To me, some of the richest words written in Jeremiah come in chapter 17 when he contrasts the person who trusts in himself versus the person who trusts in the Lord. The one who trusts in himself is like a bush in the desert that is destined to come to ruin. The one who trusts in the Lord, however, is like a tree planted by water. When the extreme heat ... [Continue Reading]
Mourning for Your People (Jeremiah 7-9)
Jeremiah was grieved for his people. They had walked so far away from where God wanted them to be that their return seemed absolutely hopeless. His was response was to mourn over the situation because of all that was to be lost. There is a place for mourning in faith - particularly when people face the consequences of sin. There is mourning over ... [Continue Reading]
How is Your Heart? (Jeremiah 4-6)
I know I've written about the heart here before, but it is such a prominent theme in these three chapters that I would be remiss to ignore it. There is a tendency even within contemporary Christianity to believe that God desires "good works" from His people. I had a student say something of that nature to me several years ago, and it's a ... [Continue Reading]
Time For a U-Turn (Jeremiah 1-3)
If you were heading down a road that suddenly led you into a bad part of town, you might think about turning around because of the danger that you were about to be confronted with. Yesterday I was driving and a road was blocked off by police. I could have kept pushing forward, but I'm guessing that wouldn't have boded well for my future. See, ... [Continue Reading]
The Mighty Will Fall (Zephaniah)
It can be easy to believe that some people, corporations, or even nations are so powerful that they could never fall apart. A quick history lesson, though, teaches us otherwise. Even in my own lifetime, I've seen examples from each category come to an end: Bin Laden, Enron, the USSR. What is powerful in man's eyes does not receive the same ... [Continue Reading]
Greatness Remembered (2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35)
When I was in college a friend asked me what I wanted written on my tombstone. I decided that no greater honor could bestow me than "A man after God's heart." The challenge now is that I have to live in such a way that people will think that's an appropriate inscription. In the case of Josiah, he is well deserving of being remembered ... [Continue Reading]
Expired Hope (Nahum)
The book of Nahum is really about hope for the people of Nineveh and how they have run out of time to repent and return to God. Jonah was sent with a message for them a century and a half before Nahum's words were written, but Nineveh did not heed the warning and was now staring down the face of certain judgment. It's at this point that you might ... [Continue Reading]
Humility Isn’t Enough (2 Chronicles 32-33)
Throughout the Old Testament the lives of many kings are recounted for us, and the level of their humility does play a role in how well each king is remembered. However, it was not just humility that made a king great - it was humility before the Lord. There's a difference between simply not thinking too highly of yourself and humbling yourself before the ... [Continue Reading]
Really? (Isaiah 20-21)
When I read the story of Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, I want to ask the question: Really? Did you really think that things would go well for you when you burned your child as an offering? Did you really think that it was a good idea when you turned to fortune-telling, omens, and mediums? Did you really think that these were positive additions to your ... [Continue Reading]
The Barrier Sin Creates (Isaiah 59-63)
Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve and what happened after they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? They felt ashamed and hid themselves. Their sin had placed a barrier between them and God, and they innately knew this. The same is true for us when we sin. Isaiah 59:2 says that our sins create a separation between us and ... [Continue Reading]
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