Set free by Jesus, our Saviour

Jeremiah 34:1-22  –  ‘Freedom for the slaves’ – What a good idea! ‘Everyone agreed’. The slaves were ‘set free’. So far, so good! Then things went wrong – ‘Afterwards they changed their minds and took back the slaves… and enslaved them again’ (8-11). What did God have to say about this? – ‘You have turned …

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Genesis 22:1-12; Psalm 13 or Jeremiah 28:5-9; Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42 Let us look to Christ, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” In Genesis 21:22-34, we see Abraham in his relationship with the world. In Genesis 22:1-14, we see Abraham in his …

Let us pray that we will hear more than the words of the preacher. Let us pray that we will hear the Word of the Lord.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). There have been many times when I have wondered, "What should I say to the people who have come to hear me, preaching God's Word?" When I have asked this question, I have asked another qiestion, …

It Won’t Be Easy!

""All that will live godly will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). Jeremiah is put in a foul dungeon for being faithful to God's Word. There are times when all respectability is shorn from men and the bitter hatred of their hearts is revealed. None are so bitter as those who are stung by God's Word …

Don’t Let Familiarity Breed Contempt!

"The impressive thing here is the respect shown to Jeremiah by the pagan authorities. Strange, is it not that the outsiders seem more able  to recognize the worth of God's servants than God's people do? Familiarity, they say, breeds contempt. A prophet is not without honour save in his own country." (Rev James Philip, Notes …

Everything Can Be Turned Around – By God!

"This chapter reads like a whirlwind! And the Lord is in the whirlwind. What has angered God at Moab? See verse 26 - “Make her drunk, for she has defied the Lord. Let Moab wallow in her vomit;     let her be an object of ridicule." - this is the sin of sins. Judgment inevitably …

Called by God’s grace, and sustained by God’s grace

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ …

The Word of the Lord

“Where is the Word of the Lord? Let it come!” (Jeremiah 17:15). The Word of the Lord comes. It comes from above. It comes from the Lord. The Word of the Lord - This is God at work. He is speaking to us. He is working in us. We cannot create the Word of the …

Life’s Disasters And God’s Love

“Maybe the nation of Judah will hear about all the disasters that I plan to bring on them, and they will turn from their wicked ways. Then I will forgive their wickedness and their sins” (Jeremiah 36:3). Even in all life’s disasters, we must never lose sight of God’s love. He sends disasters. This is …

To Babylon – and beyond

There’s realism in the ministry of Jeremiah. He prophesies the Babylonian captivity. There is also hope. He looks beyond the Babylonian captivity: “They will be taken to Babylon and stay there.I come for them, declares the Lord. I will take them from there and bring them back to this place” (Jeremiah 27:22). The way we …

From everlasting love to everlasting life

"From everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Psalm 90:2). As I was thinking about the verse, my thoughts turned to two other verses from God's Word: Jeremiah 31:3, which speaks to us of God's "everlasting love", and John 3:16, which tells us about Jesus, our Saviour, through whom we receive God's gift of "everlasting life." From …

Listening to what the Lord has to say to us will mean being ready to revise our own ideas.

Jeremiah’s ministry was a call from God to the people - a call to “listen to the Word of the Lord” (Jeremiah 44:24). Listening to what the Lord has to say to us will mean being ready to revise our own ideas. Our thoughts, without the guiding Word from the Lord, will be very different …

Lord, You’re speaking Your Word to us. Are we listening?

Jeremiah 22:1-30 We thank You, Lord, that Jeremiah kept on speaking to people who had given up on worshipping You (Jeremiah 22:9). His message was clear: ‘O land, land, land, hear the Word of the Lord?’ (Jeremiah 22:29). Lord, You're speaking Your Word to us. Are we listening? You're looking for people who will listen …

Run away from Babylon! Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered.

God’s Word speaks against us so that we might learn not to speak against God’s Word. God calls us to holiness - “Run away from Babylon! Run for your lives!” (Jeremiah 51:6). The final outcome is described in Jeremiah 51:8 - “Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered.” God is warning us. It is folly …

Are we listening to God’s Word?

