- You shall not go into the house of feasting to sit with them, to eat and drink. 9 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will silence in this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. Jeremiah 16:8-9 – The role of a prophet was not one to desire in Jeremiah’s day, especially with the unique callings God placed on Jeremiah’s life. In our passage we see the Lord give Jeremiah some tough commands to follow. He wasn’t allowed to have a wife, nor was he allowed to have children. He wasn’t to gather with those who were mourning, which was normal custom for their culture. He also wasn’t to gather when there was celebration, but to be set apart from it. Single, childless, and separate from his people’s normal ways of life. Why would God command this of the prophet. His life was to show Judah what their lives would all eventually look like because of their sin. Their loved ones taken, their children would perish in the struggle, there would be so much loss that mourning would cease, and even the thought of celebration wouldn’t be present. The aim was for the people to see Jeremiah and realize that unless something changed, that too would be their story. While God is certainly not asking of us what He asked of Jeremiah, somehow we must be helping those around us that don’t yet follow Jesus know what their future will look like as a result of that choice. Hell is the absence of all things that God brings such as joy, peace, and goodness. God doesn’t want that for them, we don’t want that for them, yet they may not yet understand that is their future without Jesus. Help them see what they don’t see, and pray when their eyes are opened to such things they repent and follow Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3245
- For thus says the Lord: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament or grieve for them, for I have taken away my peace from this people, my steadfast love and mercy, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 16:5 – If you’ve ever wondered what existence without God in it would look like we get a glimpse of that in these verses. When God’s peace, love, and mercy was taken away all that remained was death and mourning. We must remember all that is good and joyful in existence begins and ends with God. Without Him we’d have nothing and our lives would be dark and death filled. That sounds extreme I know, but it’s a reality that those around us that don’t know Jesus will face when this life is over. I understand talking about Jesus with people can be frightening and uncomfortable at times. Please remember though if the people you love don’t have Jesus, this dark, death filled future is what they have coming in their story. You can help them know that and help them see life with God and his peace, love, and mercy is freely available to them. Make sure they know that. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 935
- Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers. Jeremiah 16:14-15 – As you read through scripture you’ll see phrases like, “the God who brought you out of Egypt” at different times. This is looking back at the miraculous salvation God brought for Israel when He saved them from enslavement from Egypt and brought them to the promise land. God would remind them to dwell on this salvation when any other capture had taken place. Here though God speaks and says His plans are to bring into their story another salvation, one they will be able to look back on and remember God’s power in future times of distress. Yes, more pain was to come as a result of their sin, but God was going to eventually bring them back to a place of peace. How often do you find yourself dwelling on the past ways God has saved and provided for you when you’re in a new season of struggle? God is calling us, like He did with the Israelites, to remember the ways He has moved for us in the past when new hardships come in life. It may have been difficult and the losses in the process were real, but we made it through and are here today because of Jesus. Know then we’ll be here tomorrow as well because of Jesus, even if that tomorrow is in Heaven with Him. He’s shown us He’s able to provide for our need, let’s trust He’ll do it again. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2148
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