The Daily Fountain Devotional Tuesday, March 1, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Tuesday, March 1, 2022 (Shrove Tuesday)
TOPIC: REPENT AND AVOID GOD'S WRATH
TEXT: Jeremiah 8:1-16
1 At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves: 2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth. 3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.
4 Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?
5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. 6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. 8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. 9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
13 I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them. 14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Tuesday, March 1, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
This passage reflects God's imminent judgement over the idolatrous and unrepentant people of Judah in the days of Prophet Jeremiah. The prophets and priests were giving false assurances rather than correction. The text foretells the Babylonian invasion that would lead to: 1. The death of many of them and exposure of their dead bodies - a desecration of their Jewish custom (vv. 1-3). 2. Acquisition of their wives and farmlands by their enemies (v.10). 3. Grapes and vine will be unproductive (v.13). 4. Search for fortified cities to hide in (v. 14). 5. Lack of peace and good health (v. 15). One would have thought that after hearing the impending doom, the people of Judah would repent but they did not. No repentant or righteous person was found in the city. Everyone behaved as he/she liked (v.6) and God's wrath came upon them (2 Kings 24:1-4, 20).
A similar situation is experienced in our society today. People are careless about God. They are unrepentant and live as they wish. Some believe in wealth, connections, positions and occultic powers. However, all of these cannot save; repentance is the key. Are there signs that you are living in sin or heading towards doom? What are you doing to get back on the right track? Today you can avoid God's wrath if you repent (Ezek. 33:11).
Prayer: O God, I repent of my sins today and rededicate my life to You. May your Word influence my thinking in Jesus' name. Amen.