today's meditation (Jer.39) Hearing and Obeying

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Jeremiah 39:1-18) Now when Jerusalem was captured in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it; 2 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the city wall was breached. 3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon. 4 And when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and left the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and they took him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him. 6 Then the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes at Riblah; the king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 He then blinded Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in shackles of bronze to bring him to Babylon. 8 The Chaldeans also burned the king’s palace and the houses of the people with fire, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 And as for the rest of the people who were left in the city, the deserters who had deserted to him and the rest of the people who remained, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard took them into exile in Babylon. 10 But some of the poorest people, who had nothing, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard left behind in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time.

11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders regarding Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying, 12 “Take him and look after him, and do not do anything harmful to him, but rather deal with him just as he tells you.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard sent word, along with Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the leading officers of the king of Babylon; 14 they even sent word and took Jeremiah out of the courtyard of the guardhouse and entrusted him to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he stayed among the people.

15 Now the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse, saying, 16 “Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “Behold, I am going to bring My words on this city for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will take place before you on that day. 17 But I will save you on that day,” declares the Lord, “and you will not be handed over to the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will assuredly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as plunder, because you have trusted in Me,” declares the Lord.’”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

If only the king had listened and obeyed!  Meanwhile, God kept His word regarding those who willingly went into captivity.  And God worked it out that Jeremiah could stay in the land - in his own home!  Plus, God honored the Ethiopian eunuch who had helped Jeremiah, because he had listened to God's word even though the word wasn't exactly directed to him. 

This demonstrates that God doesn't look at who we are or where we come from, but only looks at our hearts, considering and looking out for those who hear and obey His word.  This passage also demonstrates that God keeps His promises.  As I see the faithfulness of the Lord, in scripture as well as in my own life, I can only be inspired and encouraged to continue on in His will, with greater confidence and purpose!

today's meditation (Is.31) Making a Choice

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 31:1-9)

1   Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help 
     And rely on horses,
     And trust in chariots because they are many 
     And in horsemen because they are very strong,
     But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!
2   Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster,
     And does not retract His words,
     But will arise against the house of evildoers,
     And against the help of the workers of injustice.
3   Now the Egyptians are human and not God,
     And their horses are flesh and not spirit;
     So the Lord will stretch out His hand,
     And any helper will stumble,
     And one who is helped will fall.
     And all of them will come to an end together.

4   For this is what the Lord says to me:
     “As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey,
     Against which a band of shepherds is called out,
     And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise,
     So will the Lord of armies come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill.”
5   Like flying birds so the Lord of armies will protect Jerusalem.
     He will protect and save it;
     He will pass over and rescue it.

6 Return to Him against whom you have been profoundly obstinate, you sons of Israel. 7 For on that day every person will reject his silver idols and his gold idols, which your hands have made for you as a sin.

8   And the Assyrian will fall by a sword not wielded by a man,
     And a sword not of man will devour him.
     So he will not escape the sword,
     And his young men will become forced laborers.
9   “His rock will pass away because of panic,
     And his officers will be terrified by the flag,”
     Declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God will judge righteously, punishing the sinners and protecting those who have made Him Lord and Savior of their lives.  God never changes His mind.  He does not retract His words.  The decision is ours to make.  Will we reject the Lord's free gift of salvation, or will we accept it?  Until we die, it is never too late to put our trust and faith in Him.  And really, the sooner the better!  

There are so many benefits to becoming a Christian.  The biggest benefit being that once He saves us and makes us His child, He promises to never forsake us.  And it is never too late, in fact the sooner the better, to get back on the right path.  Even as Christians, it is easy to stray, but why wait?  God promises to bless the obedient...

(Luke 11:28)  ...blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it.”

(James 1:25)  ...one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.

(Romans 8:28)   And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.