Daily Bible Devotionals

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by injustice, who uses his neighbor’s service without wages and gives him nothing for his work, who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers, and cut out windows for it, paneling it with cedar and painting it with vermilion.’ Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord. “Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence.” Therefore, thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: ‘They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas, my sister!’ They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, his glory!’ He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” Jeremiah 22:13-19 (NKJV)

Everyone weeps at the funeral of a good man, but nobody mourns for a tyrant. To paraphrase Forrest Gump, “Kings are as kings do.”  God’s indictment of Jerusalem’s rulers is direct. Just because you have a house fit for a king does not mean you are fit to run God’s kingdom. Simply amassing wealth does not make you spiritually rich. This was all because Judah’s rulers had acquired their wealth and power by exploiting the apple of God’s eye, His people! Instead of God’s hireling shepherds, called to lay down their lives for His “sheep,” the ruling elite considered themselves owners of the flock, intent on slaughtering & shearing the sheep. God may bless us with wealth, but it is not so that we can live lavishly. He calls us to care for even the “least” of His lambs.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 (NKJV)

Among Christians, it is widely accepted that homosexuality was the sin for which God judged Sodom & Gomorrah. While homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord, He says (through the prophet Ezekiel) that there was a whole other reason (one much closer to the hearts of every believer) for which He judged Sodom.

“‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore, I took them away as I saw fit.’” Ezekiel 16:48-50 (NKJV)

Homosexuality was simply an out-working of a culture bent on pride and fullness of food & leisure, all the while neglecting “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:40) Oh, that America would hear this message, turn from their mirrors and seek the Lord!

“But you must say to this people, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I am presenting to you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live and will retain his life like the spoils of war. For I have turned against this city to bring disaster and not good’”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “‘It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will burn it down.’”  Jeremiah 21:8-10 (HCSB)

When I was a young and immature believer, I considered the God of the Old Testament Scriptures to be an angry God who simply could not be pleased. My perception of Him was that He was only judging and never gracious or patient. On the other hand, it seemed like the God of the New Testament Scriptures was very loving and patient and not the kind Who would judge anyone but accepted everyone just as they are. But have you read the Book of The Revelation?

At the outset, it seems like today’s passage from Jeremiah proves my theory. On the contrary, it disproves the idea that God was always judging and never loving and patient. If you read closely, God is presenting His people with a merciful way out of His judgment if they would only turn from their sin and heed His Word. As for patience, He is actually repeating the terms of a covenant He made with Israel soon after they left Egypt, a covenant Israel had been violating for hundreds of years!

“This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it. See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not listen and you are led astray to bow down to other gods and worship them, I tell you today that you will certainly perish and will not live long in the land you are entering to possess across the Jordan. I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the Lord your God, obey Him, and remain faithful to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”  Deuteronomy 30:11-20 (HCSB)

God had told His people they would stay in the Promised Land forever if they would only follow His Word and not stray from it. He patiently, graciously and mercifully guided and forgave them for many generations. However, eventually, God’s judgment must eclipse His mercy, or else He is no God at all. And still, He pleads…

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“You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived. You seized me and prevailed. I am a laughing stock all the time; everyone ridicules me. For whenever I speak, I cry out – I proclaim: ‘Violence and destruction!’ - because the Word of the Lord has become for me constant disgrace and derision. If I say: ‘I won’t mention Him or speak any longer in His name,’ His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. Jeremiah 20:7-9 (HCSB)

There is a myth in the Church (by “myth,” I mean “lie”) that teaches that if a person accepts Jesus as Lord and does everything He commands, then everything will go well for that person. This myth has wormed its way into the success paradigms of many ministries. As a result, there is very little room for “Jeremiahs” in our culture, people who do everything the Lord requires but whose preaching is categorically rejected.

Because the myth is so entangled into our vision of “success,” many believers become disenchanted when ministry gets challenging and positive results don’t seem to come as easy as for others. That was Jeremiah’s case. He did everything right, and yet he suffered. Jesus went as far as calling such rejection a “blessing.”

“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, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV)

The apostle Paul is a man who could relate to Jeremiah and Jesus’ rejection.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.’” 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (HCSB)

After his big “heroes of the faith” speech, where faithful believers were miraculously saved from various disasters, the writer of Hebrews reminds us of another group of “faithful” believers.

