Tag Archives: Reading the Old Testament

It’s Not Just History

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Jeremiah 26-29

It’s so important to read and re-read the whole Bible. God speaks on every page! If we don’t learn from history, we will repeat the mistakes that were made in the past. So what can we learn from Jeremiah?

The Jews didn’t like what Jeremiah was saying so they decided to cancel him. Well actually, it was a bit worse than shutting down his Twitter account. They decided to kill him to silence him.

Now some of the elders stood up and spoke truth. Taking from their history, they reminded their fellow Jews that in the past when God pronounced judgment on disobedient Israel, He relented when they repented and obediently served and worshiped Him again. But when others prophesied about God’s judgment, and their forefathers rejected the warning, judgment came as it had been prophesied.

This time they let Jeremiah live, and he continued to warn them. He didn’t back down due to fear for his life.

So many lessons here in these chapters! Here are a couple God has pointed out to me this morning:

  1. God is talking to His children. That’s you and I who call ourselves Christians. It’s the Church in 2023. And I believe God is telling us it’s our responsibility for what happens in this world. Obedience=Blessing. Disobedience=Judgment. It was that way in the past, and God has not changed.
  2. But here’s the beauty: God has a plan. And it’s a good one!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

Yes, I am aware God is specifically speaking about the seventy year Jewish exile. But in that bit of history is a theme that is repeated throughout Scripture, and a lesson that is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.

Obey and be blessed. Disobey and suffer the consequences.

Do you want things to change in your personal life, in your church, our nation, the world? Then here’s the answer:

Seek God with all your heart.

Yeah. It’s that simple. If we, the Church, God’s chosen people in this time in history would actually do that, really be like Christ in love and in truth, I believe God would hear us. I believe the trajectory of this world would change dramatically. And I believe people who are searching for truth would find it in the Savior we serve and worship.

If you don’t believe me, read God’s Word for yourself. Ask God to reveal the Truth. He will! This Book is not just history. It’s alive and active and powerful enough to change you and change our world, if we would just learn and live what it says.

I Kings 13-16; Ping Pong

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Reading these chapters is a bit like playing ping pong. We read about a northern king, then a southern king, back to the north, then the south. Bad king. Bad king. Bad king. Good king. Bad king…

After a while my head spins.

Now you probably know I have a firm conviction God doesn’t include details like these for the sake of the details. It might be interesting to line up the kings of the two nations of Jews. You might even get a sense of accomplishment if you can name them all. But if that’s the only reason God inspired men to include this history, I say skip it and get on to the meat.

But don’t skip over these chapters in God’s Word. I challenge you to read them slowly, and ask God to help you get past the obvious and reveal the Truth within. You’ll find Jesus in these verses. You’ll see that God is serious about sin, that He punishes sin, and that He blesses obedience. You might even hear His heart’s cry that His people repent, turn to Him, and accept His grace. And you might realize He’s wanting the same for you.

As I read these chapters this morning, I thought of my Ohio church family who are conducting Revival Services this week. Will you pray with me for them, that the Holy Spirit will move in a mighty way, that Jesus will be glorified. They are a small congregation with a heart to reach their community. Will you pray that God will draw many into that building this week as the Word is preached and God is worshiped?

Reading I Kings reminds me how faithful God is when we obey. May it be true in Bellville, Ohio. May it be true in me.

Heavenly Father, I do pray for 1st Baptist, Bellville this week as they conduct revival services. First I pray for the faithful few. May they attend with hearts eager to hear from you, to be strengthened in their resolve to follow you. I pray that those in that community who have received an invitation will be drawn to the services this week. May souls be won, hearts changed, and your children strengthened to carry on Your work in Bellville. Bless them, Lord, and continue to make them a blessing.

And I want to thank You for Your Word, even the parts that seem a little dry as we read them. Father, help us to consider why You have included all these verses in Scripture. And may we learn, be challenged and strengthened, and as always, Lord, may You find us faithful.