Jeremiah 26

 2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.


So it struck me how clearly Jeremiah hear's God.  Tell them everything--do not omit a word.  I haven't had too many experiences where I hear God's word so clearly, though I've had a couple but its like a phrase.  What would it be like to hear such a stream of thoughts--paragraphs?

The other thought I had a few chapters ago and again now is when he said don't listen to false prophets who speak in the name of the Lord.  So how do the people know who is real and who is false?  The thought came again early in the chapter then by the end of the chapter Uriah shows up.  Is he for real?  He said the same things as Jeremiah it says but they killed him.

Things that make me go hmmm--not sure what do do with it though??  Not really a take today just ramblings.

knut

Jeremiah25

8 Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words,

I really struggled in this chapter to find any message other than ignore God when he's talking to you and the end result is gonna be messy for you.  

Should be simple enough and yet its really a daily struggle for all believers.  Its not that we don't hear its that we don't listen.

knut

Jeremiah 24

35-36 “Instead of claiming to know what God says, ask questions of one another, such as ‘How do we understand God in this?’ But don’t go around pretending to know it all, saying ‘God told me this . . . God told me that. . . .’ I don’t want to hear it anymore. Only the person I authorize speaks for me. Otherwise, my Message gets twisted, the Message of the living God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

So the question kept going in my head as it talked about no one being a real prophet and punishing those who pretend to be and stuff like that---isn't Jeremiah speaking as a prophet??  hypocrytic?

But regardless, I like the beginning of these two verses using the Message. How do we understand or see what God is doing in a situation or our lives?  That is a great conversation and one I feel like we use to have in small groups or LUGs back in the day.  I don't find myself having that type of conversation anymore--but what a great discussion to engage in.

knut

Jeremiah 22

5 But if you do not obey these commands, declares the Lord, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’”

The message throughout this chapter is to obey God or suffer the consequences.  Obeying requires understanding his direction for us, so being in his word like this and I would say it includes our prayers and instruction he places on our hearts.  Don't ignore those tugs he gives you to take and action or change a behavior.  

Now we have the ultimate Grace from Jesus actions for us but I don't think that is a free pass to just ignore God's instructions for each of us.  I will say it seems scary to live in the times before Jesus like what Jeremiah writes about.  

knut

Jeremiah 21

13 I am against you, Jerusalem,
    you who live above this valley
    on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord—
you who say, “Who can come against us?
    Who can enter our refuge?”


Well it doesn't matter who you think you are or how comfortable I am with all the resources I've accumulated and ability to take care of myself and make my own way forward without God's help.  If I behave in that manner maybe he'll set me straight and take it all away.  To whom much is given much is expected.

Am I following him or am I like someone living on the rocky plateau thousands of years ago?

knut