Making the Best of Difficult Circumstances

Read Jeremiah 29:1-14

The threatened invasion had now begun and some of the nation's leaders had been taken captive. We can imagine the misery and heartache, so vividly captured in the words of Psalm 137 as "by the rivers of Babylon" the people sat down and wept, hanging their harps on the willow trees and singing songs of Zion no more.

Then, suddenly, there arrived this extraordinary letter from that gloomy old prophet who was still, apparently, prowling the streets of deserted, war-ravaged Jerusalem. Instead of advocating a policy of non-cooperation, as they might have expected, he argued in favor of reconciliation and integration. Instead of prophesying a short, sharp exile, Jeremiah spoke of a period longer than two generations. What were they to make of it? Happily, the letter ended on a more optimistic note, with the promise that God had a timetable and a plan to which He was working.

That many took Jeremiah's advice, to their own advantage and that of Babylon, we can see from reading the book of Daniel. But what is the lesson for us? Simply, that there are situations in which God places us which may not be what we really want, but which we can learn to accept, and from which we can profit. We must not always be thinking of the next vacation, the next job, or how to get out of the situation in which we find ourselves. Paul says as much in I Corinthians 7:17-24. Perhaps it is, indeed true, that we should bloom where we are planted.

Prayer: Give me, Lord, the strength to change what needs to be changed; the patience to accept what cannot be changed; and the wisdom to know the difference. Through Christ my Lord. Amen.

Image: Rivers of Babylon

Living Courageously

Read Jeremiah 26:1-15

In the early part of his ministry, Jeremiah's difficult task was made easier by the support he must have enjoyed from King Josiah; but now he was faced with a very different ruler in King Jehoiakim, who had inherited little or none of his father's faith, or his reforming zeal. What Jeremiah was now called upon to do required the very greatest courage.

God's prophet knows what he has to say. It seems that Jeremiah preached twice, repeating his sermon chiefly for the benefit of the royal princes (v.12) who do not appear to have been present on the earlier occasion. His message was simple, clear and uncompromisingly candid. "Obey God and the nation will be saved; continue as you are doing, and He will be compelled to destroy you."

God's prophet knows what he has to be. The message was clear, but what about the man? First, Jeremiah obviously lived close to God. They met together as friends, and God was able to give His message to Jeremiah personally. Secondly, he spoke from deep conviction ("in truth", v.15). He was not simply saying what he had to say, but speaking with passionate sincerity from the heart. Thirdly, notice his complete lack of self-regard ("as for me", v.14). Let them do what they will, his only concern was to be utterly faithful to God. Can you see how these different points apply to our work as witnesses for Christ?

Prayer: Lord, give me the sort of courage, faithfulness, and sincerity that Jeremiah demonstrated in his life. For the sake of Christ my Lord. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah prophesying.

Fake Religion

Read Jeremiah 23:23-40

The false prophets who surrounded Jerusalem were guilty of three sins:

1. Complacency (v.23-25). They imagined that they were out of sight of God. But there is nowhere that can hide from Him (Psalm 139:7-12). No place on earth is "God-forsaken", but to Him "all hearts are open... and from Him no secrets are hid."

2. Conceit (v.26-32). Deliberately, they gave the people their own ideas instead of the Word of God. As a result, the people forgot the true God (v.27); they went to pieces both morally and spiritually (v.32). There are still preachers and teachers like that today who give their own views on life rather than God's Word. When that Word is preached, it really does something. Look at verse 29. It burns like a fire into the conscience; and it breaks hardened hearts into pieces, like a hammer.

3. Cynicism (v.33-40). The question in verse 33 is asked sarcastically: "Well, Jeremiah, and what has God got to say to us today?" This superficial, cynical approach to the message of the living God brought an immediate and stinging rebuke. "You are the subject of God's message today," Jeremiah was told to reply, "and for you, because of your attitude towards Him, there can only be expulsion from His presence and everlasting shame." God has no time for this, or any other kind of sham. He wants leaders who are genuine and true.

