The differences between Zedekiah and Jeremiah are worth studying. Zedekiah wants the crown but doesn’t want to follow the kingmaker. Jeremiah follows the kingmaker whether or not he receives the crown. Zedekiah follows the enticing words of false prophets while Jeremiah speaks the difficult but necessary truths even when it gets him thrown in prison and jeopardizes his life. Zedekiah is easily distracted from following God, is impatient and impulsive; Jeremiah trusts and obeys and waits as long as necessary for God to act (Jeremiah 37:16 “Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in dungeon, where he remained a long time”). Even foolish King Zedekiah recognizes Jeremiah as God’s man and seeks the prophet’s counsel in private. A public relationship with Jeremiah is at best unpopular if not dangerous.
I long to be more like Jeremiah: patient, solid, trusting God and loving Him more than his own life. There’s one detail, I would prefer to forgo: the suffering. At times, I may be temporarily distracted by what is immediate, popular and material, BUT the Holy Spirit “also testifies to us about this. First he says: ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Hebrews 10:15-16. I do not trust in the force of my will or strength of character to make me love God more; I count on the grace and work of God within me. I count on that perfect sacrifice that Jesus made on my behalf.
Lord, I trust in your Holy Spirit to be at work within. May I love you far more than the wealth, power and affluence that is all around. You have given me so much. When times call for costly obedience, please give me the grace to stay the course and follow you. I trust you for this. Amen.
Klueh
Sixty-six books in a year 