Can you believe followers of Baal sacrificed their children? I can’t wrap my head around that. Israel rejected the Lord for false gods who they were convinced required them to burn their children alive.

Something God claims hadn’t even crossed his mind (19:5).

–

What sort of things do you put up with out of the idols in your life? What do you allow the false gods in your life to require of you?

Does God require this of you?

-Carly

As I began reading this chapters today, I sighed. This doomsday book is very long. Fifty-two chapters? Not only that, but there are plenty other books dedicated to prophetic warnings leading up to the exile. I would like to know just how much (percentage wise) of the Old Testament is warnings and pleas to change course.

The patience of the LORD is long. He didn’t strike Israel the moment they stepped out of line, but pleaded with them all the way into child sacrifice and rampant violence oblivion.

It seems we are always vacillating between shock that the LORD disciplined His people in such a way, and awe that His patience and kindness waited so long to do so.

Then I arrive at chapter eighteen and discover a new perspective:

“The pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as the potter does?’ declares the LORD. ‘Like clay in the hands of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.'” (18:4-6)

Sigh again. He has a point. Who are we to sit here and decide if the exile was “not cool”? We get caught up, trying to quantify the goodness of the LORD from our tiny perspectives, and lose sight of the fact that our opinions truly don’t matter. He formed us out of dirt and He does not have to answer to us.

Even so, we see–time and time again–that He is absolutely justified in His actions toward them.

“So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds.” ’ But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ “Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘Ask now among the nations, Who ever heard the like of this? The virgin of Israel Has done a most appalling thing.” (18:11-13‬)

Israel was to be a light among the nations, but at this point, their neighbors are outshining them, and they’re not sorry. We are going to follow our own plans, they say.

How relatable! How often do we side eye the commandments of the LORD and then decide to stick to our own plan? It’s good to stop and think about. Seek out His ways, search for His higher road, discover His plan. How can you pursue His Way today?

-Bethany

“This is how the Lord responds: ‘If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!’ ” 15:19

It seems odd to try to relate to the book of Jeremiah, or pull out an application from these chapters. It’s a little intense and highlights God’s holiness and how sometimes his perfect love holds consequences. That’s what makes it perfect.

Still, the sentence do not let them influence you struck a chord with me.

Have you ever been in Jeremiah’s shoes? Has God ever given you an important message to deliver, and you find yourself set apart, maybe isolated from those you’re sending the message to?

It takes great discipline to not be influenced by whomever and whatever we’re around. We’re going to be influenced by something, so we need to make an active choice on what it’s going to be.

Reflect on what influenced you today. Maybe it was a person or a desire. What prompted that?

-Carly

I like how Carly noticed, last time, that God wants to be as close to His people as their underwear.

“This is your lot, the portion measured to you From Me,” declares the LORD, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood. So I Myself have also stripped your skirts off over your face, That your shame may be seen.” (13:25-26‬)

We hide how deeply twisted we are. Individually, yes, but I want to focus on the corporate responsibility, as it applies to Israel.

They fancied themselves the most righteous of all nations because they were the LORD’s chosen, but they had become inwardly rotten. The LORD uses a great word picture:

I’m going to pull your shirt over your face.

What a clear way to embarrass someone. You think you’re so beautiful and flawless? You are shameful! And people are about to see it!

I’ve thought how this has applied to our current moment in history. My generation has become disenfranchised with conservative America, scratching their heads to ask, “Wait, has this always been about money? Have we always been this corrupt?” The skirt is up over the face.

This is a necessary realization to reach. Our various assertions of righteousness (apart from Christ) are ticking time bombs.

Have you experienced anything like this lately? Seen the seedy underbelly of something you thought was wholesome? It’s disappointing right? But it’s good for us to see how empty our idols are.

-Bethany

“Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?” 12:1

I had a similar conversation with the Lord around 2am last night. Reading these chapters today was comforting; I like being reminded that God can handle our doubt and guides us in our limited understanding of his sovereignty.

I thought it was interesting in chapter 11 when he tells Jeremiah to give up and stop praying for Israel. It got me thinking about how often I want a say in what God’s love looks like. Jeremiah is pleading with God to punish the wicked, but advocating for him to keep chasing after Israel? Don’t they fall under the “wicked” category after all they’ve done against the Lord?

–

Last night won’t be the last time I lose sleep trying to sort through God’s sovereignty. I need to relinquish my desire for control, and choose to trust him every day. Our relationship with God and submission to his holiness is a daily choice, an act.

Do you try to dictate how God love?

Where do you need to let go of control?

-Carly

“The LORD said, ‘Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice or walked according to it, but they have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.'” (9:13-14)

Over and over, the LORD pronounced impending judgement on Israel and Judah due to idolatry. Baal is the main attraction of idolatry, and it’s important to remember what Baal represented.

He was the Canaanite god of fertility, weather, rain, wind, lightning, seasons, war, and sailors.

What do you think his modern, American equivalent would be? Fertility is still a major concern in life. The weather still affects farmer’s success, but we could otherwise equate this to financial success.

When we feel threatened in the areas of fertility/family or professional success, who do we call? Do we follow the Laws of the LORD and trust in Him for provision, practicing Biblical business values and generosity? Or do we default to cultural norms, self help fads, or cut corners by corruption?

Israel was to be set apart in every way. Followers of Christ also aspire to be set apart in the ways they obey the LORD over anything else. How does this look in your life? What would the LORD consider a little Baal-ish in your life? Ask Him about it today.

-Bethany

I was drawn to the same part of these chapters as Bethany was last time, and I loved her reflection on them.

“But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, ‘The Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here!‘ But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.” 7:5-7

Pay attention: if you are being told that your safety, comfort and finances are God’s ultimate priority, we are being fooled.

If you are told that standing under the umbrella of Christianity gets you a get-of-jail-free card, we are misunderstanding grace.

–

Do you find yourself hiding under the blanket of religion?

What does your relationship with God prompt you to advocate for?

-Carly

“To whom shall I speak and give warning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed And they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the LORD has become a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.” (6:10)

Jerusalem had become idolatrous and arrogant; sure they’d be immune to the wrath of God, because of the ways they didn’t know–or misconstrued–His promises to their ancestors. They had become worse than the evil before them, yet they thought the LORD would protect them forever, no matter what.

In the message He sent through Jeremiah, one thing is make perfectly clear: the LORD Himself would be at the helm of their destruction.

They had become completely deaf to His words.

This should shake us up and get real about how comfortable we feel in the Grace we’ve received. How do we spend it? Like an unlimited “get out of jail free” card? Have we taken it and stopped listening?

Ask the LORD (maybe even a close friend, if you’re feeling brave) to help you identify corners in your life where you’ve become blind or deaf. How can His truth find its way back in?

-Bethany

“Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” 3:1

There was this sweet spot, for a few years after high school, where I was a sponge soaking up everything about Jesus. I couldn’t put the Bible down and I had an insatiable appetite to get to know him. My peers, mentors, crushes, roommates and friends were strategic choices I made of people who wanted to talk about God. I tackled women to mentor me. I volunteered my time to the church and my future to Ministry, whatever it may be. 

The verse above jumped out to me. It got me thinking of all the shepherds after God’s own heart who have been spoon-feeding me over the years. Good, godly people who bestowed grace all over me and my messy, self-centered life.

Who has shepherded you over the years?

Who have you shepherded? Who do you pray for, who do you lift up and encourage?

I love God’s design of community; all of us sharpening and encouraging each other. It’s beautiful, messy, exhausting and holy.

-Carly

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (1:5)

We love to pluck out this verse and feel warm fuzzies about the intimacy of the LORD–how deeply He knows us. But this sentence didn’t have the same affect for Jeremiah. The first word out of his mouth upon hearing this is, “Alas!”

Jeremiah lived out his life alongside the last years of Judah’s kingdom. He was a prophet unto exile, starting in the reign of Josiah. He would have been aware of the prophets before him. Perhaps most familiar with Isaiah, who was part of the royal family and very stately indeed. Isaiah also was probably sawn in two, meaning Jeremiah would have associated a level of trepidation with this calling.

The LORD says it’s okay he’s young, and to not be afraid, but not for the reasons you’d think. He didn’t say, “it’s okay you’re young, people will still take you seriously.” Or “Don’t be afraid, nothing bad will happen.” In fact, Jeremiah’s life would go on to be marked by people ignoring him and plenty of bad things (inspiring his next book: Lamentations).

So why should he be comfortable with this calling?

“I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. (1:8a) “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” (1:9b)

The LORD isn’t making him speak without something to say, and He is not sending Jeremiah out alone. It’s going to be rough, but it is important, from the LORD, and He will be there along the way.

Many times in my life I felt I had an assignment from the LORD, and then I marched out with a salute and a, “I won’t let you down!” I’ve needed constant reminders to wait for His words in His time and way, sticking with Him. The only acceptable anecdote for the fear, is His with-ness. It can’t be my confidence.

I love how Jeremiah’s first prophetic experience was so gently facilitated.

“What do you see?”

“I see a rod of an almond tree.”

“You have seen well, for I am watching over you to perform it.”

By my estimation, this also ties to the long prophecy in chapter two: what is the evil Israel committed?

“They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (2:13)

Leaving the LORD to charge ahead into your own agenda is a recipe for disaster, but it’s also our natural tendency.

Do you find yourself navigating the LORD’s word in your life on your own? Are you striving by your own strength or improvising the message? Talk to Him about it. What do you need to ask Him for? Patience? Vision? Peace? Truth? Faith? Ask Him today.

-Bethany