The Word of God, spoken by Jeremiah, still needs to be heard today - “O land, land, land! Listen to the Word of the Lord!” (Jeremiah 22:29). God has much to say to this land and every land. Are we listening to His Word? or Have we closed our ears? Jeremiah speaks of our Saviour, …

The Lord’s people must not be afraid to stand up for Him.

Jeremiah 52:1-34; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 119:105-112 The final chapter of Jeremiah speaks of the fall of Jerusalem, followed by captivity in Babylon. Difficulties face God’s people in every generation: “There are many rebellious people ... “ (Titus 1:10). The Lord’s people must not be afraid to stand up for Him (Titus 1:11). Whatever others may …

Bad News About Ourselves, Good News From God

Can... a leopard change its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil" (Jeremiah 13:23). A leopard can't become a lion or a tiger. A sinner can't stop being a sinner. Sinners: that's what we are. Sinners: that's what we always will be. Looking at ourselves, looking at what we are: …

‘I know the plans I have for you… to give you a future and a hope.’

Jeremiah 29:1-32 ‘I know the plans I have for you... to give you a future and a hope.’ Lord, this was Your long-term purpose for Your people. It was important that they did not lose sight of this. There would be ‘seventy years’ of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10-11). At times, they must have wondered, …

There’s a way back to God from the dark paths of sin… when you come as a sinner to Jesus.

Jeremiah 19:1-20:6  -  ‘Listen! I am going to bring on this city and the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stubborn and would not listen to My Word’ (15). God is warning the people. He is calling them back from the way of sin and disobedience. He is calling …

Set free

Jeremiah 32:26-34:22; 1 Timothy 1:1-20; Psalm 119:41-48 The slaves were to be set free (Jeremiah 34:8-9). The setting free of slaves is a form of imagery which is used in Scripture to declare the wonder of God’s saving grace. We do not deserve to be set free, yet, in grace and mercy, the Lord saves …

From everlasting love to everlasting life

"I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). This great declaration of God's love comes to us from the heart of the Old Testament. We learn more about the love of God when we move on, from there, into the New Testament. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only …

Is there any Word from the Lord?

Jeremiah 37:1-21  -  ‘Is there any Word from the Lord?’ - ‘Yes! There is a Word from the Lord’. The Word from the Lord wasn’t exactly what the king wanted to hear - ‘You will be handed over to the king of Babylon’ (17). God was going to bless His people - but they would …

The Friend of a Wounded Heart

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). When everything seems to be going wrong, the Lord draws near. He assures us that he is with us.  He helps us. He lets us know that he is the God of our salvation. He's the God who puts us back together …

When things are difficult, keep on praying.

Jeremiah 35:1-37:21; 1 Timothy 2:1-15; Psalm 119:49-56 Life was not easy for the prophet Jeremiah. The king and his attendants did not pay “any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet” (Jeremiah 37:1-2). We must pray for “kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). They have so much …

Out of the shadows of our past, into the light of His future

Micah 5:1-7:20; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Proverbs 21:17-26 God wipes out the shadow of our past - He “pardons sin” (Micah 7:18). He shines in the light of His future - “We will be “clothed with our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:4). From this standpoint of privilege, we are called to fulfil our responsibility: to be soldiers of …

Real Peace – And No Peace

The proclamation of peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1) must be carefully dissociated from a proclamation which says, "'Peace, peace', when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 8:11).

Preaching God’s Word – our joyful privilege and our solemn responsibility

Jeremiah 51:15-64; 2 Timothy 4:1-22; Psalm 119:97-104 The Word of God is to be preached, even if it is a difficult message. In face of the judgment pronounced upon Babylon, God says to His messengers, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud” (Jeremiah 51:61). Paul calls on Timothy to “preach the …

Jeremiah

JEREMIAH 1:1-19  –  To understand Jeremiah’s story, we must look ‘behind the scenes’: ‘The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”’ (4-5). To understand our own story, we must go …

God’s Word is always relevant.

Jeremiah 50:11-51:14; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; Psalm 119:89-96 This part of Jeremiah’s prophecy is concerned with God’s judgment upon Babylon. God sets Himself against those who set themselves against Him. We live in times when “evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). In such times, we …

The best thing I can tell you is God loves you.

