Jeremiah 47:6-7

October 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still! How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore, he has appointed it.” (Jeremiah 47:6-7)
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In this prophetic word, the Lord is pouring out his judgment on the Philistines in Gaza and Ashkelon. The consequences are so heavy that a question arises: “Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet?” The answer: “How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge?” In other words, I can’t be quiet; there is work to be done!

The imagery is interesting. The sword represents the judgment of God on the Philistines. As an image, the sword is an inanimate object. Yet, it remains busy in the Lord’s work as long as there is work to be done.

My thoughts race to the guy in the mirror, asking if he is equally faithful. Does he labor for the Lord as long as there is work?

Father, help me to have the spirit of the sword of the Lord: I can’t be quiet or rest as long as there is work to be done. Amen.

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

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 45:2-3

October 7, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’” (Jeremiah 45:2-3)

The focus of this chapter is Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe. The timing of this chapter is actually out of order chronologically. Timing-wise, it occurs back in chapter 36.

Someone drew my attention to Baruch’s words in verse 3. Notice that he uses 5 personal pronouns in that verse: me, my, I, my, and I.

If we go back to chapter 36, things are bad (Jerusalem fell in chapter 39). It would seem normal to have a personal focus in times like those. However, God asks us not to be normal, but to look heavenward. Baruch was a good man, but the Lord sensed his personal ambition (vs 5) and told him not to pursue things for himself.

In the NT, we get the same message: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬) In all circumstances, we need to look heavenward.

Father, help me to look beyond the here and now. Help me to look heavenward through Calvary. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Jeremiah, Old Testament Tagged With:

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 Tagged With:

Jeremiah 43:7

October 5, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.” (Jeremiah 43:7)

This place of disobedience is a rough place to be. Jeremiah had specifically told them, “The Lord has said to you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day” ‭(42:19)

The rebellious heart will deny that water is wet to do what it wants to do. Clearly, Jeremiah had warned them not to go to Egypt, in contrast to Azariah’s and Johanan’s claim to the contrary. While they are, without a doubt, rebelling against God’s word, the underlying issue is a fear of man over trust in God. They are afraid that they are being set up to be taken to Babylon. (43:3)

I do not doubt that their fear of exile or worse is real. But God told them not to go to Egypt. In those circumstances, we – not just them – must obey God. The fear of man is a powerful force in our heads and hearts that convinces us that we can take care of ourselves better than God can. Then, off we go in rebellion to God to “care” for us.

Interestingly, once they arrived into the “safety” of Egypt, God sent another word through Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden, and he will spread his royal canopy over them.” ‭(43‬:‭10‬) In the end, what appeared to them to be a safe zone wasn’t. Rebelling against God put them exactly in the situation they intended to avoid in Jerusalem. And, rebelling against God does the same for me!

Father, please grow my faith in you. Help me to eradicate the fear of man in my heart that I may be more faithful to you. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, fear, Jeremiah, Old Testament Tagged With:
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