Author Archives: Jefferson Vann
the wrong escape
Jeremiah 42-43 The leaders of the re-formed alliance in Judah were trying to solidify their hold on the people, so they appealed to Jeremiah. They really were not interested in what the LORD wanted. They simply wanted religious approval of … Continue reading
no safe haven
Jeremiah 40-41 Chaos ensued as the remnant in Israel attempts to stay alive in an environment where leaders conspire to destroy one another. Jeremiah has been set free to go wherever he wishes, but there is no safe place. Gedaliah … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, divisions, fear, Jeremiah, trust
Tagged Jeremiah 40, Jeremiah 41
Leave a comment
told you so
Jeremiah 39 Jeremiah resists the urge to tell everybody “I told you so” when the Babylonians attack and take people into exile. He does reassure those who had followed his warnings. Even when all is falling apart around us, if … Continue reading
stuck
Jeremiah 38 Two men were stuck in the mud. Jeremiah was thrown into a well to die because his words were too offensive for sinners to bear. Zedekiah was trapped in his own fear and stubbornness. Both needed freedom, but … Continue reading
no matter what
Jeremiah 37 Pharaoh’s army had (apparently) frightened the Chaldeans away, and king Zedekiah though surely now Jeremiah would prophesy good news. No deal. God’s truth is God’s truth, no matter what is happening. Jeremiah knew that Jerusalem was doomed. Call … Continue reading
burning the scroll
Jeremiah 36 By burning the scroll of Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning his downfall, Jehoiakim thought he had put an end to the threat. Just as today, popular culture seeks to discredit the validity of the words of scripture, but the word … Continue reading
Rechabites
Jeremiah 35 Jeremiah knew that one did not offer a Rechabite wine. They had vowed never to take it. But the LORD told Jeremiah to invite Rechabites into a temple chamber and offer them wine. Of course, they refused. The … Continue reading
free indeed
Jeremiah 34 It appears that there was some kind of attempt at revival among Zedekiah’s kingdom, and God had stayed the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. The people set free their Hebrew slaves, which is something they knew they should have done. … Continue reading
faith in times of despair
Jeremiah 33 In the midst of destruction and despair, the LORD calls on his people to believe in a future of restoration, peace, joy, prosperity, healing, forgiveness, cleansing, and righteousness. That takes faith: to look at loss and apparent rejection … Continue reading
an earthen jar
Jeremiah 32 If Jeremiah ever doubted that God would make good his promise to restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, all he had to do was look at the jar containing the deeds to the land he purchased. It … Continue reading
