Jeremiah 42
COMMENTARY:
: 3 That the LORD your God may show us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. (5046 “show” [nagad] means report, declare, expound, announce, or make known)
DEVOTION: Directions are always necessary if we are going to travel. Today we have GPS in our cars to help us find places that we need to go. Sometimes they take us the long way around. Sometimes if they are not updated we can get lost. Most of the time they will help us get from point A to point B, so that we arrive safely at our destination.
Here we find Johanan asking Jeremiah to pray to the LORD for directions concerning which way they should head. He wanted the LORD to tell him to go to Egypt. When the LORD told him to stay in the land he disagreed with Jeremiah. It wasn’t Jeremiah that told him what to do it was the LORD.
He went in his own direction and paid the consequences of disobeying the LORD. Jeremiah warned him what would happen and he didn’t care.
If we follow his example we will have the same consequences. We need to ask the LORD for direction. Sometimes it takes prayer and fasting to find out what the LORD wants us to do with our life.
We have many people who want to tell us what we should do with our life. We had a college professor tell my future wife what the LORD’S will was for her life. The LORD was telling her something different. She listened to the LORD.
We need to consult people we respect regarding our future. Others can see our gifts sometimes better than we can. Once we seek direction we need to take our steps of faith and go in that direction. The LORD only opens doors in front of us. If we go in a direction after seeking counsel and find the door closed it is time to pray again.
Paul tried to go in a direction and the LORD closed the door. He was trying to serve the LORD and the LORD opened and closed doors according to HIS will.
CHALLENGE: Prayer and fasting are necessary many times when major decisions are going to be made for the family and the church. Spiritual wisdom always comes from the LORD.)
: 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. (5707 “witness” [‘ed] means testimony, evidence, or recorder.)
DEVOTION: Here we find Johanan and his army promising Jeremiah that they will do what the LORD says for them to do. They make the statement that they want the LORD to be a true and faithful recorder of what they promised HIM. The LORD does keep a record of what we say to HIM. HE doesn’t want us to say we will do something and then not do it. They had asked Jeremiah to pray for direction. They wanted the LORD to lead them in the right way to go.
Jeremiah went to the LORD in prayer. The LORD answered after ten day. Some think that the LORD gave them time to confess their sin and agree to follow HIS counsel. He gives the answer to Johanan and the remnant regarding what the LORD wants them to do. HE wants them to say in the land of Judah. HE doesn’t want them to go to Egypt.
However, Johanan had already planned on going to Egypt. He just wanted the LORD to tell him that it was OK. The LORD didn’t. He was going anyway. Johanan was a hypocrite when he asked for the LORD’S counsel (see verse 20).
Jeremiah told them that if they went they would die by sword, famine and pestilence. They didn’t care.
Have we ever gone to the LORD with a request for direction but decided ahead of time what we were going to do? Have we ever just wanted God to give HIS stamp of approval for what we wanted to do? We prayed but only wanted one answer and that answer had to be our way. That is not really asking the LORD – it is telling the LORD.
Jesus prayed and asked the LORD’S direction and followed it. We need to follow HIS example. Not the example of Johanan. Remember where the LORD leads us HE protects us. That is HIS promise. HE keeps HIS word. HE never lies. HE is faithful and true in all HE does.
CHALLENGE: Some of the answers to prayer seem wrong but the LORD knows what HIS plan is for our life. Our spirit and HIS Spirit should agree with the Word of God
:6 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.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: Be careful what you ask for! The people of Israel had stated that they would listen to the prophet if he would pray for them. They wanted their desires to be blessed more than they wanted to know God’s plans for them. How many times have we gone before the Lord and asked Him to bless the plans that we have decided upon instead of waiting for His decisions? Johanan and Jezaniah had spoken and made a promise that they would obey whatever the Lord declared through Jeremiah, but that was before they heard the word of the Lord! (v.2-3) In verse 6 they had declared that they would follow the Lord’s voice no matter what.
The Lord speaks after ten days and it was clear to the people in verse 19-20 that they were not to go to Egypt. When promises are made to the Lord and then the Lord speaks differently than we anticipate there will be a conscious decision made. To either follow or reject and go your own way! How will we respond to difficult responses from the Lord?
