Jeremiah 47, Jeremiah 48, Hebrews 2

“I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” Hebrews 2 

“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, – “Because he exalted himself against the Lord. – His lies have made nothing right. – I will bring The year of their punishment,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 48

Please Read –  www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2047,48;%20Heb%202&version=NKJV

Hebrews 2                Of Jesus Christ: “have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”  – Thank You Lord Jesus!!

            King of kings, You think, consider and care for me! Your Word says, “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?”  

              You did and continue to do this through Your Son Jesus Who “for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for” me. And is “a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2

             Lord God, I am so needy. In this sin-stained world, I am grateful to come to You for help and protection against all forms of temptation, deception and evil. Even from things that seem good but that are not glorifying to You, my Lord. Your Word, the Bible, gives me Your wisdom, perspective, comfort, empowerment and love. You grow me, correct and change me, mold me to be different than I was before, and hopefully not as ‘good’ as You will have me by next year. Your peace within me surpasses all understanding. Eternal hope and joy by Your Holy Spirit sustain me and enable my soul to flourish despite my circumstances. I desire to know Your Mind and Heart Lord and Master! I long to serve You better from my inside on out.

~I am Moved to Worship You with deep Gratitude and Awe!~ 

Jeremiah 47             Thus says the LORD: “Behold, waters rise, an overflowing flood, men shall cry, … The fathers will not look back for their children, Lacking courage, … For the LORD shall plunder; the LORD has given it a charge Against –  He has appointed it.”

Jeremiah 48             Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, You also shall be taken. Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully,”

            The world, the flesh and the devil are alive and active – tugging, pulling, manipulating and trying to deceive even the elect (Matthew 24:24). Culture and “religion” take its toll by lying to me, feeding my pride by saying “You are the most important. Take pleasure, please yourself! Your good works make you good. Your riches make you safe. Do what you think is right because God loves you.” Judges 21:25  

            “Judgment has come on the plain country: The horn of Moab is cut off, And his arm is broken,” says the Lord.  “Make him drunk, Because he exalted himself against the Lord. Moab shall wallow in his vomit, And he shall also be in derision. We have heard the pride of Moab (He is exceedingly proud), of the haughtiness of his heart.” Says the Lord, “His lies have made nothing right.”  Romans1:18-2:11

            Cutting off the strength of the country, breaking the abilities of the nation, causing inebriation for false “vision” and wrong perceptions, and losing a good reputation are the righteous judgments for arrogance against the Lord God Almighty. Lies of the nation make “nothing right”.

            Is my nation taking the same path? “Moab shall be destroyed as a people, Because he exalted himself against the Lord. Fear and the pit and the snare shall be upon you, O inhabitant of Moab,” says the Lord. “For upon Moab, upon it I will bring The year of their punishment,” says the Lord. “Woe to you, O Moab! For your sons have been taken captive, And your daughters captive. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.”

            In my own life – Am I living for pleasure instead of sacrificial faith in God’s Word? Am I lying to myself? Lying to others? What am I like when no person is looking? What is the root of my deception? Pride and self-centeredness? If so, this God’s result: ”Joy and gladness are taken From the plentiful field And from the land of Moab; For I have broken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure,” says the Lord. “How Moab has turned her back with shame!”

             The Lord causes these painful tragedies and tells His reason: His declared righteous judgment against a people rebelling against Him, the Holy God. What is the cure? Repentance! 2 Chronicles 7:14  

              Lord God, thank You for explaining to me in Hebrews 2 what Your prepared path is for my success in You. Your Word warns me: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. … every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation”  Hebrews 2  

The Lord Jesus Christ IS the Remedy! I resolve to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 8:31-36; John 15

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)   

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2 Chronicles 17, 2 Chronicles 18, 2 Corinthians 6

Jehoshaphat…sought God…and walked in His commandments. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. 2 Chronicles 18:4-5

 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:15

 “Come out from among them …And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

 Read at – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Chron17,18;%202Cor6&version=NKJV

2 Chronicles 17        Jehoshaphat…strengthened himself against Israel…he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God…and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel.

