August 16, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Jeremiah 32 - Jeremiah is in prison, verse 2, but while there he is told by God to buy a field that will be his kinsman-redeemer right to purchase.  When the deed was signed Jeremiah told Baruch to put the deed in an earthen jar to keep it safe.*  Jeremiah prays, verses 16-25, and says to God, "...there is nothing too hard for You...You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men..." verses 17,19.  God responds in verses 26-44 and asks Jeremiah in verse 27, "...Is there anything too hard for me?"  God promises, once again, to give His people, "...one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever..." verse 39.  (Actually a great statement from God in verses 38-41.)

Jeremiah 33 - The promise of verse 3 is one that people have echoed down through the years, "Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."  God promises to change the hearts of His people, verse 8, and there will be a day coming when His people will praise Him, verse 11, and when Jerusalem will be called, "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" verse 16.

Jeremiah 34 - With all the promises of a great future, the people still continued in their wicked ways.  God makes clear to king Zedekiah that he would be taken prisoner.  For a brief moment, the princes of Judah released the slaves they had held, but then reneged on that and forced the people back into slavery.  God rebuked them and told them the Babylonians would surely come and will desolate the land.

*Jeremiah 32:14 speaks of hiding precious documents in earthen jars to keep them safe.  In 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in earthen jars in a cave.  They were well preserved ever since 200 B.C.!