All in Ezekiel today.  Let’s read Ezekiel chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.   Let’s visit a little bit:

I know it isn’t an easy day – how about a little exercise for us, as a means of reminding us of what is important?  How about circling or highlighting every time God says something through Ezekiel to the effect of knowing Him or recognizing Him. He has a purpose.  Human anger can easily make us lose focus – God’s anger is never without purpose.

“But I’ll let a few escape” Ezekiel 6:8 MSG

God is leaving a remnant…. what a sad day.

Today, we’ll read Ezekiel 3:16-27, Ezekiel 4, Jeremiah 27, 28, and 51:59-64. Let’s get it done – and you are doing GREAT, by the way!  What an important discipline, daily time in the Word of God!  Let’s visit:

How about Ezekiel’s bearing Jerusalem and Judah’s sins? Such a long time – 390 days plus 390 days plus 40 days….

“Famine conditions. People will look at one another, see nothing but skin and bones, and shake their heads. This is what sin does” (Ezekiel 4:16 MSG)

This is what SIN does – not what GOD does.  Please be conscious of God’s character and righteousness.  He isn’t being “mean” – He is responding to man’s sin and rebellion.

It’s funny that that we mostly remember 29:11 from Jeremiah – wow, there was so much more. Lord, I want to take in all of Your truth and take ALL of Your words into my heart (not just the ones that make me “feel good”). Since everything God says is for our benefit, everything He says ought to bring us a measure of peace.

Getting started in Ezekiel today!  Let’s read Jeremiah 37:11-21, Jeremiah 38, then Ezekiel chapters 1, 2, Ezekiel 3:1-15. Ezekiel isn’t the easiest to take, at least for me – what do you think? 

“Listen please. Listen to God’s voice. I’m telling you this for your own good” (Jeremiah 38:20 MSG)

Even when the words are hard to hear, God never speaks except to bring about the eventual good of those who will obey.

“Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit went, they went. They didn’t turn as they went” (Ezekiel 1:12 MSG)

I notice: they didn’t turn and they followed the spirit. Good example for us today. Ezekiel begins in such a powerful way, intense. The MSG translation says that Ezekiel was bitter and angry, but he still followed the Lord (note to self: don’t let our personal feelings get in the way of obedience). I also notice Ezekiel is being sent to Israel – God is still not done with His people!

Big day again for Jeremiah and for Judah… and for us!  We are reading the following passages today: Jeremiah 51:15-58, 2 Chronicles 36:10, 2 Kings 24:10-17, 1 Chronicles 3;10-16, 2 Chronicles 36:11-14, Jeremiah 52:1-3, 2 Kings 24:18-20, and Jeremiah 37:1-10. Did anything stand out to you today?

Jeremiah was prophet under several kings of Judah (Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah) – it’s interesting to connect him to his place in history.  Josiah was good, the rest were evil. These were the last five kings before Nebuchadnezzar took Judah into captivity.  (Sorry!  I’ve tried so hard to avoid the history lessons, but I couldn’t stop myself!). What a terrifying time this must have been.

Jeremiah 37:4 says he is “still moving about freely” and hadn’t been arrested yet. Surely he knew what was coming. I hope I would be that brave, but I’m not so sure!

God give us boldness to speak Your truth even in difficult circumstances!

Today, we are with the weeping prophet again – hang in there!  We are reading Jeremiah 31:15-40, Jeremiah 49:34-39, Jeremiah 50, and Jeremiah 51:1-14.  Do you have a highlight?  Leave a comment and let’s chat!

“GOD has set everything right for us. Come! Let’s tell the good news back home in Zion. Let’s tell what our GOD did to set things right” (Jeremiah 51:10 MSG)

In the midst of all this judgement and destruction, they have “good news” about how God wants to set them right. The message translation in 31:18ish uses the phrase “trained to obedience”.

“Now put me, trained and obedient, to use.
    You are my God.
After those years of running loose, I repented.
    After you trained me to obedience” (Jeremiah 31:18 MSG)

Even correction and training is for our benefit!  After repentance, they would be fit for use – isn’t it true of us today?

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times, but in the Old Testament it’s worth repeating again and again: God is always kind, and what He does is always for our good.

