Jeremiah 23:7 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.
Oh Friends, that seems a simple enough instruction, so why aren’t we following it? In Jeremiah’s time, the land of Judah was in a sad state; evil was rampant; oppression, stealing, lying, murder, adultery, false swearing, and the temple of the Lord made a mockery, where they spoke glowingly of Him, but elsewhere burnt incense to Baal and worshipped other gods. ‘Is this house, which is called by name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.’ (vs.11) Too much ungodly stuff was going on, both inside and outside of the church. That’s why the prophet called them to repentance. ‘Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.’ (vs.3) Oh people, look around us, it’s the same sad, abominable state in which we’re living. It’s possibly worse, because we have much more scope and talent for abominable behaviour. The Lord spoke to them about their evil ways, ‘but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not.’ (vs.13) He’s been calling to us for the longest time too friends, but just like back in Judah, the good times of evil were rocking and rolling too much for us to pay attention. ‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.’ (vs.20) Oh Friends, it seems our time of reckoning is now. Just this past week the fires were burning out of control in the Los Angeles area, one of the most ungodly places on the earth. It possibly got it’s name from the angel of evil. Nobody started them. All over the world, discontented, unhappy people are looting and shooting, burning, causing chaos and destruction. The world is haunted by fear and violence. Where once oases proliferated, it’s now desert, and the people are famished. Man’s oppression of man has never been this bad in supposed times of peace. Even the smallest unit of society, the family is experiencing increased tension and woe. Where only a year ago, the world was riding high on a blanket of false economic hope, now that illusion has been rudely shattered, because that’s all it was, a mere illusion, sleight of hand and mirrors – read greed and fraud – and the entire world has been mercilessly brought to its knees in economic turmoil. Friends, that’s the price we pay for buying into the falsehood of a global village. It’s only global for the wealthy; the ones who can easily move their money to wherever they can make the most profit, without a care for the unfortunate left behind. We’re so closely tied together now, that when one falls, all fall. Oh people, please look around you and see the downward spiral we’re currently enveloped in. We’ve placed our faith and trust in fallible, mortal man, rather than the infallible, immortal God, and our leaders have lied to us, lead us astray, along wrong and evil paths. It’s a common theme in man’s history. When are we going to learn eh? Friends we’re now in a dire situation, but there’s still hope. ‘Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.’ (Ex.19:5) That’s true people! The earth is the Lords, and if we repent and once more turn to Him in obedience, He’ll be only too willing and happy to forgive. Friends, He’s our only hope in these dreadful times, man can’t help us. But we’ve got to hurry, before His anger crests, and He causes ‘to cease from the cities…and the streets…the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness…for the land shall be desolate.’ (vs.34) Remember, He keeps His promises. Much LOVE!…the Lord’s motto…obedience…obedience…obedience…
Oh Friends, that seems a simple enough instruction, so why aren’t we following it? In Jeremiah’s time, the land of Judah was in a sad state; evil was rampant; oppression, stealing, lying, murder, adultery, false swearing, and the temple of the Lord made a mockery, where they spoke glowingly of Him, but elsewhere burnt incense to Baal and worshipped other gods. ‘Is this house, which is called by name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.’ (vs.11) Too much ungodly stuff was going on, both inside and outside of the church. That’s why the prophet called them to repentance. ‘Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.’ (vs.3) Oh people, look around us, it’s the same sad, abominable state in which we’re living. It’s possibly worse, because we have much more scope and talent for abominable behaviour. The Lord spoke to them about their evil ways, ‘but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not.’ (vs.13) He’s been calling to us for the longest time too friends, but just like back in Judah, the good times of evil were rocking and rolling too much for us to pay attention. ‘Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.’ (vs.20) Oh Friends, it seems our time of reckoning is now. Just this past week the fires were burning out of control in the Los Angeles area, one of the most ungodly places on the earth. It possibly got it’s name from the angel of evil. Nobody started them. All over the world, discontented, unhappy people are looting and shooting, burning, causing chaos and destruction. The world is haunted by fear and violence. Where once oases proliferated, it’s now desert, and the people are famished. Man’s oppression of man has never been this bad in supposed times of peace. Even the smallest unit of society, the family is experiencing increased tension and woe. Where only a year ago, the world was riding high on a blanket of false economic hope, now that illusion has been rudely shattered, because that’s all it was, a mere illusion, sleight of hand and mirrors – read greed and fraud – and the entire world has been mercilessly brought to its knees in economic turmoil. Friends, that’s the price we pay for buying into the falsehood of a global village. It’s only global for the wealthy; the ones who can easily move their money to wherever they can make the most profit, without a care for the unfortunate left behind. We’re so closely tied together now, that when one falls, all fall. Oh people, please look around you and see the downward spiral we’re currently enveloped in. We’ve placed our faith and trust in fallible, mortal man, rather than the infallible, immortal God, and our leaders have lied to us, lead us astray, along wrong and evil paths. It’s a common theme in man’s history. When are we going to learn eh? Friends we’re now in a dire situation, but there’s still hope. ‘Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.’ (Ex.19:5) That’s true people! The earth is the Lords, and if we repent and once more turn to Him in obedience, He’ll be only too willing and happy to forgive. Friends, He’s our only hope in these dreadful times, man can’t help us. But we’ve got to hurry, before His anger crests, and He causes ‘to cease from the cities…and the streets…the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness…for the land shall be desolate.’ (vs.34) Remember, He keeps His promises. Much LOVE!…the Lord’s motto…obedience…obedience…obedience…
SCRIP-BITS 