The preacher instructs us not to look back when times were good and pine for them. Instead he instructs his readers to consider the present times as the work of God. There is a reason that we are living now, and things have happened thus. Embrace the work of God going on right now, and find your place in it. Someday, you and I might look back on this time as the good old days. Let’s make them the best possible.
LORD, give us eyes to see the potential of this time for building your kingdom.
Jeremiah’s audience was convinced that the LORD would not make good on his threats. They felt secure in their position in spite of the fact that they were idolatrous and exploited the poor. The LORD said: “Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the Lord‘s. For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me, declares the Lord” (10-11).
LORD, open our ears so that we can hear your judgments as they apply to us. Forgive us for our rebellion. Transform us into the loving and faithful people you want us to be.
The grievous evil that the Preacher has discovered is mortality. Even a long and strong life is not enough. In the end, all of life’s good things must go to another, because all go to the same place (the grave), and there is no enjoyment there. Many of the world’s best thinkers come to the same conclusion, and are forced to form a game plan based on the reality that all life under the sun is striving after wind. If we fast-forward, we find that the Preacher’s game plan is to reach out to the one being of whom those words do not apply. Our emptiness is a gift which points to his fullness.
LORD, give us the wisdom to seek your kingdom and righteousness, so that we can experience you, and your eternity.
The lion Jeremiah described as “a destroyer of nations” was the lion in Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7). It was Babylon, and since Judah did not repent, the lion did bring swift destruction to her from the north. All the cosmetics that Judah applied, trying to make herself attractive again to her former lovers (allies who had protected and corrupted her in the past) did not rescue her. The LORD warns us that our temporary fixes cannot undo his judgment. But he does provide a king who can overcome Babylon’s lion. Judah has a lion.
LORD, we cling to your king. We trust in Christ, the Lion of Judah.
If we were to stop and reflect on all the tragedies of life, and how unfair it can be – despair would overtake us. But the LORD has provided us with a gift that helps us to stay occupied. The work he has blessed us with, and our choice to find enjoyment in it, and rejoice in it.
LORD, thank you for calling us, and with that call, keeping us occupied with joy in our hearts.
It is not difficult to understand how words like these can have an impact on a leader. King Josiah felt the pain in the LORD’s heart – like the pain of a rejected husband calling his unfaithful bride back to himself. Josiah did all he could to restore the worship of the LORD to Judah and Israel. Through pleas like this, he finally got it. He understood what apostasy does to God’s heart.
LORD, bring us back. Forgive us for our unfaithfulness and shameless acts.
The Preacher knew both money and power, so believe him when he says that money is a terrible master. It causes much vexation and sickness and anger. It robs a person of sleep, and produces nothing real in the end. Both the rich and the poor are the same at death. The king should commit himself to cultivated fields – to putting his money to work helping others. Every high official has someone higher looking after him. Wealth is responsibility.
LORD, give us the wisdom to manage your wealth responsibly, but to not seek riches at the expense of the really permanent things in life.
The people keep asking “where is the LORD” and the LORD responds. He cannot come near his own bride and his own land because it has been polluted by apostasy. Yet the people continue to speak unashamedly as if they had done nothing wrong. They had forsaken the living water for broken cisterns, but then dared to call out for the LORD when they needed help.
LORD, forgive us. Redeem us. Only you have the compassion and grace to cleans us from our defilement.
Regular worship does not automatically protect a person from evil and sin. In fact, it is in the context of worship that a person is tempted to do a foolish, evil thing. As we approach God, the temptation is to promise him too much – more than we are willing to repay. God takes our worship seriously, and he holds us to our promises. So, the wise thing is to be cautious about what we say in his presence. Guarding our steps means going more to listen than to speak. A rash mouth in his presence is an evil thing.
LORD, protect us from prideful promises. Give us wisdom as we approach your throne in prayer and worship.
The LORD used visions to convey information about his plans to Jeremiah, and those visions suggested words which were key to understanding his plans. The almond branch (shaqed) implied that the LORD was watching over (shoqed) his word to perform it when the time was right. The boiling pot was facing from the north (tsafon) indicating the direction from which the ra (evil or disaster) would come. Both of these predictions refer to harm the LORD would bring upon his own people for their disobedience. The only promise of protection is for the prophet himself. The LORD promises that his people will not prevail against his prophet.
LORD, give us the courage to stand with your word, even if we have to stand alone.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
Jeremiah 5
Ecclesiastes 6
Jeremiah 4:5-31
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Ecclesiastes 5:8-17
Jeremiah 2-3:5