            At this time Israel was not following the Lord God but worshipping false gods.

            Talk about taking a stand! Jehoshaphat didn’t ignore Israel, give platitudes, agreements, or compromises saying ‘your truth works for you, my truth works for me’. – No, Jehoshaphat “strengthened himself against Israel”! Boldly Not being ‘politically correct’!  

            Jehoshaphat was a man of conviction and action! Not only was Jehoshaphat against Israel, but he was against the false gods in his own land AND he taught everyone about the Lord God!! “moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah. So they…had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.”

             Why would Jehoshaphat do this? Because “his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord”. Jehoshaphat’s heart couldn’t be happier because he ‘heard’ the Lord and walked in His Ways. He didn’t need any one else’s approval or relationship. Jehoshaphat’s HEART DELIGHTED in the LORD. The center of Jehoshaphat’s core had delight, joy, peace and the Presence of the Lord God! It is what motivated him to do all he did! 1 

             Aren’t I supposed to be this way too? Of course! Especially since I have tangible blessings from the Lord God: The full Bible. The knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ by His Word. The God’s promises for the end of His story. The revelation of  Who my Atonement is. The indwelling 24/7/365 Presence of the Holy Spirit within me.  Yet I rejoice in Jehoshaphat! What a man for God! May I be at least as much as he is!!  2 

             And what was God’s response?

Faithfulness, loyalty and fruitfulness to Jehoshaphat and his realm of influence.

The Lord established the kingdom in his hand

The Book of the Law of the Lord was taught to all the people.

The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

Some kingdoms brought Jehoshaphat presents, tribute, and more

Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful,

Jehoshaphat had much property and mighty men of valor

2 Chronicles 18                   By marriage Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahab.  After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria;  

             What happened to this valiant man of God? God’s Word tells us, “Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance.” Trading righteousness for pleasure and pride, Jehoshaphat unwittingly subverted his own resolve against Israel “by marriage he allied himself with Ahab”, the king of Israel.

             The effect is heard: Jehoshaphat answered Ahab, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.”  What? How did this happen? Some years before Jehoshaphat was delighting in God and independent of the powers around him, standing valiant against sin patterns. Now Jehoshaphat has fallen so far that he views himself and his people as being like Israel! 3

             The Lord’s gifts became the source of Jehoshaphat’s joy instead of his heart continually delighting in the Lord God. When I let my physical senses distract me from Fear of the Lord, it causes spiritual blindness, misplaced trust and unholy alliances. 4

2 Corinthians 6            Lord God Almighty, may I never misconstrue blessings to be for my own gratification. You alone are my very Great Reward. You command me: I am blessed to be a blessing. I am to work together with Jesus Christ to plead for others “not to receive the grace of God in vain. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” I will accomplish this through many types of pain, discomfort, by God’s truth, power and more, and within every possible circumstance. 5

            Lord Jesus, You have shown me the deep pain of eternal souls who live for Very temporary pleasures. Hell is for real, just as Heaven is. I take Your advice to heart: You are restricted by your own affections…Do not be unequally yoked…For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. 

            Lord Jesus thank You for calling me to grow more intimate with You daily and go far away from surface pleasure and pride. I desire to Live, exist and have my being in Your Word and Holy Spirit, abiding in Your Love. Lord, have my eyes open to the walking dead around me, my ears attentive to Your Voice of Truth and wisdom, and my heart submitted to Your compassion so You will move through me for Your great work to be done, now and always for Your delight and glory! Amen 6

Dear Reader, God pleads with you and me today:

“Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”“I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” 

1-  Psalm 37:4, 2 Chronicles 17:4, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 1, Psalm 119:16

2-  Romans 3:21-26; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 4:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Isaiah 6:8

3 – 1 Kings 18

4- Romans 1; Revelation 2:4; Genesis 15:1; Psalm 37:4; Philippians 2:12

5- 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; Genesis 15:1; Genesis 12:2; Romans 1:16

6-   1 Peter 2:9; Acts 17:28; John 15:1-17

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)