Today’s Tasting: Jeremiah 26–29: In Jeremiah 26–29, Josiah’s godly rule and influence died with him. Jeremiah warned Judah of the Lord’s looming judgment because of continued idolatry and turning a deaf ear to God’s Word. The people and priests rose up against Jeremiah’s word from the Lord and threatened his life. Jeremiah defended God’s Word and escaped death. Yet, when Uriah, the prophet, prophesied similar words, He died.
The Lord required Jeremiah to wear a yoke around his neck made of leather straps and cross bars, which represented how Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, would burden those who served him.
Hananiah, a false prophet from Gibeon, spoke to Jeremiah in the presence of the priests and people saying the Lord would break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar within two years. He removed the yoke-bars from Jeremiah and broke them.
Jeremiah responded with, “The Lord has not sent you. You have made the people trust in a lie.”
A letter by Jeremiah to those from Jerusalem who now were exiled to Babylon told them to:
- Build houses
- Plant gardens
- Marry and multiply
- Pray for the city where you reside
- Turn from deception
He prophesied that after seventy years the Lord would bring the exiles back to Jerusalem. “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. You will call, 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” (Jeremiah 29:11–12, emphasis mine).
Today’s Nourishment: I’m still hearing echoes of little girls singing, “Let It Go” from the movie, Frozen! Our five-year-old granddaughter and her girlfriends dance often to this song. At her birthday party, our two-year-old granddaughter and her friends twirled in their princess attires while Rachel, a professional singer, belted out the words to the song.
While visiting our grandchildren in Colorado, I rocked our soon to be adopted, five-year-old granddaughter in my arms. As I got to know her by asking her about the things she enjoyed, she named dancing as one of her favorite activities. “When I dance, I give my dance to God and it makes Him so happy,” she said. Her statement astounded me. How did she know to give her dance to God? Her soon to be Mom had enrolled her in a Christian ballet class. Only the Holy Spirit could have quickened her heart to dance for God.
My prayer is that she will one day dance to “Let It Go” as she unties and releases any unhealthy memories, thoughts that weigh heavily, and her circumstances before she was adopted that have the potential to burden her later in life.
The New Testament says it like this, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 ESV).
“Seek,” has a three-fold meaning:
- Cease striving
- Relax
- Let go
“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple…You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek’…I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” (see Psalm 27:4–14 ESV).
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV; Psalm 105:4 ESV).
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 ESV).
How might you seek—cease striving, relax, and let go of difficult memories from your past? Will you dance to the tune of “Let It Go” as you give your dance to God”
Jesus gives our song, our dance, and He helps us “seek” our Heavenly Father as He lays out His plan for our provision and hope.
- Lord, I “cease striving” for ________________________________________
- Lord, I relax in _________________________________________
- Lord, I let go of _________________________________________
Tomorrow’s Delight: Jeremiah 30–31
Carolyn Marlowe, CCLC
Gigi to six adorable grandchildren
https://www.facebook.com/AlivebyHisWord
Leave a Reply