Jeremiah 46:27-28

October 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jeremiah 46:27-28)

Jeremiah spends the chapter describing how God will use Babylon to punish Egypt. In closing, he reminds Israel that they, too, will be punished in just measure. However, unlike the nations, God will not bring Jacob (Israel) to an end.

I noticed the phrase “fear not” again. And the reason they are not to fear? God said, “For I am with you.” I can not think that being in exile in Egypt shortly after the fall of Jerusalem would feel like God “is with you.”

Two things to keep in mind from this passage: First, Israel will be restored from captivity. Second, God can be with his people, even in difficult circumstances.

Father, thank you for being faithful to your covenants and for being with your people, even in the most trying times. Amen.

Filed Under: covanent, devotional thoughts, Jeremiah, Old Testament, Prophecy

Jeremiah 44:29-30

October 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“This shall be the sign to you, declares the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, in order that you may know that my words will surely stand against you for harm: Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.””

I am fascinated to see the extended effects of sin. First, this remnant from Judah is steadfast in their idolatry. Jeremiah faithfully warned them, but to no avail.

The Lord promises their destruction (23), which immediately makes sense. What is less intuitive to me is how this rebellion lands Egypt in trouble. This is not to say that the Pharaoh was not an idolater. However, Jeremiah specifically said that Pharaoh would be conquered as a sign to Israel that God would punish them.

This is an important lesson for me. When I sin, I not only put myself in jeopardy, but I may also put others in harm’s way. Yikes!

Father, please help me to see how wicked my sin is and the broad effects it carries. Amen.

Filed Under: covanent, devotional thoughts, Jeremiah, Old Testament

Jeremiah 33:23-26

September 25, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ‘Have you not observed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two clans that he chose’? Thus, they have despised my people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight. Thus says the Lord: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.’” (Jeremiah 33:23-26)

Once again, the Lord reminds the people of His covenant with David. Regarding this covenant, He says it is as sure as his covenant with night and day (ie, sun and moon). And, finally, he says He will restore Israel.

Interestingly, the above claims are in response to those who are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two clans that he chose.’ Thus, they have despised my people and no longer view them as my people.

I have noticed lately that in the conservative religious and political world, the thought that God has rejected Israel has increased to the point that people who once supported Israel now despise them and claim that modern Israel is only political Israel, not biblical Israel. Furthermore, all evil that is not clearly tied to Islam is blamed on “political” Israel.

First, I’m thankful for a God who remains faithful to His promises. Second, I worry for those who deny what God has repeatedly said about his eternal covenant with Israel.

Father, there is none like you. You are faithful beyond human understanding. Help me hold fast when people around me waver in their belief in your covenant with Israel. Amen.

Filed Under: covanent, devotional thoughts, Israel, Jeremiah, Old Testament

Jeremiah 31:35-36

September 23, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord of hosts is his name: ‘If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the Lord, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.’” (Jeremiah 31:35-36)

This passage reflects on the creation narrative in Genesis 1:16-17. First, it reaffirms that God, not chance, put the sun and moon in the sky. Second names, this God as the Lord of hosts, distinguishing the one true, living God from all the recognized deities of the regions. Third, he reaffirms his eternal covenant with Israel.

Note that the longevity of his covenant with Israel is contingent upon the longevity of the fixed order of the heavens. That is a solid covenant. I find it interesting that the longevity of this covenant comes immediately following God‘s declaration that he will make a new covenant with Israel. Since the order of the heavens has not changed, I conclude that the new covenant does not abrogate the covenant God made with Israel at Sinai. That does not mean the new covenant doesn’t exist or that it relates to Israel. It simply means the New Covenant, in my words, adds to the Old Covenant.

Application: 1) If Israel will continue to be a nation before the Lord, as long as the sun and moon are in the heavens, I need to think soberly about how I view and interact with Israel. 2) If God has made a new covenant with Israel, it is incumbent upon me to try to figure out how the Old and New Covenants work together in relation to Israel.

Father, thank you that you are a God who is faithful to your covenants. Thank you for bringing me into your family through the new covenant. I trust that you will be completely faithful to that covenant, and that I will benefit eternally from it. Amen.

Filed Under: covanent, devotional thoughts, Israel, Jeremiah, Old Testament

Jeremiah 30:11

September 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“For I am with you to save you, declares the Lord; I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jeremiah 30:11)

This verse is rich. I like to break the verse apart to see the details.

  1. For I am with you to save you, declares the Lord;

God declares He is with Israel.

How can that be if they are in exile? He is not a regional deity; He can be everywhere.

How can that be if they are in trouble? While they may feel abandoned, especially while being disciplined, God has not turned His back on them. God’s purpose is to save Israel. The reason he disciplines them is that he loves them and has plans for them.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. (Hebrews 12:6)

  1. I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end.

Although Babylon conquered Jerusalem and drove Judah into exile, God took credit for scattering Judah among the nations. This gives us a glimpse into God’s ability to use the wicked actions of men to accomplish his purposes.

… “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:23)

God promises once again that He will not destroy Israel.

  1. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”
    ‭‭
    God affirms that Israel will be punished, but in the appropriate amount.

One of the beauties of God is that while He will destroy the nations that rebel against Him, He offers to graft us into Israel through His son, Jesus.

As John wrote in 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Paul writes in Romans 9:25-26, “As indeed he says in Hosea, ‘Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

Father, thank you for your faithfulness to your people and for your generosity toward those who come to you through Jesus. Amen.

Filed Under: covanent, devotional thoughts, Jeremiah, Old Testament
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