Archive for the ‘Jeremiah’ Category

What is Evil?

Posted: October 16, 2008 in Evil, Jeremiah
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My heart was stricken today as I read in Jeremiah. How could God have done to His people that which He did. The Jews were His beloved people, chosen to represent God to the world. Yet God called the kingdoms of the north to lay Judah waste. What evil had they done to warrant the destruction of their nation? Had they committed terrible sins of debauchery and perversion? After all God had told the world to be astonished, to be horribly afraid at what they had done! (Jer 2:12)

The horrendous evil of Judah was revealed in Jeremiah 2:13. They had committed two evils or raʿ which  usually means sin in the sense of destructive hurtfulness. In other words, what Judah had done was destructive and hurtful to themselves and their nation. God says:

13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13 (NASB)

The hurtful destructive thing which they had done first was to forsake and turn away from the true source of living water and all which living water signifies-sustenance, prosperity, well being. They turned from trusting Jehovah God for their livelihood and peace of mind.

The second hurtful destructive thing they did was to dig their own cisterns (broken at that) to rely upon for their livelihood. They collected their own water, using their own hands. In other words, they were depending upon themselves for their livelihood and prosperity. They were not depending upon God.

What Does God Consider Evil?

Jeremiah puts a different “spin” on what God considers ‘evil’. God says any walk, any action that is independent of Him is evil. God is the source and the sustainer of our life. We must drink continually from His fountain. We must depend daily upon God. To forsake Him and His provisions for us is evil. To depend upon our own cisterns, our own means for our life and sustenance is likewise evil.

They are each destructive and hurtful.

I believe America is a hurting nation with hurting and sick people because we have walked in the evilness of independence. We no longer depend upon God. We may include Him occasionally in our plans, we may offer Him lip service in our praise and prayers. But when it comes down to living, we depend upon that which we can see, touch, make and do with our own eyes and hands. In fact, we most often depend on the Government which we have created. Especially in these frightful economic times.

However, we must heed the warning of Jeremiah. For he says in verse 19, that our own wickedness will correct us, and we will discover that it is an evil and bitter thing to forsake the Lord our God.

We must rediscover the fear and reverence of Almighty Jehovah God. We must turn away from the cisterns of our own making, and come to His fountain of living waters.

There is no Governmental “FIX” for this Crisis!

Posted: October 10, 2008 in Financial Crisis, Jeremiah, Wine
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We must realize that the global economic and credit crisis is beyond any “fix” that our government can devise. The words of Jeremiah come to mind:

“For this is the day of the Lord of Hosts, a day of vengeance, that He may avenge Himself on His adversaries” (Jer 46:10).

“In vain you will use many medicines; you shall not be cured. The nations have heard of your shame, and your cry has filled the land; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty; they have both fallen together.” (Jer 46:11-12)

“I shall send him wine workers who will tip him over and empty his vessels and break the bottles” (Jer 48:12)

“Joy and gladness are taken from the plentiful field and from the land of Moab; I have caused wine to fail from the wine presses; No one will tread with joyous shouting-not joyous shouting!” (Jer 48:33)

“Your fierceness has deceived you, the pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill! Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there” says the Lord. (Jer 49:16)

We must fall on our faces before Almighty God, for the wisdom of our leaders will not be  enough to solve the crisis that is facing the United States financial system. We are running out of options. It is time for us to ” Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong”. 1 Corinthians 16:13

George Bush – “Danger Everywhere”?

Posted: May 29, 2008 in George Bush, Jeremiah, Presidential Election
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Back in ancient Biblical times, Babylon (Iraq today) was a major world power. The Jews of Judah refused to see Babylon’s danger, aided by the lies of the Chief Priest Pashur, Jeremiah Exposes Pashurwho prophesied to the people that everything would work out, and Judah (Israel today) would be victorious against them.

The prophet Jeremiah was raised up by God to reveal the lies of Pashur, who reacted violently, having Jeremiah beaten and imprisoned in stocks. When Pashur came to release Jeremiah, Jeremiah told him that his name had been changed by God. God now called him “Danger-Everywhere” because of his refusal to ignore the dangers of Babylon and in fact lie about them. Jeremiah proclaimed Pashur a danger to himself and everyone around him. All of his friends would be killed in battle while he watched. Babylon would plunder Judah and do whatever they liked with them. Jeremiah warned Pashur that he and his family would be taken into exile, exile in Babylon. He and all his “cronies” to whom he preached his lies. Here is the Biblical account as the Message Bible interprets:

Jeremiah 20:1-6 (MSG) The priest Pashur son of Immer was the senior priest in God’s Temple. He heard Jeremiah preach this sermon. He whipped Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks at the Upper Benjamin Gate of God’s Temple. The next day Pashur came and let him go. Jeremiah told him, “God has a new name for you: not Pashur but Danger-Everywhere, because God says, ‘You’re a danger to yourself and everyone around you. All your friends are going to get killed in battle while you stand there and watch. What’s more, I’m turning all of Judah over to the king of Babylon to do whatever he likes with them—haul them off into exile, kill them at whim. Everything worth anything in this city, property and possessions along with everything in the royal treasury—I’m handing it all over to the enemy. They’ll rummage through it and take what they want back to Babylon. ” ‘And you, Pashur, you and everyone in your family will be taken prisoner into exile—that’s right, exile in Babylon. You’ll die and be buried there, you and all your cronies to whom you preached your lies.’ “

New Book by Scott McClellanAll of a sudden a book bursts forth on the American political scene which makes the Bush administration and George Bush himself seem like Pashur, or should we say “Danger-Everywhere”? Here are some pointed excerpts from the book by former Bush press secretary Scott McClellan:

Most of our elected leaders in Washington, Republicans and Democrats alike, are good, decent people. Yet too many of them today have made a practice of shunning truth and the high level of openness and forthrightness required to discover it. Most of it is not willful or conscious. Rather, it is part of the modern Washington game that has become the accepted norm.

As I explain in this book, Washington has become the home of the permanent campaign, a game of endless politicking based on the manipulation of shades of truth, partial truths, twisting of the truth, and spin. Governing has become an appendage of politics rather than the other way around, with electoral victory and the control of power as the sole measures of success. That means shaping the narrative before it shapes you. Candor and honesty are pushed to the side in the battle to win the latest news cycle… The press amplifies the talking points of one or both parties in its coverage, thereby spreading distortions, half-truths, and occasionally outright lies in an effort to seize the limelight and have something or someone to pick on.

Most objective observers today would say that in 2003 there was no urgent need to address the threat posed by Saddam with a large-scale invasion, and therefore the war was not necessary. But this is a question President Bush seems not to want to grapple with.

I still like and admire George W. Bush. I consider him a fundamentally decent person, and I do not believe he or his White House deliberately or consciously sought to deceive the American people. But he and his advisers confused the propaganda campaign with the high level of candor and honesty so fundamentally needed to build and then sustain public support during a time of war. Had a high level of openness and forthrightness been embraced from the outset of his administration, I believe President Bush’s public standing would be stronger today. His approval ratings have remained at historic lows for so long because both qualities have been lacking to this day. In this regard, he was terribly ill-served by his top advisers, especially those involved directly in national security.

All the president can do today is hope that his vision of Iraq will ultimately come true, putting the Middle East on a new path and vindicating his decision to go to war. I would welcome such a development as good for America, good for Iraq, and good for the world. Bush knows that posterity has a way of rewarding success over candor and honesty. But as history moves to render its judgment in the coming years and decades, we can’t gloss over the hard truths this book has sought to address and the lessons we can learn from understanding them better. Allowing the permanent campaign culture to remain in control may not take us into another unnecessary war, but it will continue to limit the opportunity for careful deliberation, bipartisan compromise, and meaningful solutions to the major problems all Americans want to see solved. Adapted from the book WHAT HAPPENED: INSIDE THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE AND WASHINGTON’S CULTURE OF DECEPTION by Scott McClellan. Copyright 2008 by Scott McClellan.

Karl Rove and George \The excerpts plus additional revelations in the newswire this morning indicate that President Bush along with his advisor’s deliberately “sold” America on the invasion of Iraq because of their own political agenda. They deliberately ignored reality and spread half-truth’s to achieve their end.

The Bush administration has been quick to label McClellan as a “disgruntled” former employee. If it was back in Bible times, he would have been beaten and placed in stocks for public humiliation.Stocks

I am a Republican and voted for George W Bush, but our leaders have a responsibility to be honest and forthright. If the book excerpts are an honest reflection of the contents, this book should be very disturbing to the American people. Jeremiah has come forth and revealed George Bush as Pashur and is calling him “Danger-Everywhere”.

Perhaps we should realize that George Bush has become a danger to himself, his Country and God-fearing American’s everywhere. This war in Babylon (Iraq) has the potential of consuming the assets of America including our young men and women. It is folly and shame that it should have been predicated upon the lies of a Pashur.

On the Edge of Chaos?

