We're all in Jeremiah today - that's easy!  Let's read Jeremiah 23:33-40, Jeremiah chapters 24, 29, 30, and Jeremiah 31:1-14.  Let's visit!

What an encouraging day and wonderful reminder that God is all about restoration! 29:11 is a great favorite of course, but in its context it’s so powerful.  Let's back up a little bit and make sure we don't miss the history here:

"This is the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, to all the exiles I’ve taken from Jerusalem to Babylon" (29:4 MSG)

First: God not only knows where the exiles are - he's the reason they are there.  Nothing happened that was outside of His control, not even this period of captivity.  God assures them that He knew where they were and would come to them. Every piece of instruction represented a process:

“Build houses and make yourselves at home. Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you’ll thrive in that country and not waste away. Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare" (29:5-7 MSG, emphasis mine)

Build a house and LIVE there.  Plant a garden and EAT the harvest that grows from it.... They were to be content and faithful and trust until He came because He knows the plan He had for them, plans for good and not evil (I won't try to throw in the Message translation for Jeremiah 29:11 today - the NKJV is everyone's favorite, I know!). Those were comforting words, especially considering their circumstances.

He knows my circumstances too, and I know He has a good plan if I’m obedient!

Today let's read Jeremiah 49:1-33, 2 Kings 24:5-7, 2 Chronicles 36:6-8, 2 Kings 24:8-9, 2 Chronicles 36:9, Jeremiah 22:24-30, and Jeremiah 23:1-32. What's your highlight today?

After all the judgement and warnings, God gives hope and promises restoration in chapter 23:

“All God’s sheep rounded up!” (Jeremiah 23:4 MSG)

All.  I love that - all of His sheep. Let's go ahead with the next verses too:

“Time’s coming”—God’s Decree—
    “when I’ll establish a truly righteous David-Branch,
A ruler who knows how to rule justly.
    He’ll make sure of justice and keep people united.
In His time Judah will be secure again
    and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name they’ll give Him:
    ‘God-Who-Puts-Everything-Right.’ " (Jeremiah 23:5-6 MSG)

A little hint of the future - and for me, it's timely: is anyone else anxious to get to the New Testament and the Jesus part of this history? Hang in there - we're going to make it! In the meantime, remember this: God is always kind!

Again, all in Jeremiah. Let's read Jeremiah 16, 17, 18, and 35.  Here we go!

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 MSG)

God desires truth always. As much judgement and destruction He speaks through Jeremiah, He always leaves room for restoration and a remnant to rebuild. I love chapter 18 - such a sweet picture of the closeness of God. Holding us and molding us in His own hand, even when things don’t things don’t turn out as planned, He can make us again.

"Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot.  Then God’s Message came to me: 'Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?' ”(Jeremiah 18:4-5 MSG)

He doesn't throw us away if we 'turn out badly" - He makes us again!

 

Please read Jeremiah 12, 13, 14, and 15.  All together - that's nice!  What's your highlight today?  Try to find something you can tuck in your pocket and take with you <3 

"You are right, O God, and You set things right.
    I can’t argue with that. But I do have some questions" (Jeremiah 12:1 MSG)

It's okay to have some questions! God answers them with truth:

"So, Jeremiah, if you’re worn out in this footrace with men,
    what makes you think you can race against horses?
And if you can’t keep your wits during times of calm,
    what’s going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?" (Jeremiah 12:5 MSG)

The Lord expects Jeremiah to be faithful on good and bad days (us too). If a peaceful day makes you weary, how will you stand in an evil day?

God always leaves room for compassion and restoration. He had intended the best for them, but the people chose rebellion.

Please read Jeremiah 8:4-22, and chapters 9, 10, and 11. When you are done, come on back and let's visit!

“Look at them - they know everything but God’s word. Do you call that knowing?” (Jeremiah 8:9 MSG)

An Old Testament version of “gain the whole world but lose your soul”(Mark 8:36), huh? If we don’t know God’s word, how can we be successful?

“I’m GOD, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks.” God’s Decree.” (Jeremiah 9:24 MSG)

The Old Testament God was kind. He cannot lie.

Let's read Daniel chapters 2 and 3, and Jeremiah 7, Jeremiah 8:1-3. Did you ever notice how close in time and close in proximity Daniel and Jeremiah were?  

“Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us....But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (Daniel 3:16, 17, 18 MSG)

I think the fast (and the obedience and discipline that helped them complete it) gave them this strength and boldness. Even though God is angry in Jeremiah, He tells the people all He wanted:

“I did say this, commanded this: “Obey me. Do what I say and I will be your God and you will be my people. Live the way I tell you. Do what I command so that your lives will go well” Jeremiah 7:23 MSG

So simple, all He asked for was obedience and relationship. Again, His intention was always kind, but it was man’s sin that created the consequences.

Please read Jeremiah 19 and 20, and also Daniel 1.  What are you highlighting today?  I would love to hear your take-a-way from today's reading!

Jeremiah tells us how hard it was for him to deliver these prophecies - I know the attitude isn’t right, but he’s human.

"You pushed me into this, God, and I let you do it. You were too much for me.
And now I’m a public joke. They all poke fun at me." (Jeremiah 20:7 MSG)

Whether it’s easy or hard, we have to be obedient.  Jeremiah felt alone in his convictions at times, and I'm sure most of us can relate to that feeling.  Jeremiah took his difficulty to the Lord, and continued the dialog with God.  God is not afraid of our questions or our feelings - we never have to feel alone with Him on our side.

Daniel’s fast was effective!  When Daniel, along with his friends also taken captive, refused the king's food, 

"The steward agreed to do it and fed them vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked better and more robust than all the others who had been eating from the royal menu. So the steward continued to exempt them from the royal menu of food and drink and served them only vegetables. God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life. In addition, Daniel was gifted in understanding all sorts of visions and dreams" (Daniel 1:14-15 MSG)

Fasting is such an important discipline, even today.

Today, we are all in Jeremiah.  Let's read Jeremiah 25:15-38,  Jeremiah 36, Jeremiah 45, and Jeremiah 46. 

“Get a scroll and write down everything I’ve told you regarding Israel and Judah” ..... “Maybe the community of Judah will finally get it, finally understand.... turn back from their bad lives, and let me forgive their perversity and sin” (Jeremiah 36:2, 3 MSG)

God isn’t unkind - and here He even challenges them to review EVERY WORD he had spoken. If they listened to everything and not just picked out certain parts, wouldn’t they see His patience and turn back to Him? It's the same today, isn't it? People make decisions without understanding the entire story.

God is not “out to get us” or about punishment.  He’s about relationship and restoration and redemption.

Here we go - several little bits today.  Let's read: 2 Chronicles 36:1-4, 2 Kings 23:31-37, 2 Chronicles 36:5, Jeremiah 22:1-23, Jeremiah 26, 2 Kings 24:1-4, Jeremiah 25:1-14. Especially on days like today, the YouVersion app or the One Year Chronological Bible can be a time-saver! 

It’s interesting to connect the prophets to the kings, like we can with Jeremiah and Jehoakim. In Jeremiah 22:8-9, the people asked why God destroyed Judah - notice that the answer was a direct consequence of the people’s actions.

“Travelers from all over will come through here and say to one another, ‘Why would God do such a thing to this wonderful city?’ They’ll be told, ‘Because they walked out on the covenant of their God, took up with other gods and worshiped them.’ ” (Jeremiah 22:8-9 MSG)

(Emphasis mine-  I just wanted to notice the "why" and the "because"). Again, God is not acting without cause.

Are you ready?  What's the best time for you to read?  For me, it's in the morning, first things first - but I have to admit: I'm a MAJOR morning person!  Do what works for YOU - the true key is being consistent!  Let's read Zephaniah 2:8-15, Zephaniah 3, 2 Chronicles 35:20-27, 2 Kings 23:29-30, Jeremiah 47, and Jeremiah 48.  

“Yet GOD remains righteous in her midst, untouched by the evil. He stays at it, day after day, meting out justice” (Zeph. 3:5 MSG)

No matter what people do, God remains a righteous judge - that’s a comfort.  Let's say it another way: no matter what I do, God remains. No matter what you do, God remains.  You can't do anything to make Him love you more, and you can't do anything to make Him love you less: God remains, and your best is always in His heart.

Sad to see Josiah go.  We don't have time in these few minutes to go into a lot of Bible history (sadly!  I do love a history lesson!), but the Battle of Megiddo was significant.  After Necco kills Josiah, Judah (remember the kingdom has been split by this point, while Solomon's son Rehoboam reigned) falls under Egyptian control.  We'll meet a new king soon.