THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may go to the archive below and find it.
Bruce McGee, Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for
the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
Jeremiah
CHAPTER 11
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, 4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: 5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
In 2Kings 23, we saw that Josiah instituted reforms and "stood by a pillar" in the temple, taking an oath to abide by the covenant of God. That is probably when Jeremiah began to prophesy, for this statement seems to comply with that particular time in Jeremiah's life.
Though Josiah instituted reforms, the people never really became involved in repentance. Jeremiah's call from the Lord (verse 1) was to prophesy the consequences of disobedience.
Jeremiah agreed to perform the act of telling the people what God said by saying, "So be it, LORD." (verse 5).
6 Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them. 7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
Jeremiah is to remind the people that God has chastised the people before because they rebelliously refused to obey Him, even though God sent other prophets to preach His truths.
The consequences of refusal to obey God is the withdrawal of His grace and watchcare (verse 8).
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 more definitively outline the consequences of a people proclaiming God as their Saviour but living selfish lives in disobedience. This was the "covenant" to which God was referring.
When people proclaim affinity with Christ, then live in selfishness and disobedience, His grace is withdrawn. (see Hebrews 3:8-15)
9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. 11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. 12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
God sees that all the people are being idolatrous. He says there are as many "gods" in the nation as there are "cities."
And God promised, through Jeremiah, that if the people did not repent, He would bring an "evil" upon them from which they would "not be able to escape." (verse 11).
The proof of the idolatrous nature of the people was in the fact that they would go "crying" to their idols for help, and would not turn to God (verse 12).
The proof of affinity with Christ is "fruit bearing." (see John 15:4-8) When a person proclaims to be a Christian, and lives selfishly rather than obediently to the life of Christ, then he is showing an "idolatrous" nature. There is no greater idol than that of self.
14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. 15 What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
God tells Jeremiah not to even pray for the people! He has set consequences in order that are irreversable.
The reason for the consequences to come is because the people have committed spiritual adultery with God (verse 15).
When people demonstrate in their lives that they worship self more than God, that is spiritual adultery - "lewdness."
16 The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. 17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal. 18 And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.
Psalm 128 is a song about the man who is "blessed" because he "fears" the Lord. In that song one line reads, "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table."
The nation was familiar with the fact that God had likened them to the good olive tree which bore good fruit. But now, God is saying the olive tree is no longer bearing the "fruit!" And He has "kindled a fire upon it!"
We, as Christians today, need to hear this message! When we fail to "bear fruit" we are stepping outside the will of God for our lives. There are several means of "bearing fruit" for the Christian today:
19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. 20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause. 21 Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: 22 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine: 23 And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
Because of Jeremiah's prophesy, some conspired against him. Their desire was to kill him. But God had other plans for Jeremiah, and He protected him.
Jeremiah suffered greatly because he preached the truth. He was beaten and imprisoned (see Jeremiah 11:18-23, 12:6, 18:18, 20:1-3, 26:1-24, etc.). However, even though he suffered, his life was protected by God, and Jeremiah continued to deliver the truth of God.
Anathoth was a city in the tribe of Benjamin's area which had been set aside by God as a place for priests to live (Joshua 21:18). It was also a "city of refuge."
It was the priests who conspired to kill Jeremiah!
Those who misuse the Word of God for selfish profiteering detest the genuine TRUTH of God's Word, and will be hostile toward him who presents it!
CHAPTER 12
1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? 2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
Jeremiah sees and proclaims God's prophesy of judgment against Judah for their idolatry. But he has a question which has perplexed many people who live for God: "Why do the wicked prosper?"
It seems to Jeremiah that, not only do they prosper, but they multiply! (verse 2).
It seems, today, that wickedness has taken hold, grown and multiplied to the point of overcoming those who try to live for God.
Habakkuk describes it this way:
"Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth." (Habakkuk 1:4)Why DO the wicked prosper? Well, there's an old saying that actually comes from study of this problem.
"All it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing!
3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
What Jeremiah desires is that God yank up the wicked and rip them right out of the earth! But what God wants is for "good men" to "DO SOMETHING!
As Ezekiel proclaims (Ezekiel 22:3), God is looking for men who will "stand in the gap" for Him and proclaim the truths of His Word!
4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
Jeremiah's question is "HOW LONG" shall God allow this to happen? He sees that the people have believed that he will not live to see his own prophecy come true.
But it seems God answers Jeremiah in the next two verses.
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? 6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
It seems God is saying, "Jeremiah, if you think it's bad now, just wait!"
Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, a priest of Anathoth (Jeremiah 1:1). And the priests of his own father's household had conspired to kill him!
But Jeremiah's call from the Lord, and every Christian's call from the Lord is to PROCLAIM THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD ANYWAY!!
7 I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. 8 Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it. 9 Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
The pain in God's heart is greater than any pain that Jeremiah can know. God has had to forsake His people because they have been like wild beasts preying upon Him as a "speckled bird." The wild beasts prey upon it because of the beauty of it!
10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
God has had many "pastors" to go astray! Pastors are "under-shepherds." They are supposed to care for God's "flock." It is their duty to love the people and teach the Word of God (Ephesians 4:12, 1Thessalonians 2:7-8). Pastors are to "preach," applying the truths of God to everyday life (2Timothy 4:5). Pastors are to "exhort," or encourage Christians to live according to God's will (1Thessalonians 2:11-12).
My friends, here is an awesome message to pastors! The people of Judah were corrupt because the pastors failed to do their JOB!
Many a Christian church is plagued with "do nothingness" because pastors fail in being what God called them to be!
12 The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. 13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD. 14 Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
Take very close note here that God specifically calls the "priests" (or pastors) to account for the "desolation" which will be brought upon the nation.
The priests have failed miserably in teaching the people to apply God's Word to their daily lives. And God promises He will "pluck them out" (verse 15) from the land.
God also promises to RETURN them to their proper places IF they will repent and begin to listen to Him (verse 16).
In Revelation 1:6, the Bible says that Christians are made "priests" unto God. They are called to "pastor!"
When Christians fail to learn the Word of God and fail to teach the Word of God, they do NOTHING instead of SOMETHING!
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.