BABYLON OR EGYPT?
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 42-44
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The temple of Edufu was dedicated to the falcon god Horus and is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. The walls of the temple are covered in inscriptions that tell many stories. The gods of Egypt are mentioned twice in today’s reading.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jeremiah 42:6, 42:20-21a
Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God…For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, “Pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to all that the Lord your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.” And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God…
These people probably did not intend to disobey God. Someone has said that “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” It seemed reasonable to them to ask Jeremiah for direction from God. But their hearts were hypocritical, not reasonable. Fear, a heart condition, won the day. “Egypt” is mentioned 22 times in these 3 chapters. No doubt they still celebrated “Passover” to help them remember that God had delivered Israel from Egypt (Exodus 12:12-14).
It seems that Jeremiah was forced to go with them back to Egypt. When they arrived, Jeremiah again warned them of their folly (43:10-13).
Jeremiah 44:7 is a commentary on the human heart and the foolishness of the human mind that decides to go our own way rather than God’s way. God says, “Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, out of Judah, leaving none to remain?” Most of them died in Egypt, never to return. This was not to be the case of the Babylonian captives. They returned to rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that I will reason, according to the Scriptures, and obey You with both my mind and heart. Deliver me from the hypocrisy of saying one thing and doing another. I ask this through the Person and work of the One Who always said exactly what He intended to say, and then did what He said, the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Babylon or Egypt? Neither place was God’s highest plan for His people. Judah was still there as an option. King Zedekiah and many others were forced into Babylon because of their stubborn resistance to the Word from God, and in today’s reading, and later Johanan and the remnant still in Judah, exercised their own free will (they were called “proud men”) and went to Egypt where they died. Again and again I’ve had to simply obey what I believed God was saying to me through His written Word, the still small Voice within me, or through the counsel of men and women of God!
In yesterday’s blog I mentioned the first ever conference of Christian leaders which gathered in Moscow from all 15 Republics of the Soviet Union. It was obvious that communist rule was an utter failure and that the people would shortly be freed from this curse on the human family. Several pastors who had resisted the cruelties of communism, and like Daniel in Babylon kept the faith, referred to “THE 70 YEARS OF THE DARK RED NIGHT OF COMMUNIST RULE,” boldly proclaiming that their 70 years of captivity (roughly 1917 to 1987) was now over. At the time of this conference, the Communists were still in power. In fact, the Pastor that I referred to yesterday said, gesticulating with his twisted fingers on his right hand, “The communists even called me the other day and offered to break my fingers again to straighten them back, this time in hospital under anesthetic, but I refused. When I preach and lift my hand to make a point (this was said with laughter from himself and the other Pastors at my table), people really pay attention!” Perhaps this will help explain my statement yesterday that I felt totally unworthy to be in this man’s presence and felt like crawling under the table, let alone be the preacher for two nights of the conference. That night I preached with God’s help on “The Church Through the Centuries After Persecution Ceases.” I had studied the history of persecution over the past 2,000 years and came to the conclusion that the Church is the greatest blessing when the Gospel is preached fearlessly, whether under persecution or freedom!!!
Yours for “OBEDIENCE” to God!
David
Yes, Lord God, we are obedient to You and grateful for the direction You provide through scripture. Our prayer is strengthened by Your precious Blood that washes us clean, heals and protects us from all evil and harm. Thank You Lord for blessing us and making us holy through Your sacrifice for us. We owe it all to You, Jesus! We worship and praise You with ever thankful hearts! God’s blessing upon you, fellow saints in the Lord. Amen.
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 NIV
Whisper (Official Lyric Video) // A Table Full Of Strangers // Jason Upton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD_xQNhBlfM
Amen!
Also prayed for Ger.
Amen
Amen Beverlee
Praying for you, today, Ger, at your appt. with your Cardiologist. Angels be with you on your travels there and return home. đź’–
Yes Ger. May God be with you providing safe transportation and every help that you may need.
Yes Lord Jesus be with Ger.
Dear Lord God, thank You for the warnings in Your Word, instructing us to listen and obey You. Please amplify Your Word so it can be heard above the din of this media-saturated and sin-soaked world. Help all Your people to get into Your Word, turn from our wicked ways, and truly seek You. We pray for this country, that it turns back to You, otherwise our country will be as lost as those who refused Your counsel in Jeremiah’s day. Have mercy on us, Lord, in Jesus’s name, amen
Amen, Rob. Amen.
Amen, Amen
Amen Rob
Amen Rob
Jeremiah had one tough job! We often think waiting for God’s answers to our prayers is lengthy, and sometimes it is.: 7 And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
Another good quote from Dr. Jim Denison:
Maya Angelou famously observed, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ” In our secularized, chaotic, divisive culture, one of the most distinctive features of the Christian faith should be the kindness with which we treat others.
But we should note that such kindness is a “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22), the result of the Holy Spirit’s work in and through our lives. The only way to sustain kindness in unkind times is to live in submission to his power and purpose. The more we stay in touch with the Spirit in prayer, Bible study, worship, and surrendered faithfulness, the more he will manifest himself through us.”
https://youtu.be/6vfqYwfTqlE Blessed Assurance.
May God bless all saints today and always, now and forever.
Amen Lynda!
Prayed for Ger and lets not forget Ann…..and Ron.Sincere thanks to the Mainse family.God bless
Before my time
Be ever with me,oh,Lord,
For You are my Rock,
Be ever present with your sword
At the Gate that needs no lock.
You are the Light on my path,
Let me never stray,
For I do not desire Your wrath
But to walk in Your right way.
Lord help me please,through this pain
So that I may yet serve,
For I can not remove this stain
Without You to give me nerve.
So my Lord,I pray again ,
To get on my feet,
So I can come in from the rain
Before my time is complete.
(G.W.)Bill Marshall/02 June, 2016
Amen
Thanks William
I am praying to our Heavenly Father for Ger, that she made it to her appointment and that everything is going to be alright. Lord you know Ger inside and out, you know exactly what her problem is and you can use her physician or heal her yourself. We are praying for complete healing in Jesus Amen.
Blessings Eleanor
Yes In Jesus Name Amen
Amen Eleanor M
Dear Saints, you have all really covered me in prayer and I say thank you, thank you, thank you. Your united prayer really worked as I got to my appointment safely to and fro, the driving wasn’t bad and the doctor gave me a good report, blood pressure OK and my heart valve was working and he would see me in a year. Also, talked to some people and visited and prayed for a cousin of mine, Helene, a Christian my age whose kidneys are failing. Felt the presence of the Lord as a result of your prayers too and I told her I would ask you to pray for her on here. She is too weak to have dialysis so has to be totally dependent on the Lord. Thank you again and God bless you. I am slow getting on here but I took note of all your response.
Ger Praise the Lord for your very good news. God is so good. Now I am asking you Lord to intervene in Helene’s live, that You would sustain her and help her to live her life without fear of what could happen. Oh Heavenly Father I lift her up to you now in Jesus’ name, Amen and Amen. Eleanor M.
Praise the Lord who hears and answers our prayers; thank you Ger for sharing your good news
I pray for your cousin Helene, for God to cover her with Your robe of righteousness; Your Name Lord is a Pillar we can run into and are safe; in the shelter of your wings; You Lord are our strength and shield, Heal her Lord , I pray in your Name Jesus I pray, Amen!