CHALLENGE: God sometimes speaks to us and challenges our walk by asking us to remain instead of going, to face obstacles instead of running. It seems opposite of what is reasonable and good but the Lord is clear in His direction. It is then we must decide, trust or thrust out on our own! The apostles remained in Jerusalem when the church scattered due to persecution, Paul steadfastly traveled to Jerusalem even though in each city prophecy spoke of hardship and imprisonment. Instead of living in fear the people of God walked by faith, instead of being rational they sought God and were blessed. Today if God is directing you to stay and face the difficulty rest in His unchanging power to protect and bring peace. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
: 19 The LORD has said concerning you, O you remnant of Judah; Go you not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. (5749 “admonished” [’uwd] means to call or require as witness, bear witness, warn, to testify, to protest, exhort or enjoin solemnly.)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel were told to not go into Egypt but to go with their Babylonian captors. The LORD wanted them to know that HE was watching over them if they were obedient. HE wanted them to realize that there was going to be a time of captivity but HE was going to restore them to the land if they were obedient.
As we know they were not obedient. They went their own way and paid the consequences for their actions. This was true then and it is true now for those who are not obedient to the commands of the LORD.
HE chastens HIS children today as HE did in the Old Testament. Those who claim to be Christian today have to follow the LORD’S leading in their lives through their reading of the Bible, prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gives us guidance through our reading of the Bible and prayer times. HE wants us to follow HIS leading on a daily basis which means a daily time in reading the Bible and prayer. If we have our devotional life and follow HIS instructions, we can have a genuine walk with the LORD.
That doesn’t mean that we won’t have hard times but it does mean that HE will be with us during our hard times. HE will give us strength to face whatever HE allows in our lives. HIS goal is our spiritual growth in our relationship with HIM.
The children of Israel were told what they were supposed to do but they still went in another directions. This even happens today in the lives of genuine believers. Both groups had to face chastening of the LORD because of their disobedience but then they were restored to fellowship with the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We have to ask ourselves the question each day about our walk with the LORD. Are we being obedient and accepting all the challenges the LORD sends our way or are we fighting HIM because we expect only a rose garden relationship with HIM with no trials?
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Johanan asked Jeremiah to pray for themverse 2
Jeremiah tells Johanan he will prayverse 4
LORD answers prayer (ten days later)verses 7-9
Still abide in this land
Then I will build you and not pull you
Down
I will plant you and not pluck you up
for I will repent ME of the evil
that I have done to you
Jeremiah confronts Johananverse 20
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORDverses 7, 15
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 2-7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18-21
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name)verses 2-6, 9, 13, 15, 18, 20, 21
LORD your Godverses 2-5, 13, 20, 21
LORD answers prayersverse 4
True and Faithful Witnessverse 5
Voiceverses 6, 21
Judgment of God (evil)verses 6, 10, 17
LORD our Godverses 6, 20
God of Israelverses 9, 15, 18
End of judgment promisedverse 10
Told people not to be afraid of king of Babylonverse 11
Told people that HE was with them to save
and deliver them and show mercy and
cause them to return to their own landverses 11, 12
LORD of hostsverses 15, 18
LORD says NONE will escape from the evil
that I will bring on themverse 17
Anger and fury of the LORDverse 18
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
King of Babylonverse 11
Egyptverses 14-19
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Afraidverses 11, 16
Disobey voice of the LORDverses 13, 14, 21
Dissembled in heartsverse 20
Not listening to prophet of Godverse 21
Going away from the LORDverse 22
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Proper walkverse 3
Proper actionsverse 3
Obey the LORDverse 4
Prayerverse 4
Goodverse 6
Obedienceverse 6
Supplication (prayer)verse 9
Fear notverse 11
Presence of the LORDverse 11
Deliveranceverse 11
Mercyverse 12
Inheritanceverse 12
Hear the Word of the LORDverse 15
Admonishmentverse 19
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Captains of the forcesverses 1, 8
Called by Jeremiah to come
Johanan – the son of Kareahverses 1, 8
Jeremiah called them together
Jezaniah – the son of Hoshaiahverse 1
All the people from the least even to the greatestverses 1, 8
Gathered together to hearanswer to prayer
Jeremiah (prophet)verses 2, 4, 5, 7
Said I have heard them
I will pray to the LORD your God
I will declare answer to you
I will keep nothing back from you
After ten days LORD answers his prayer
Remnantverses 2, 5, 6, 15, 19
We will do what the LORD says
Promise to obey voice of the LORD
Believed LORD’s answer to prayer
LORD says “Go you not into Egypt
know certainly that I have
admonished you this day
Israelverses 9, 15
LORD gives them a choice: If you say –
We will not dwell in this land,
neither obey the voice of he
LORD your Godverse 13
Think of going into land of Egyptverses 14-17
Told the sword would follow them
Into Egypt
Told there would be famine
Told they would die
Judahverse 15
Jerusalemverse 18
Inhabitants shall see MY fury poured out when you enter into Egyptverse 18
They shall be an execration, astonishment,
curse, reproach and not see land
any moreverse 18
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Dieverses 16, 17
by the sword, famine, pestilence
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