ALL OUR DAYS!

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 52

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

In today’s reading, pots, bowls and utensils are mentioned. Reynold, who is still in Africa, sent this picture on the internet of vessels excavated in Corinth, Greece. It’s just possible that the pottery of Babylon might have looked like these. It’s a stretch for my imagination to connect these to Babylon, but history tells us that the Greeks were going to defeat Babylon, Persia and all the lands of the Middle East within about 200 years after the time of Jeremiah 52.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Jeremiah 52:33

So Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life.

Jehoiachin was made King of Judah when he was just 18 (read 2 Kings 24:6-15). Eight years later he was taken captive to Babylon in the first defeat of Judah. Zedekiah was ordered to serve as a vassal king under Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah’s rebellion caused the Babylonians to destroy the Temple, the walls, and the homes of Jerusalem, murdering Zedekiah’s sons in front of him and then blinding him and taking him in chains to Babylon where he was executed.

Meanwhile, Judah’s former King, Jehoiachin, languished in prison in Babylon for 37 years. When Nebuchadnezzar’s son ascended to the throne, he released Jehoiachin, brought him into the Palace, and cared for him for the rest of his life. I expect there will be more about Babylon in Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel, but beginning tomorrow, God willing, we’ll move over to First Peter for our meditations. What Jehoiachin experienced is something like Jesus does for us. He brings us out of the prison house of sin, forgives us, and makes us clean before God. He put a robe of righteousness on us, and we are seated in heavenly places with Him. Hallelujah!!! (read Isaiah 61:10 & Ephesians 2:4-9).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I am the recipient of much greater mercy from You than Jehoiachin received. His freedom and provision was temporal, but what You’ve done for me is eternal! I pray for more and more opportunities to come my way to tell everyone that there is freedom, peace, blessing and honour in the Salvation which is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, in whose Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

(Originally written by David on February 19, 2016)

I mentioned in a previous blog that, according to the doctor’s prediction in 2012, my journey into the “great beyond” was scheduled to take place at the latest in March 2014. Back at the first of January 2014 he said that my health was “jaw-dropping remarkable.” Thanks for your prayers!!! God’s timing is O.K. with me whenever it’s time to step out of this life into the next one. If it’s today, it would appear I’ll be feeling well for the trip home to Heaven! My children have reminded me over the past months that I’ve said to them, “We who serve the Lord are indestructible until God is finished with us!” Any time Lord!

Yours for trusting God with His perfect timing in all things,

David

P.S. The motorcycle pictured below was a bank repossession with a dented front fender that I bought very cheaply in February 2014. I considered this a statement of victory over the prediction of my soon demise. It was a way of thumbing my nose at “the last enemy.” I sold my former bike in 2006, after we had completed the “Steel Horse Ride,” a trip across Canada where we raised funds to equip our Circle Square Ranches for children with physical limitations. I bought my very first motorcycle with money I had earned when I was just 14. In the photo I have on my “Duck Dynasty” T-shirt that says, “Happy, Happy, Happy!”