Jeremiah 31:10 – You nations, listen to the Lord’s word. Tell it to the distant islands. Say, ‘The one who scattered the people of Israel will gather them and watch over them as a shepherd watches over his flock.’
Why did this strike a cord? Because I was just speaking (writing) about talking about Yahweh. The people will shout for joy because they have been rescued by Yahweh, He has turned their mourning into joy. He has comforted them. How can you not speak about it?
Jeremiah 31:32 – How long will you wander around, you unfaithful people? The Lord will create something new on earth: A woman will protect a man.
Huhhhh. Though puzzled by the statement that kinda seemed to come out of nowhere, two things came to mind:
- Protection through prayer.
- Mary giving birth to Jesus (who is our protector), but she was the one who was charged with his care until.
Jeremiah 34: 17 – “This is what the Lord says: You didn’t obey me. You haven’t freed your relatives and neighbors. Now I am going to free you,” declares the Lord. “I will free you to die in wars, plagues, and famines. I will make all the kingdoms of the world horrified at the thought of you.
Okay. First things first. Ouch. When Yahweh said he’s not forcing nobody, he meant it. He gave us freedom. But our freedom leads to wars and famines, which truly isn’t freedom. Having to spend all the time either fighting others or fighting for food. that’s no kinda living.
Difference between a Test and a Temptation: Who it Comes From
Jeremiah 35: 2 – “Go to the family of Rechab and talk to them. Take them into one of the side rooms in the Lord’s temple, and offer them a drink of wine.”
Jeremiah 35: 6 – They answered, “We don’t drink wine, because our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab’s son, gave us this order: ‘You and your descendants must never drink wine.
And they didn’t. Yahweh tested them to ensure that they held fast to their promise. And they did. Imagine the Lord’s servant, his mouthpiece, offering you wine. Most people would be tempted to say, “Oh, but this is from Yahweh’s mouthpiece. It’s okay to do it, just this once.” But a covenant is a covenant and they kept theirs even though they were going against (by all appearances) what Yahweh wanted. And Yahweh blessed them for keeping their covenant.
Jeremiah 39:18 – I will certainly rescue you. You will not die in war. You will escape with your life because you trusted me, declares the Lord.
And this is where Yahweh shows his mercy. Back story: Jeremiah was thrown into a muddy pit (echoes of Joseph), but Ebed-Melech begged the king to take him out and the king agreed. Ebed-Melech pulled him out of the cistern. He didn’t just throw down a rope. He put rags and old clothes so that Jeremiah could have padding under his arms when he was being brought up. I was wondering why they would need thirty men and then I realised it was so he could be brought up gently. When the time for war came, Yahweh remembered the kindness that Ebed-Melech had done for his servant. My heart aches for Jeremiah. He is going through a lot.