Jeremiah – Chapter 34

Therefore, thus says the Lord: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the Lord. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. Jeremiah 34:17 – God is saying they didn’t obey, but if you read verse 10 it says the people obeyed…so what’s happening here? In our chapter the king of Judah, as a way to seek God’s help against the Babylonians that were at his doorstep, commanded the people of Judah to obey the Old Testament law of setting free their enslaved Hebrews. Every seventh year they were to set free any Hebrew brothers or sisters they had enslaved, but Judah had not been faithful in this for many years. So as a way to appease God and “buy” God’s help, the king command the people to do what they should have done years ago. And they did, so why is God saying they didn’t? When the enemy was no longer at their doorstep we see the people of Judah retook their slaves they set free and forced them back into slavery. Their obedience to God was only to receive from Him what they wanted, and when they got it, they turned right back to the sin they truly wanted to follow. Let this not be the path your life takes for this is displeasing and dishonoring to the Lord. Obedience to receive God’s blessing then disobedience when you have is not the life God is calling us to. God is calling us to a life of obeying His word, not to simply receive new blessings from the Lord, but out of gratitude for the abundance of blessings we already have from Him. Today let the Lord know you want to obey His word because you love Him and see Him worthy of your obedience. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3264

And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that everyone would set free his slave, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again. They obeyed and set them free. But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves they had set free, and brought them into subjection as slaves. Jeremiah 34:10-11 – While the outward action may be right and good, if the person’s heart isn’t behind the action there won’t be any lasting change. Like we see in our passage, they obeyed, but clearly their hearts weren’t in that act of obedience because they turned right around and took back what they gave up. Same will happen with us if our heart isn’t behind the obedience to God we give Him. Example of this could be forgiving someone who hurt you. If you forgive them because in your heart you know this is right and you know this is what God desires, you’ll truly forgive them. Otherwise it’s just going to be a outward deed to make you appear as an obedient follower but your heart hasn’t changed towards them at all. Make sure your heart is behind your obedience. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 953

You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name, but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves. Jeremiah 34:15-16 – After the message Jeremiah gave the the king, the king ordered everyone to free any slave they had before the enemy broke through the walls. This was a command God had established long ago and was finally obeyed by His people here on this day. Yet, when it looked liked the enemy was leaving and all was safer again, the people enslaved again the temporarily freed people. They obeyed God long enough to get the help they needed, then went right back to their sin. This was not a right way to follow God and God was not pleased. Temporary obedience in times of trouble is not the sort of obedience God is looking for from His followers. God is looking for followers who will consistently follow Him. Yes, to cry out to Him when things are dire, but to also shout praises to Him when things are good. To be faithful when things are fractured and remain faithful when things are whole again. Is God then getting your obedience only when a need arises? Or is God seeing a faithful walk from you each day? God deserves our obedience to His word everyday despite the circumstances of that day, let’s seek to give Him just that. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2166