The Simple Life

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: "Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.'" Jeremiah 39:15-18 (ESV)   Those who trust in God will be saved. Our best efforts, soldiers, schemes, and thoughts will not and cannot save us from evil. God alone saves those who put their trust in Him.   The only reason one would not trust God is that they do not know Him. The only reason we would not know Him is that we have not sought Him. https://www.podbean.com...

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me." Jeremiah 38:15 (ESV)   Sometimes our good choices lead us into trouble. Jeremiah realized that either way with Zedekiah, he would lose.   Truth always carries consequences, and they are not always pleasant. Yet, it is the truth that sets us free. It is the truth that allows us to carry on, no matter the consequences. Those who are controlled by the outcome of circumstances rather than by truth are slaves to circumstance.   Few, it seems, really want to know the truth, and, in fact, the truth scares them. Since it scares them, they avoid it, and since they are avoiding it, they are not prepared for what is really to come.   When we seek advisors, we can look to those who are positioned to gain from the advice, or we can seek those who value the truth over any gain or loss. We would be wise to choose those who have proven a proclivity f...

Thus says the Lord: "This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and be taken." Then the officials said to the king, "Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm." King Zedekiah said, "Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you." So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud. Jeremiah 38:3-6 (ESV)   False affirmation is no affirmation. Lying to create a positive environment for the hopeless breeds more hopelessness.   Jeremiah was the only one who knew God and could give them hope, yet they ignored him.   Those who a...

Jeremiah also said to King Zedekiah, "What wrong have I done to you or your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison? Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, 'The king of Babylon will not come against you and against this land'? Now hear, please, O my lord the king: let my humble plea come before you and do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, lest I die there." So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard. Jeremiah 37:18-21 (ESV)   Truth will always win. Embracing lies may sound like a good idea, because the truth can be stark, unyielding, and even cold. Life is not about winning friends and influencing people. It is about obedience to God and, through your obedience, demonstrating who God is to others.   Those who have rep...

King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray for us to the Lord our God." Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison. Jeremiah 37:3-4 (ESV)   People who ignore God seem to find those who love God and ask them for help connecting with God in times of trouble. Prayer seems more acceptable in any nation during a crisis.   We are told that Jeremiah had not yet been put in prison, meaning that prison awaited him. In fact, all who become spokesmen for our King await persecution. I wonder why. You would think that those who know God and listen to Him and proclaim the truth of His Word would be honored, not imprisoned. Yet, there are examples of those who loved God, walked with Him, and were imprisoned. Joseph, Daniel, and Paul are a few examples of this.   It would be best for a nation to align with God and His messengers, not impr...

It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. Jeremiah 36:22-24 (ESV)   Those who stand against God in this life will not stand in the next. This king had power and authority that was given to him by God, the very one to whom He now claimed to be superior. This same action/attitude did not turn out well for Satan, and it will not turn out well for this king, or anyone else who thinks they are "king."   All legitimate power and authority come from God alone, and we would be best to live with that thought in mind. https://www.podbean.com/relate365