Daily Bible Study

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Day 2 Jeremiah 2 2:1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the first fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, says the LORD. 4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: 5 Thus says the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? 6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. 8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? And they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. 9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, says the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead. 10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. 11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, says the LORD. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 14 Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he spoiled? 15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. 16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head. 17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way? 18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? Or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? 19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, says the Lord GOD of hosts. 20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou said, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wander, playing the harlot. 21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? 22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, says the Lord GOD. 23 How can thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? See thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; 24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? All they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. 25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou said, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. 26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, 27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. 28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. 29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? Ye all have transgressed against me, says the LORD. 30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. 31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? A land of darkness? Wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee? 32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? Therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways. 34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. 35 Yet thou say, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou say, I have not sinned. 36 Why gad thou about so much to change thy way? Thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou was ashamed of Assyria. 37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them. Has anyone ever pleaded with you to do the right thing? Have you pleaded with someone to do the right thing, to think about the consequences of their actions or yours? God created man in his image. God gave man life, and chose Israel as his people, beloved, the apple of his eye. Yet Israel went searching for another god. They called their gods by name, worshipped them, and gave allegiance to them, forsaking the God who called them, led them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land. God nurtured them as little children, new born babes. He gave them everything they needed, and still Israel rebelled against him at every opportunity. Because of their rebellion and disobedience, God sent prophets to bring them back to him, to show them how much God loved them, but Israel would not listen, but kept to their evil ways. God had no choice but to show them there were consequences for their actions and sent Jeremiah to tell them that because they disobeyed him, and played the harlot with other gods, he would displace them, send them into exile to a strange land and people. As Christians, you know God sent his Son, Jesus, to be your Savior, to redeem you, and bring you back into a right relationship with him, the relationship that was broken when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Yet, for all your knowledge of what Jesus did for you, you also rebel. It might not seem like it because you claim him as your Savior. You know what he did for you, and you claim to love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Yet, when was the last time you opened your Bible? When was the last time you prayed? When was the last time you went to church to be encouraged by the Word, and other believers? When was the last time you turned away from the influence of the world, watching those things on television you feel aren’t harmless, yet you know deep down they are. You know that if Jesus were to show up in your home, come for a visit, you would suddenly change what you watch, the words you speak, the places you go, and the things you do. You are as guilty as Israel, going after other gods, because your worship is surface, it isn’t a deep respect and awe of God who created you. It is time to get serious with God. He is serious about you. He wants your whole and undivided attention. He will not share you with the world. It is time to examine your life, look at everything you do and don’t do in light of God’s Word. God has not changed. He is the same God who created the world and the universe. He is the same God who created man, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. He is the same God who parted the Red Sea and caused Israel to walk on dry ground. He is the same God who defeated David’s enemies. He is the same God who called you to be his child, to walk in his ways, and to call him LORD. He will never change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Are you ready to examine your life, and say no to the compromises of the world, to stop allowing Satan to blind your eyes to the love of God for you? Are you ready to walk step by step, hand in hand with God, allowing him to lead you, teach you, direct you, and show you what he wants you to do? Let God change your life anew. Let him be what you said he was when you first accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. Let’s pray: Father, I am guilty of listening to the world, compromising my life for things that don’t last. Help me look to you, see you with fresh eyes, and know that you are the God who saved me, delivered me from Satan, and set my feet on the path of life. Let me see you as you are, my God who loves me, and sent his Son, Jesus, to be my Savior. Change me, Lord. Make me in your image once again. Breathe new life in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 21 October 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay