Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Year 6, Day 95: Jeremiah 42

Theological Commentary: Click Here


Discipleship Focus: Obedience

  • Obedience: Genuine and satisfying obedience comes out of our identity.  Our true identity comes only from our Father.

The people who remain in Judah have much reason to fear.  Their leader has just been assassinated.  It’s highly likely that Nebuchadnezzar will take revenge.  Ammon has already proven its desire to meddle in their affairs.  All of the leaders of the country have been stripped away and dragged off to Babylon.  In this circumstance they come to Jeremiah and ask for help.

Jeremiah agrees to pray to the Lord and come back to the people with a response.  Notice that he is gone for ten days!  That’s really impressive.  How many of us would have given up after ten days?  Not Jeremiah.  Not the people waiting on Jeremiah.  Remarkably, everyone stays incredibly patient under the circumstances.  This is to their credit.

Then Jeremiah comes back with a message from the Lord.  The Lord wants the people to stay put.  The Lord promises that if they stay in the land that He will cause them to prosper.  The Lord promises protection.  The Lord promises that Nebuchadnezzar will not bring retribution against the people.  The message seems clear and good.  If the people obey this message, it will go well for them.

We’ll see what the people do tomorrow.  But for today the message for us is quite clear.  Patiently wait upon the Lord.  When we hear from the Lord, listen to Him and obey His voice.  In truth, this has been God’s point for this whole book.  Things go well for us when we are patient and obedient to the Lord’s desire.

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