware their wives burned incense to the idols, answered Jeremiah and told him they would not listen to his messages from the Lord. They would continue to do as they please, in fact, they thought that many of their troubles were caused because they failed for a time, to worship the Queen of Heaven. So Jeremiah told them all that the Lord's name would no longer be spoken by them. And only a small number would escape suffering from war and famine. And the Lord would turn the Pharaoh over to his enemies who would kill him.

BIBLE NOTES: The "Queen of Heaven" was the name for Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love and fertility. A papyrus dating from the 5th century B.C. found at the Hermopolis in Egypt, mentions the Queen of Heaven among the gods honored by the Jewish community living there.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US DAY? It's easy to give blame away. The Jews blamed their troubles on the neglect of their idols. They refused to believe that the idols had brought all their problems. What or who do we blame in our time?  We all have idols- money, fame, success, material things etc.

But when your world is full of disturbing things, take the time to EXAMINE YOUR LIFE. You may find that God has instructions for you to follow.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson and new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

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.