"He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap" (Ecclesiastes 11:4). "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). Like everything else in our world, the weather can be so changeable.  The love of God is unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable. What's so different about God's love? …

May God help us to be faithful and fearless preachers of His Word.

Jeremiah 46:1-47:7; 1 Timothy 6:3-21; Psalm 119:73-80 The judgment of God is upon those who set themselves against Him. This is the message which emerges from Jeremiah’s preaching regarding Egypt. The Lord sets Himself against those who teach false doctrine which “does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to …

Let us keep on choosing God’s way, not the world’s way.

Jeremiah 46:1-47:7; 1 Timothy 6:3-21; Psalm 119:73-80 The judgment of God is upon those who set themselves against Him. This is the message which emerges from Jeremiah’s preaching regarding Egypt. The Lord sets Himself against those who teach false doctrine which “does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to …

Let us praise the Lord with great joy.

"Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, ‘Do not fear, Zion; do …

Do not go to Egypt.

Jeremiah 40:7-42:22; 1 Timothy 4:1-16; Proverbs 25:11-20 “Do not go to Egypt” (Jeremiah 42:19) - Here is a Word from the Lord which is more than geographical directions. It is a Word concerning our walk with God. In Scripture, “Egypt” is not simply a particular geographical location. “Egypt” is symbolic of a proud, unbelieving hardness …

Our God is greater than our problems.

Jeremiah 38:1-40:6; 1 Timothy 3:1-16; Psalm 119:57-64 The difficulties faced by Jeremiah were great - “bound in chains” (Jeremiah 40:1). They were not insurmountable - “the commander ... let him go” (Jeremiah 40:5). The Psalmist says, “Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget Your law” (Psalm 119:61). Whatever difficulties we may …

When things are difficult, keep on praying.

Jeremiah 35:1-37:21; 1 Timothy 2:1-15; Psalm 119:49-56 Life was not easy for the prophet Jeremiah. The king and his attendants did not pay “any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet” (Jeremiah 37:1-2). We must pray for “kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). They have so much …

Jesus – what a great Saviour he is!

"But I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Saviour except me" (Hosea 13:4). Here, God is saying to the people, "Here's something you must never forget. I brought you out of Egypt the land of bondage." He's saying to them, "Never forget how much …

God says, “I am with you. I will save you.”

Jeremiah 14:1-15:21; Colossians 3:1-4:1; Proverbs 24:15-22 Our spiritual warfare is both outward and inward. We have enemies coming at us from without and from within. Concerning the enemies from without, God says, “This people will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you… I will …

Sin, salvation and service

Jeremiah 7:30-9:16; Colossians 1:1-23; Psalm 116:12-19 There is a great contrast between sin - “Do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver... and no-one speaks the truth” (Jeremiah 9:4-5) - and salvation - “the holy and faithful brothers in Christ... the Word of truth, the Gospel... has come to you” (Colossians 1:2,5-6). …

Faith – Conflict and Victory

Jeremiah 11:18-13:27; Colossians 2:6-23; Psalm 118:1-16 The life of faith is a life of conflict. We live among “the faithless” – God is “always on their lips, but far from their hearts” (Jeremiah 12:12). We are called to maintain the faith in the face of “hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and …

The ancient paths… the good way… and rest for your souls

"This is what the Lord says: '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 souls.' But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'” (Jeremiah 6:16). We want to move forward into the future. What are we getting …

The apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers… and Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord

"Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no …

Don’t Try To Fool God.

"This return to obedience (Jeremiah 34:9) came, alas, too late, and anyhow, it fell through very quickly. It was simply a bribe to God, to induce Him to save them from danger, and when they found it did not work, they lost enthusiasm for God's commands. People still try to fool God that way today, …

Better To Play With Dynamite!

"Jehoiakim started something here that has come into fashion again in our time - cutting up God's Word with a knife! Note Jeremiah 36:24 -  'Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words'! Aye, men might well be afraid when they …

God is waiting to bless you. Will you come to Him and be blessed?

"Remember, God is promising these blessings to a repentant people. That must never be left out. His promises are grace, our response is faith, we are to call upon Him (Jeremiah 33:3) and take from Him what He offers. James say, 'Ye have not because ye ask not.'  Is that why you are unblessed?" (Rev …

Lord, Your Word challenge us to think seriously about ourselves.

