Our Daily Scripture – 8/30/24 (Friday)

SCRIPTURE:  JEREMIAH 6

MEMORY VERSE:

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your soul.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

JERUSALEM UNDER SIEGE (vs. 1-29)

SINS OF THE PEOPLE:

  1.  All were greedy for gain. (v. 13a)
  2.  Prophets and priests all practiced deceit. (v. 13b)
  3.  They told the people there is peace when there is no peace. (v. 14)
  4.  They were not ashamed of their loathsome conduct. (v. 15)

FORTHCOMING HAPPENINGS:

  1.  Disaster will be brought to the people. (v. 19)
  2.  Burnt offerings will not be acceptable. (v. 20)
  3.  An army from the north is coming without mercy. (v. 22)
  4.  Anguish has gripped like that of a woman in labor. (v.24)
  5.  The enemy came with terror on every side. (v. 25)
  6.  A destroyer will come upon them. (v. 26)
  7.  Hardened rebels go out to slander. (v. 28)

THOUGHTS:

Prophet Jeremiah saw the disaster coming and warned the people that Jerusalem will be ruined, but they would not listen to him.  He pointed out their sickness and told them that the nation needed God’s healing.  But the false prophets gave superficial diagnoses and gave them false remedy.  Beware of religious leader who only look at the surface and never get into the heart of the problem.

The  people closed their ears to Jeremiah’s warning.  They wanted no part of God’s commands because living for God did not appear very exciting.  People today also dislike God’s demand for disciplined living. However, regardless of how people respond, we must continue to share God’s Word.  We must not let what people want to hear determine what we say.

The Israelites ignored what Jeremiah said.  Instead, they kept on listening to prediction of peace because they did not like Jeremiah’s condemnation of sin.  Sin is never removed by denying its existence.  We mut confess to God and ask for forgiveness.

The right path for living is the ancient path.  But the people refuse to take God’s path.  Instead, they go their own way.  The only way to find peace and “rest for the soul” is to walk in God’s path”.