“Some men were tortured, not accepting release so that they might gain a better resurrection, and others experienced mocking and scourging, as well as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, and they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground. All these were approved through their faith, but did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.” Hebrews 11:35b-40 (HCSB)

There is a cost of discipleship. (Luke 14:26-28) But, in the words of Christian martyr Jim Elliot, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to obtain what he cannot lose.” Success is weighed purely in our obedience to God.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Jeremiah 19. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal My words to you.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel. But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potters hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.” Jeremiah 18:1-4 (HCSB)

The sight of the potter molding, marring, and remodeling his vessels of clay impressed the truth on the mind of Jeremiah that God had absolute power over the nations. If Israel disobeyed, He would punish them; if the people repented, He would restore them. Jeremiah delivered the Lord’s message.

Not only is the Lord interested in “molding” nations. He also molds us as individuals. The New Testament writer of Hebrews commented about Jesus’ ongoing work in the lives of His followers.

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (HCSB)

Some believe that God created the World, set everything into motion, and has been resting ever since. Still, others believe that God is concerned with “big” things (whatever that means) and doesn’t have time, energy, or concern with us as individuals. Today’s passage tells us that the Lord never stops working and shaping us for His service.

Furthermore, if we are rebellious and aren’t “shaping up” to His design, God isn’t against reducing us to a lump of clay. His Church is a collection of His “works of art,” so if we aren’t shaping up as individuals, the whole community suffers. This was Israel’s case. Israelite personal idolatry became collective national idolatry. Eventually, God did what all potters do when a vase isn’t taking shape: He smashed it to pieces.

“Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, ‘He did not make me’? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’”? Isaiah 19:16 (NKJV)

Perhaps your life has felt the spin of the potter’s wheel lately. It could be that He has been building you up & tearing you down, and you are feeling frustrated that He is not following your design. First, we must recognize God’s part (Potter) and ours (clay). Then, we must patiently trust the Lord to finish what He started in us.

“A throne of glory on high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jeremiah 17:12 (HCSB)

Today’s passage overlays, almost perfectly, with the New Testament account of Jesus forgiving an adulterous woman; the setting is the Temple in Jerusalem.

“At dawn He went to the Temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them.” John 8:2  (HCSB)

“Hear how they keep challenging me, ‘Where is the Word of the Lord? Let it come!’ Jeremiah 17:15 (HCSB)

“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. ‘Teacher,’ they said to Him ‘this woman was caught in adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?’  They asked this to trap Him, so that they might have evidence to accuse Him.” John 8:3-6a (HCSB)

“Lord, the hope of Israel, all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away from Me will be written in the dirt, for they have abandoned the fountain of living water, the Lord.”  Jeremiah 17:13 (HCSB)

“Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, ‘The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left with the woman at the center.”  John 8:6b-9 (HCSB)

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14 (HCSB)

“But I have not run away from being your shepherd, and I have not longed for the fatal day. You know my words were spoken in your presence. Don’t become a terror to me. You are my refuge in the day of disaster. Let my persecutors be put to shame, but don’t let me be put to shame. Let them be terrified, but don’t let me be terrified. Bring on them the day of disaster; shatter them with total destruction.” Jeremiah 17:16-18 (HCSB)

“When Jesus stood up, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’  ‘No one, Lord’ she answered. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus said. ‘From now on, go and sin no more.’”  Then He said to them again, ‘I am the light of the World. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:10-12 (HCSB)

“‘However, take note! The days are coming’ – the Lord’s declaration – ‘when it will no longer be said: As the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites from the land of Egypt, but rather: As the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites from the land of the north and from all the other lands where He had banished them. For I will return them to their land that I gave their ancestors.’” Jeremiah 16:14-15 (HCSB)

The form we use to re-tell the story of the Passover is called the Haggadah. “Haggadah” is a Hebrew word for “the telling.” The dinner we eat while listening to the Haggadah is called a Seder. “Seder” means “order.” So the Passover Seder Haggadah is literally the ordered re-telling of God’s Passover, His deliverance of Israel’s bondage in Egypt.

In today’s passage, God is telling Israel that, in the future, there will be another “type” of Passover. It will be the story of Israel’s deliverance from their bondage among the nations and re-deliverance back to the land of Israel.

But another deliverance is coming for Israel, and we will read about it in a few weeks. Here is a sneak peek: Israel’s deliverance from the bondage of sin through the New Covenant of Messiah Jesus.

“Look, the days are coming” – this is the Lord’s declaration – “When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. This one will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt – a covenant they broke, even though I had married them – the Lord’s declaration. “I will place My law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people. No longer will one teach his neighbor, or his brother, saying ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me from the least to the greatest of them’ – the Lord’s declaration. ‘For I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin.’” Jeremiah 31:31-34 (HCSB)

Furthermore, God’s “Salvation” (His “Yeshua” – Jesus’ Hebrew Name means “Salvation”), His “New Covenant” and “New Passover” are also extended to the Gentiles.

