August 7, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Jeremiah 1 - Jeremiah was a prophet, quite young to start out, but one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament.  His prophecies centered on Judah and God's call for either repentance or destruction of that nation.  Jeremiah's call is given right away in chapter 1.  God was clear with His plan for Jeremiah's life right from the womb, verse 5.  Though Jeremiah protested like Moses did in Exodus 3, God still encouraged him to know that He would protect him and put the words in his mouth that God wanted spoken.  Wiersbe emphasizes that Jeremiah was a "prophet to the heart" and that he would speak of a "tearing down" but then a "building up" in verse 10.  Before God will do something new He will destroy that which is old and decaying.

Jeremiah 2 - God wanted Judah to know that He "remembered" them, verse 2 along with their kindness and love.  But then He asks, "What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me...?" verse 5.  God had done so much good for them but they "have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters" verse 13.  They had substituted idols in place of their God, and when they tried to protest, God said, "For according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah" verse 28.

Jeremiah 3 - Though the Judeans had polluted their land, God still calls them to "return to Me" verse 1.  God would be merciful, verse 12, but they must admit their backsliding, verse 14, and then God would give them shepherds "according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding" verse 15.  They would learn that only "in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel" verse 23.