Jeremiah 13:1-27 ‘These wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them will be… completely useless’ (Jeremiah 13:10). Lord, Your Word challenges us to think seriously about ourselves: Am I on the way to becoming ‘completely useless’? Each …

A Human Problem That Needs, And Has, A Divine Solution

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure" (Jeremiah 17:9). What did Jeremiah mean when he said this? The words of the Rev Eric Alexander sum up Jeremiah's point very well: "The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart." When we read Jeremiah's words on their own, we …

"Listen to the Lord’s Word, all you people of Judah who go through these gates to worship the Lord" (Jeremiah 7:2).

We worship the Lord. We listen to His Word. It's His Word that inspires our worship. How can we worship the Lord truly if we're not listening to His Word attentively. We listen so that we might worship.

What does it mean to be blessed?

"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:7). What does it mean to be "blessed"? Sometimes, the words, "happy" and "blessed", are taken to mean the same thing. Is there a difference between being "happy" and being "blessed"? The word, "blessed", makes us think about the question, "Where does the blessing come from. It invites …

According to Your Word

Jeremiah 29:24-31:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; Psalm 119:33-40 In the Christian life, there is always the problem of the false or counterfeit which opposes the true or authentic. In Jeremiah 29:31, we read about the false prophet. In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, we read about “the lawless one.” There are also the promises of God’s blessing (Jeremiah 31:1-6; …

Faithfulness And Relevance

Jeremiah was not a popular prophet. He didn’t tell the people what they wanted to hear. He wasn’t concerned with gaining their approval. He was determined to keep on speaking God’s Word - whatever the people thought about him, said about him or did to him. The first priority is faithfulness. We must not make …

The human situation, the divine solution

Jeremiah 31:15-20 The human situation, the divine solution  * “She refuses to be comforted” (Jeremiah 31:15). Often, we dig a hole for ourselves.  * “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears” - This is what “the Lord” says to us (Jeremiah 31:16). If anyone else says this to us, we might well …

Don’t Lose Hope!

"6  “‘Alas, sword of the Lord, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath;  cease and be still.’ 7 But how can it rest when the Lord has commanded it, when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast?” It is all very well to complain about desolation and judgment in the land …

Where do God’s peace and joy come from?

They come from his love. It's the greatest love of all (Ephesians 3:18). There's nothing like the love of God. His peace is great. His joy is great. His love is even greater. This is where his blessing comes from him. He loves us. He loves us with "an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). It's a …

Times of suffering … and glorious hope

Jeremiah 27:1-29:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Psalm 119:25-32 There was a message of hope (Jeremiah 29:11), but, first, God’s people had to suffer seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10). There is a glorious hope - “He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marvelled at among all those who have …

God calls us to be faithful and fearless preachers of His Word.

Jeremiah 25:15-26:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28; Psalm 119:17-24 The word of judgment is not an easy word to speak, yet it must be spoken in every generation. It was spoken by the Old Testament prophets (Jeremiah 25:15). It was spoken by the New Testament apostles (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The wrath of God is part of the …

Always seeking, never finding

"The word is very near you" (Deuteronomy 30:14). Some people are always searching - but never finding. They look here, there and everywhere ... and, then, they start again ... and so, the search continues ... always searching, never finding. They tell us, "It's all about the search." Jesus tells us something very different. He …

Where is the Word of the Lord?

“Where is the Word of the Lord? Let it come!” (Jeremiah 17:15). The Word of the Lord comes. It comes from above. It comes from the Lord. The Word of the Lord - This is God at work. He is speaking to us. He is working in us. We cannot create the Word of the …

The Lord is enthroned.

Jeremiah 16:1-17:25; Colossians 4:2-18; Psalm 118:17-29 “A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary” (Jeremiah 17:12). The Lord is enthroned on the praises of His people - “Jesus, we enthrone You ... We lift You up with our praise. And as we worship, build Your throne. Come, Lord Jesus, and …

How are our lives to be changed?

Jeremiah 23:9-25:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18; Proverbs 24:23-34 How are our lives to be changed? They can be changed by God - “I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord” (Jeremiah 24:7). Knowing God makes a difference. Those who do know not Him live “in passionate lust” (1 Thessalonians 4:5). …