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August 15th

Our reading today is in Jeremiah 30 & 31.

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭30:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Apparently not every message that God gave Jeremiah deserved writing down. But this one was too good to be lost. God begins to deal with his guilty people in a way of mercy and love. Spurgeon called these chapters strange, and some of the richest and most cheering in the whole bible.

Next in the reading is the strange part. “These are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: “Thus says the Lord: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭30:4-5‬ ‭

The Babylonian captivity was coming. That is what God was going to do to Judah. We might ask “where are the words of comfort and grace?” “Panic”, “terror”, and “no peace” don't sound much like words of mercy.

The fact is friends when God is going to comfort a man He always begins by helping the man see his need for God. Spurgeon taught that there was always “stripping” before clothing. There was always “emptying” before there was filling. That’s what God was doing with Judah.

The word “filling” is familiar to Christians, it brings to mind Paul’s instruction to the church in Ephesus..."be continually filled with the Holy Spirit”.

Emptying comes before this filling also confession of sin and brokenness over our sinful condition. The emptying before the filling. In other words, God brought on the emptying...the captivity “for” Judah so she would see anew and afresh just how much she needed her Savior God.

My reading has revealed my own need for a present “gift of captivity” that would open my heart, brand new, for my desperate need for the Lord. No more lazy indifference, but a new wholehearted desire for my God.

Next...“Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor? Why has every face turned pale?”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭30:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When the time of mercy came, there was outward and inward travail. The pain associated with childbirth. Something good preceded by something that would feel terrible. So slowly, here comes the comforting. Here comes the light breaking through the dark skies. “Alas! That day of distress is “so great” there is none like it; it is a time of trouble for Jacob; yet “he shall be saved...not “from” it...but “out” of it.”

Jeremiah‬ ‭30:7‬ ‭

God was giving “hope” to his hopeless children. Something “good” coming from the bad. Something “greater” coming after the greatest trouble that Israel would ever face.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the Lord of hosts, that I will break Babylon’s yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a slave of you. But Judah shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. “ So “fear not”, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, “nor be dismayed”, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have “quiet” and “rest”, and “courage” again .”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭30:8-10‬ ‭ESV

Oh, friends, let us remember the words of Christ. There was coming a day of incomparable tribulation, great tribulation upon the earth such as has not been since the beginning of the world. Matthew 24.

Jeremiah and Jesus prophesying...The Jewish people, those not yet trusting in Jesus as the Messiah, and alive during the Great Tribulation, will endure those last days of Jacob’s trouble and be saved out of it...finally seeing and believing Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

Amen and amen...

Have a great day