Daily Bible Devotionals

This Groundworks Ministries Podcast is coming soon! In the meantime, click the “Read Full Chapter” button above to study Jeremiah 40.

“At Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, and he also slaughtered all Judah’s nobles. Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze chains to take him to Babylon. The Chaldeans next burned down the king’s palace and the people’s houses and tore down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guards deported to Babylon the rest of the people – those who had remained in the city and those deserters who had defected to him along with the rest of the people who had remained. However, Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guards, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and he gave them vineyards and fields at that time.” Jeremiah 39:6-10 (HCSB)

If we concentrate on God’s judgment of the unfaithful, we only get half of the story. What of His deliverance of the faithful? After all, that is where our hope lies.  Nebuchadnezzar’s treatment of the poor reminds us of Jesus’ words:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)      

“Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, “Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you.” So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers; then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.” Jeremiah 39:11-14 (NKJV)

Likewise, Jesus’ words remind us of Jeremiah’s deliverance:

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:4-6 (NKJV)

“Now the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah when he was confined in the guard’s courtyard: ‘God and tell Ebed-melech the Cushite: This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel says: ‘I am about to fulfill My words for harm and not good against this city. They will take place before your eyes on that day. But I will rescue you on that day’ – this is the Lord’s declaration – ‘and you will not be handed over to the men you fear. Indeed, I will certainly deliver you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted Me, you will keep your life like the spoils of war.’ This is the Lord’s declaration.” Jeremiah 39:15-18 (HCSB)

And what of the Ethiopian who pulled Jeremiah from the muddy cistern?

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:7-9 (NIV) (See also: the rest of Matthew 5)

“So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.” Jeremiah 38:6 (HCSB)

If the Lord asked today, “Do you want to be used by Me?” most of us would answer, “Yes, Lord!” We generally think of “blessings” when we think of people the Lord uses. But what if the Lord wanted to use your suffering to send a poignant message to non-believers? Well, our answers may be different in that light. This is precisely Jeremiah’s situation in today’s chapter.  

It is hard to be faithful when we are called to suffer. In such times, we must strongly rely on God’s promise of deliverance. Surely, down in that pit, Jeremiah was comforted by the words of David’s Psalm 40.

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”  Psalm 40:1-3 (HCSB)

Perhaps Jeremiah remembered the story of Joseph and how his similar circumstances led to his brothers’ deliverance.

“When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off his robe, the robe of many colors that he had on. They took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.” Genesis 37:23-24(HCSB)

The point is we need the truth of the Bible for strength through difficult circumstances: “Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of God.” (Romans 10:7). Jeremiah trusted the Lord, spoke the truth boldly, and the Lord eventually delivered him.

“Ebed-Melech the Cushite cried out to Jeremiah, ‘Place these old rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.’ Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, but he continued to stay in the guard’s courtyard.” Jeremiah 38:12-13 (HCSB)

Later, we find that the Lord allowed Jeremiah’s whole episode of faithful suffering to contrast with Zedekiah’s lack of faith. Jeremiah was saved, but Zedekiah wouldn’t be.

“But if you refuse to surrender, this is the word that the Lord has shown me: ‘Now behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be surrendered to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say: “Your close friends have set upon you and prevailed against you; your feet have sunk in the mire, and they have turned away again”’” Jeremiah 38:21-22 (NKJV)

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“The officials were angry at Jeremiah and beat and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison. So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon and stayed there many days. King Zedekiah later sent for him and received him, and in his house privately asked him, ‘Is there a word from the Lord?’ ‘There is,’ Jeremiah responded, and he continued, ‘You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.’” Jeremiah 37:15-17 (HCSB)

One of the downsides of sharing God’s Word is that many people will reject it. For some people, simply saying "no" is not enough. They will seek to harm you. Still, it is incumbent upon us to share the truth in love and with boldness. This is nothing we should be surprised about, for Jesus told us we should expect such things.  

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:18-20 (NKJV)

While Jeremiah faced severe persecution, the Lord was always with him to ensure his ultimate well-being. Notice God’s grace and provision in the midst of Jeremiah’s trial.

“Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, ‘How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people that you have put me in prison? Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, claiming, “The king of Babylon will not come against you and this land? So now, please listen, my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Don’t send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.’ So King Zedekiah gave orders, and Jeremiah was placed in the guard’s courtyard. He was given a loaf of bread each day from the baker’s street until all the bread was gone from the city. So Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard.” Jeremiah 37:18-21 (HCSB)

Jesus also predicted the same type of persecution and prayed for us that the enemy would not prevail against us. Like Jeremiah, our calling mixes persecution and provision.

