Jeremiah 33

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,
    for the Lord is good;
    his love endures forever.”

More of the same today.  But, I did catch this little phrase in the middle of the chapter.
Its a great 3 lines.  Sums up a lot!
If I could really live my life remembering these lines.....my outlook would never be down or negative.  How could it?

short and sweet

tp

Jeremiah 32

19 The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests and all the people of the land who walked between the pieces of the calf, 20 I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals. 

This verse made me think of the commitment God and Moses made to each other, and them performing the same ritual.  So, I looked it up.....once again 'cause it seems so strange.

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/348085/jewish/The-Phenomenon-of-the-Half.htm

This concept throws some light on a custom mentioned by the Torah7 in connection with the making of a covenant. The parties to the pact would pass between the two halves of a slain animal. This custom is very difficult to understand. Surely, a more appropriate gesture could be found for persons wishing to express their unity and oneness than passing through the disunited halves of a whole object!

The explanation of the custom of “passing through the halves” in making a covenant is the same as the underlying concept of the half-shekel. Each party to the covenant was to regard himself as incomplete, a mere “half.” Hence, when G‑d told Moses that He was about to make a covenant with the Jews, He was emphasizing once again the lesson of the half-shekel—that a Jew and his Creator are two indivisible halves, together forming one whole, a perfect unity.8

Jeremiah 30-31

 25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Once again, I didn't pull anything specific out of these chapters.  But, the overall message here is one of restoration and reconciliation.  God is telling of a future time when Israel will be brought back to its rightful place among its enemies.  

For me.  Its good to know that no matter how many times I mess up, God is looking to restore me and bring me back to him.  With a good heart, God will never permanently turn his back on me.

Good to know

tp

Jeremiah 29

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

These chapters haven't been easy.  Its tough to grab something out of these letter and prophesies.  I don't completely understand the context of the words being written....but today was different.  

This one was pretty easy.  This is one of the most popular verses quoted in the Old Testament.  I love the positive nature of it.  The Old Testament God can be seen as an angry/jealous/judgmental God.  This shows his love and his nature that wants us to have a great experience in life.

tp

Jeremiah 27-28

28:13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.

Wow time slips by fast, its been a while for a post.  I've gotten into not waking up quite as early.  Short one today--no take from Chapter 27.

Here I took that sometimes I may make choices that are of my own will that I know are not what God is wanting me to do.  I may be avoiding something I perceive as more difficult, but hear I'm reading in the long run not listening to God's direction for me will be far more difficult than a path I might choose for myself.

Short and sweet.   Hope you guys are doing well and enjoyed a great 4th of July celebration as a family.  All is good here.  We have Chris and Debbie with us for a couple days and they will be living with us for an extended period until they close on their house September 2nd.  It is awesome to have them near after most of 20yrs being away.

knut