“He says, ‘It is not enough for you to be my servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:6 (HCSB)

Isn’t it good to know that everlasting atonement has been offered to all mankind, exclusively through Messiah Jesus? Have you entered into Messiah Jesus’ “Passover”?

“For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us observe the festival, not with the old yeast, or with the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7b-8 (HCSB)

“O Lord, You know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In Your enduring patience, do not take me away. Know that for Your sake I have suffered rebuke.  Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, for You have filled me with indignation. Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream, as waters that fail?” Jeremiah 15:15-18 (NKJV)

Why are God’s “chosen” in such trouble? It would be easy to point to their idolatry and the pagan lifestyles they adopted, but those are merely symptoms of a deeper issue. God’s people are in trouble because they have forsaken His Word, the Bible. Now, they are living in the aftermath of how considering God less leads to complete godlessness. Therefore, they suffer His rebuke as if they were pagans simply because they have forsaken God’s Word and adopted pagan values. It is not as though Israel had not been warned. Consider song #1 in their hymnal.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV)

So, Israel began to downplay God’s Word generations before Jeremiah’s day. First, they departed from His counsel and chose to include worldly secular ideas in their worship. Next, they began to act and think more worldly. Finally, several generations later, Jeremiah is not dealing with a few rebels who sit in the seat of a mocker; he is dealing with the ASSEMBLY (Nation) of mockers! Now, look at the Church at large today. Do you see a similar trend in our pulpits & pews over the past few generations? Of course, you do! Therefore, we can predict a certain judgment from God on our nation…unless we turn back to Him and His Word. And the sad truth is that when carnal “Christians” undergo difficulty, they run to their church. But if the Church has become corrupted, the carnal pastor with his (or her) corrupt counsel is no better than an unreliable stream. Even when they claim to speak on God’s behalf, their so-called “Biblical” counsel is deeply tainted with worldliness and Biblical contextual illiteracy. They are no better than Job’s friends who claimed to speak on behalf of God, yet their counsel was void of wisdom.

“My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, like the streams of the brooks that pass away, which are dark because of the ice, and into which the snow vanishes.” Job 6:15-16 (NKJV)

Let’s seek God’s Word and obey it. Then, we will be prepared to share wise counsel with the lost, hurting & perishing whom the Lord leads our way! (1 Peter 3:15)

“‘Though our guilt testifies against us, Lord, act for Your name’s sake. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You.  Hope of Israel, its Savior in time of distress, why are You like an alien in the land, like a traveler stopping by for the night? Why are You like a helpless man, like a warrior unable to save? Yet You are among us, Lord, and we are called by Your name. Don’t leave us!’  This is what the Lord says concerning these people: Truly they love to wander; they never rest their feet. So the Lord does not accept them. Now He will remember their guilt and punish their sins.’” Jeremiah 14:7-10 (CSB)

In today’s chapter, the picture of a devastating drought introduces the prediction of another series of judgments upon Judah, and it is a masterpiece of word painting. The prophet uses vivid colors to depict a scene of universal disaster. The whole country is desolate. The city gates are dark with the black robes of mourners. The water cisterns are found empty. The barren fields are seared and dusty. Men and animals together are desperate and dying of thirst.

Jeremiah is appalled by his own vision. He utters a prayer of penitence, admitting that God’s punishment is just and pleading that the Lord, for His name’s sake, will act as in times past and show Himself to be the hope of Israel.

To this, the Lord replies that the penalty has been in proportion to the guilt of the people. Unless they repent, not just with words, but with their whole hearts, He will not accept their worship nor bring them relief. Truly, worse suffering is yet to come.

Jeremiah offers an excuse for the people: False prophets have given assurance of prosperity and peace. To that, God answers that false prophets and common people alike are to perish by famine, the sword, or be led as captives into a land they do not know.

In today’s passage, Jeremiah offers a false assumption/argument that many Christians today also hold true. That is, the assumption that God would allow His children to go unpunished just to protect His reputation as if He needed to impress anyone. God is not in the habit of making Himself attractive to lure people into worshiping Him through a popularity contest. This is a lesson many church leaders would do well to learn! The error of such an assumption is rooted in ignorance of God’s priorities, clearly articulated priorities in His Word. God is Holy, and in Him is nothing impure. He is only and always concerned with what is perfect and true: He hates impurity.

If His children claim to be called by His name yet are living compromised lives, He will allow their reputations and even His own to suffer. This is so that the truth will be known. Unless the child repents and falls back in line with God’s character, He must distinguish the child from Himself. This is so His glory can be ultimately known to be pure. God’s reputation will only temporarily be tarnished by such punishment because, eventually, people will learn the difference between God and His rebellious children. Once sin is punished, God’s holiness is revealed to have remained intact.

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