“I have given them Your word; and the World has hated them because they are not of the World, just as I am not of the World. I do not pray that you should take them out of the World, but that you should keep them from the evil one.” John 17:14-15 (NKJV)

Not only should we expect persecution for our faithfulness, we should count it as a blessing.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…” Matthew 5:10-12a (NKJV)

“Now it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ‘Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.’” Jeremiah 36:1-3 (NKJV)

What a difference a generation makes! Observe how King Josiah reacted when God’s Word was found, and the Law was read to him.

“Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read it before the king. Thus it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the Word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.’” 2 Chronicles 34:18-21 (NKJV)

In contrast to his father’s humble repentance, when God’s Word was read to Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, he took a scribe’s knife, cut it line-by-line, and threw it in the fire. Oh, that America would be a Josiah generation! But when the “Jeremiahs” are banned from the temple, who will take up the Word and preach? (Isaiah 6:8)

“Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote on a scroll of a book, at the instruction of Jeremiah, all the words of the Lord which He had spoken to him. And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, ‘I am confined, I cannot go into the house of the Lord. You go, therefore, and read from the scroll which you have written at my instruction, the words of the Lord, in the hearing of the people in the Lord’s house on the day of fasting. And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come from their cities. It may be that they will present their supplication before the Lord, and everyone will turn from his evil way. For great is the anger and the fury that the Lord has pronounced against this people.’” Jeremiah 36:4-7 (NKJV)

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest’. Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,’ says the Lord. ‘But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.’” Jeremiah 45:2-4 (NKJV)

“This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Go, say to the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem: “Will you not accept discipline by listening to My words?” – this is the Lord’s declaration. “The words of Jonadab, son of Rechab, have been carried out. He commanded his sons not to drink wine, and they have not drunk to this day because they have obeyed their ancestor’s command. But I have spoken to you time and time again, and you have not obeyed Me! Time and time again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn, each one from his evil way of life, and correct your actions. Stop following other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors. But you would not pay attention or obey Me.’” Jeremiah 35:13-15 (HCSB)

Who are the Rechabites? They are the descendants of Rechab through Jonadab (aka Jehonadab). They belonged to a group of people called the Kenites, who accompanied the children of Israel into the land of Canaan and dwelt among them. They were Gentiles.  God has always shown His grace towards anyone who chooses to follow Him.  

Many people believe that Israel was the only group of people the Lord allowed to enter the Promised Land, along with Joshua. Not so. The Kenites were right there with them.  Why? Well, for starters, Moses married a Kenite wife (Judges 1:16). In the days of Deborah and Barak, because of Barak’s cowardice, it was a Kenite woman who defeated evil king Sisera (Judges 4:17).

Now, the main body of the Kenites dwelt in cities and adopted the habits (and pitfalls) of “settled” life, but Johnadab forbade his descendants to drink wine or live in cities. They were also commanded always to lead a nomadic life. This particular strain of the Kenites adhered to the law laid down by their patriarch, and today, we read of their fidelity to the old-established custom of their family, even up till the days of Jeremiah.

So, what was God’s reason for singling out this small sect of Gentiles in His exhortation against Judah? In full view of soon-to-be-deported Judah, God chose to bless a group of righteous Gentiles, all because of their faithfulness. God was saying, in essence, “These Gentiles will follow the command of their long-dead ancestor, but you will not follow the Word of the Living God! Even after I sent you countless prophets.”

It would not be the last time in the TANAKH (aka Old Testament) that the Lord would bless faithful Gentiles as a means to evoke jealousy among His unfaithful people. It was that approach, in particular, that Jesus took in His hometown synagogue and made the people want to kill Him:

“He also said, ‘I assure you: No prophet is accepted in his hometown. But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s day, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them – but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. And in the prophet Elisha’s time, many in Israel died of serious skin diseases, yet not one of them was healed – only Namaan the Syrian.’ When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged.” Luke 4:24-28 (HSCB) (See also: Romans10:19; 11:11)

“Then the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: I made a covenant with your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, saying: At the end of seven years, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who sold himself to you. He may serve you six years but then you must send him out free from you but your ancestors did not obey Me or pay attention. Today, you repented and did what pleased Me, each of you proclaiming freedom for his neighbor. You made a covenant before Me at the temple called by My name. But you have changed your minds and profaned My name.” Jeremiah 34:12-16a (HCSB)