We’re all in Jeremiah today – that’s easy!  Let’s read Jeremiah 23:33-40, Jeremiah chapters 24, 29, 30, and Jeremiah 31:1-14.  Let’s visit!

What an encouraging day and wonderful reminder that God is all about restoration! 29:11 is a great favorite of course, but in its context it’s so powerful.  Let’s back up a little bit and make sure we don’t miss the history here:

“This is the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, to all the exiles I’ve taken from Jerusalem to Babylon” (29:4 MSG)

First: God not only knows where the exiles are – he’s the reason they are there.  Nothing happened that was outside of His control, not even this period of captivity.  God assures them that He knew where they were and would come to them. Every piece of instruction represented a process:

“Build houses and make yourselves at home. Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you’ll thrive in that country and not waste away. Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare” (29:5-7 MSG, emphasis mine)

Build a house and LIVE there.  Plant a garden and EAT the harvest that grows from it…. They were to be content and faithful and trust until He came because He knows the plan He had for them, plans for good and not evil (I won’t try to throw in the Message translation for Jeremiah 29:11 today – the NKJV is everyone’s favorite, I know!). Those were comforting words, especially considering their circumstances.

He knows my circumstances too, and I know He has a good plan if I’m obedient!

Today let’s read Jeremiah 49:1-33, 2 Kings 24:5-7, 2 Chronicles 36:6-8, 2 Kings 24:8-9, 2 Chronicles 36:9, Jeremiah 22:24-30, and Jeremiah 23:1-32. What’s your highlight today?

After all the judgement and warnings, God gives hope and promises restoration in chapter 23:

“All God’s sheep rounded up!” (Jeremiah 23:4 MSG)

All.  I love that – all of His sheep. Let’s go ahead with the next verses too:

“Time’s coming”—God’s Decree—
    “when I’ll establish a truly righteous David-Branch,
A ruler who knows how to rule justly.
    He’ll make sure of justice and keep people united.
In His time Judah will be secure again
    and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name they’ll give Him:
    ‘God-Who-Puts-Everything-Right.’ ” (Jeremiah 23:5-6 MSG)

A little hint of the future – and for me, it’s timely: is anyone else anxious to get to the New Testament and the Jesus part of this history? Hang in there – we’re going to make it! In the meantime, remember this: God is always kind!

Again, all in Jeremiah. Let’s read Jeremiah 16, 17, 18, and 35.  Here we go!

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 MSG)

God desires truth always. As much judgement and destruction He speaks through Jeremiah, He always leaves room for restoration and a remnant to rebuild. I love chapter 18 – such a sweet picture of the closeness of God. Holding us and molding us in His own hand, even when things don’t things don’t turn out as planned, He can make us again.

“Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot.  Then God’s Message came to me: ‘Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?’ ”(Jeremiah 18:4-5 MSG)

He doesn’t throw us away if we ‘turn out badly” – He makes us again!

Please read Jeremiah 12, 13, 14, and 15.  All together – that’s nice!  What’s your highlight today?  Try to find something you can tuck in your pocket and take with you ❤ 

“You are right, O God, and You set things right.
    I can’t argue with that. But I do have some questions” (Jeremiah 12:1 MSG)

It’s okay to have some questions! God answers them with truth:

“So, Jeremiah, if you’re worn out in this footrace with men,
    what makes you think you can race against horses?
And if you can’t keep your wits during times of calm,
    what’s going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?” (Jeremiah 12:5 MSG)

The Lord expects Jeremiah to be faithful on good and bad days (us too). If a peaceful day makes you weary, how will you stand in an evil day?

God always leaves room for compassion and restoration. He had intended the best for them, but the people chose rebellion.

Please read Jeremiah 8:4-22, and chapters 9, 10, and 11. When you are done, come on back and let’s visit!

“Look at them – they know everything but God’s word. Do you call that knowing?” (Jeremiah 8:9 MSG)

An Old Testament version of “gain the whole world but lose your soul”(Mark 8:36), huh? If we don’t know God’s word, how can we be successful?

“I’m GOD, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks.” God’s Decree.” (Jeremiah 9:24 MSG)

The Old Testament God was kind. He cannot lie.