Prayer: Save me, O Lord, from giving my ideas, when all the time people are hungry to know Your Word and Your way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah weeping.

False Shepherds

Read Jeremiah 23:9-22

Jeremiah resumes his attack on the leaders of the nation, but this time he turns his attention to the prophets and the priests. It is their turn to be subjected to God's wrath, and the charge against them is twofold.

1. Corrupt lives (v.9-15). Instead of setting an example to the ordinary men and women, the religious leaders became ungodly. They gave way to greed, impurity, dishonesty, and every kind of sin. In Samaria, perhaps, such things were to be expected, but surely not in Jerusalem! There is a saying, "Like priest like people." It means that the standards of ordinary Christians will never be higher than those practiced and maintained by the spiritual leaders of the country. This is true today.

2. False doctrine (v.16-22). They did not preach what God told them to preach, but instead gave their own opinions and ideas, colored by what they imagined the people wanted to hear. Such preaching, carrying no authority and proceeding from sinful hearts and minds, could not but be fatally misleading. It was denounced in the most scathing terms by Jeremiah.

We all teach to a greater or lesser extent, not least in our families and personal relationships. Only the life which loves God's Word as well as speaks it is truly effective in the work of the Kingdom.

Prayer: O Lord, save me from speaking about You without seeking Your guidance or without living under Your law. Amen.

True and False Shepherds

Read Jeremiah 23:1-8

The Faithless Shepherds (v.1,2). These men are not the prophets and priests (Jeremiah has something to say about them a little later on), they are the civil leaders of the land. As always, when the leaders are corrupt, the common people suffer most. Many of them had become scattered among the neighboring nations. "You have not bestowed care on them" is a terrible indictment to be brought against a leader at any level.

The Reliable Shepherds (v.4). God would have mercy on His people, and a time would come when a remnant would emerge, as had happened in the past. Men like Nehemiah and Ezra would bring security and prosperity where, at the moment, there was only poverty and fear.

The Ideal Shepherd (v. 5,6). It was customary to look back to David as the ideal leader and ruler, but in fact he was only the prototype of One who was still to come - "The Lord is our Righteousness." Notice two of the marks of His reign. He will "deal wisely" and His people will "dwell securely". These two things really go together. The wise ruler brings peace and confidence to his people. Those who submit their lives to Christ find how true this is in a spiritual sense. In His wisdom lies our security.

Prayer: I thank You for Your leadership, Lord Jesus. Give me Your wisdom, so that I might meet whatever life brings me today. For Your love's sake. Amen.

Image: The Good Shepherd

God has a Plan for You

Read Jeremiah 18:1-12

Made, marred, and mended (v.1-4). That is a concise spiritual history of mankind; and that is precisely what this acted parable is intended to teach. Made, in the first place in the image of God, to love and serve Him, we were marred by sin. But God did not leave things there. He offered to mend us. That is why, in the New Testament, we find Jesus' emphasis on new birth (John 3), and why Paul tells us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (II Corinthians 5:17).

Israels' refusal to go God's way had put her on a collision course with judgment - unless she changed her attitude she was scheduled for destruction as surely as unworkable clay would be reduced to a shapeless mass by the potter's hands. Re-read verses 6-11. The ability to avoid judgment was theirs (11b, 12). This lesson still has to be learned. You can't play around with God.

But God is constructive, not destructive. What sort of vessel does He wish to turn us into? See II Timothy 2:20,21. We shall not all be alike, but that is because in a "great house" as is the Kingdom of God, there are functions for vessels of many kinds. But when God wants to use us for any purpose, He does not say, "How much did this cost?", but, "Is it clean?" What interests Him most is not whether we are silver, but whether we will serve.

Prayer: Lord, make me a vessel which You can use in whatever service You have planned for me. Amen.