I love Disneyland. I love the rides, the shows, the parade, the fireworks, and even the food! Another thing I love about Disneyland is how everyone leaves their strollers unattended, rides their rides, and comes back to find everything just as they left it. I don’t know why everyone is so honest at Disneyland, but I guarantee nobody would leave their stroller unattended at the convenience store across the street from Disneyland! It’s like there is some honor code at Disney; people want to believe in a better world. Sadly, much of that community mindset stays at Disney once we leave the parking garage.

There was a time in Israel’s history when they wanted to believe in a better world, where they obeyed God’s Word. They even made a special covenant with Him. It lasted about a day. They may have been sincere in their desire to follow Him, but in the end, the flesh won over. Their will to follow Him was overridden by their desire to enslave their brothers! The whole scenario is a textbook example of what it looks like when we break the third commandment.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

The correct understanding of “taking the Lord’s name in vain” has been missed by most people. Quite honestly, many Christians believe that taking the Lord’s name in vain means using His name as a curse word.  

Actually, “taking (or using) the Lord’s name in vain” describes a situation where people declare to have repented, to have become God’s people, bearing His name, yet choose to live as if they still belong to the World. They claim to have received His Name, yet they received it in vain because they never surrendered their trust to Him. His name bears His blessing, and receiving His name is a byproduct of His grace towards our faithfulness when we place our trust in Jesus’ Lordship. (Ephesians 2:8-9) People who receive His name in vain choose to identify themselves as believers yet forfeit the blessing only given to the faithful. God cares about our faithfulness, and His blessing is directly related to our decision to follow Him. Sure, our salvation is secured by His faithfulness towards us, by His grace. But why would we forfeit His blessing just to return to the worldly ways we repented from when we pleaded for His salvation?

This Groundworks Ministries Podcast is coming soon! In the meantime, click the “Read Full Chapter” button above to study Jeremiah 33.

“This is the Word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. At that time, the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the guard’s courtyard in the palace of the king of Judah. Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying. ‘Why are you prophesying, “This is what the Lord says: Look, I am about to hand this city over to Babylon’s king, and he will capture it. Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the Chaldeans; indeed, he will certainly be handed over to Babylon’s king. They will speak face-to-face and meet eye-to-eye. He will take Zedekiah to Babylon where he will stay until I attend to him – this is the Lord’s declaration. You will fight the Chaldeans, but you will not succeed?’” Jeremiah 32:1-5 (HCSB)

It isn’t easy being a prophet! Tell the truth, then get thrown in jail. But that was the job.  With the Word of the Lord comes Responsibility, Accountability, and Liability.  

There is a Responsibility because the Lord has chosen to reveal His Truth to us. When we read the Bible and pray, “Lord, give me something today and someone to share it with,” is He not faithful to answer that prayer to both ends? First, He reveals a deeper understanding, which draws us closer to Him. But He doesn’t simply pour His Word into us so we can be filled and capped off. God reveals His Truth so we can share it with those He leads to us. We are responsible for sharing His revelation. It is why we exist: to know Him and make Him known. That is worship.  (Jeremiah 1:1-10)

In addition, we are Accountable. Along with the responsibility of knowing God’s Word, we are held accountable for how we live up to that responsibility. For instance, you may be convinced of some Biblical Truth and given a Divine burden to share it with a specific individual, yet you may choose to ignore that responsibility. For that, we are held accountable.  (Jeremiah 15:19-21)

Then, there is Liability. Obviously, if the Lord holds us accountable for how we respond to the revelation of His Word, there is a liability (discipline, rebuke, punishment) attached to our disobedience. In today’s chapter, we learn there is also a potential liability connected to our faithfulness. Because Jeremiah chose to be responsible, accountable, and free of divine liability, he was contemptibly held “liable” by Zedekiah. He was put in prison for telling the truth of God’s Word!! Yet, he could not remain silent.  (Jeremiah 20:9)

This is an excellent lesson for us. We should recognize these realities that Jesus is Lord, the Rock of our salvation, but He is also a rock of offense to most who do not believe. That being said, I would rather be persecuted by men for correctly following the Lord than rebuked by Him for cowering before those who can kill the body but not the soul!

“Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 (HCSB)