Posted: January 23, 2008 in Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Jeremiah, mudpreacher, Preaching, Righteousness, Zedekiah
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FallingIs it just me, or does it seem this world is on the edge of chaos? Financial markets across the globe have gone crazy the past few days, and investors are crying out for some kind of calm. What they are really wanting is to preserve their riches and see double digit returns again. The housing market in the US is in the toilets, and people keep hoping it is just a temporary thing. Just a year ago I read that home prices can’t really go down because the cost of labor and materials keep rising. Yet in the state of Florida as I well know, homes are going for $100 a square foot when just 18 months ago they were at $140 to $160 per square foot. And that doesn’t include the ocean front prices. Foreclosures will probably double this year, and the banks that made the loans are bracing for tremendous losses. Credit woes are not just isolated to home loans but extend to commercial and industrial concerns as well. There will be blood running in the streets before long.

CandidatesThe political scene appears to be just as chaotic. Americans have to choose between an old Vietnam Vet, a Mormon, a Southern Baptist Preacher, a Black with a funny name and a Woman with an infamous name. Already the fighting has captured headlines and political viewpoints are being obscured. This may be the most confusing and disappointing election America has had in modern history. A strong person capable of leading a nation out of chaos is nowhere to be found. We don’t need a politician, we need a Statesman, with a truly world view and Biblical view of the events that are about to unfold.

Jeremiah, the original Mudpreacher, was watching chaotic events unfold in his home town of Jerusalem. The King was Zedekiah, a totally selfish and inept leader. He was more interested in saving his own skin than leading his country. The city was under siege, starvation was rampant, people were resorting to cannibalism to stay alive, and the King refused to hear any Word from God. He kept listening to the stupid princes around him who kept saying ‘everything will be alright’. It’s like the Fed saying that “we will not have a recession”. It’s like Bush saying “we are winning in Iraq”.

We forget there is The God who still Reigns! He is not idle and powerless. His Plan is still moving forward.

Zedekiah means the righteousness of Jehovah. Funny, because righteous he wasn’t. God issued a scathing rebuke to Judah and her leaders:

“Samaria has not committed half your sins. You have committed more abominations than they, and have made your sisters appear righteous by all the abominations that you have committed. Bear your disgrace, you also, for you have intervened on behalf of your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. So be ashamed, you also, and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous. (Eze 16:51-52)

One of the sisters God referred to was Sodom. Sodom with her sinful sodomy and Samaria with her idol-worship was more righteous than Judah? What does that say about Judah and her inhabitants?

FallingI wonder what God is trying to tell our country, even this world. The last 10 years have seen more cataclysmic events than the previous 100! Our nation has been rocked by terrorist attacks, hurricanes, Katrina, natural disasters, drought, school and college shootings, family decay, mothers and fathers killing their own children and on and on. Surely God does not cover His eyes. Surely God’s Word is righteous and just! Surely God is crying out “You have committed more abominations than they!”.

The words of Amos still Ring with Truth and Clarity:

When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared– who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken– who can but prophesy? Amos 3:6-8 (NIV)

Weep before the altar

It is time for us to Proclaim the Name of God in our Prayers before the throne.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ (Jer 23:5-6)

As Jeremiah preached before the FAKE King of Righteousness (Zedekiah), we need to find refuge in Jehovah-Tsidkenu (Jehovah our righteousness). All of the combined wisdom and military might of this great nation will do nothing to delay the coming “Jehovah-Tsidkenu.”

The preachers and pastors of America need to heed the words of Joel and cry out before the altar:

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ” Joel 2:17 (ESV)

Wesley Preaching righteousness

Our only hope as a nation, as God’s people, is to proclaim the Name of God – Jehovah-Tsidkenu! We need to cry out for His righteousness. We need to declare our sins before Him, of not honoring Jehovah as our Righteous God!

Jehovah is a Tsadik–a righteous One, says the psalmist (129:4). As an El-Tsadik a righteous God, there is none to compare with Him, Says Isaiah (45:21 ). He is the Rock whose work is perfect, all of whose ways are justice. Tsadik–righteous and right is He (Dent. 32:4). His righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and His testimonies are righteous forever (Psalm 119:142, 144). Righteousness and justice are the very foundations of His throne (Psalm 89:14; 97:2). Therefore in all His dealings He is righteous.

In this “post-modernist” generation, we have abandoned absolutes. NarcissisticAnd as we watch a generation grow up in love with themselves and what they each consider right, our nation will move further and further away from the Righteousness of God. That which was shameful 50 years ago has and will continue to become accepted and even expected. The stench of our hearts will continue to burn before the nostrils of a Holy God. The church needs to declare as Daniel the Righteousness of God. We must never abandon Jehovah-Tsidkenu! May our shame become evident and repentance weigh heavy on our hearts:

To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. Daniel 9:7-8 (ESV)

We must never lose sight of our righteous God. We must see Him loving Righteousness and beholding the upright!

For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. Psalms 11:7 (NKJV)

We must continue to preach Jesus Christ to this dying world. Jesus is indeed Jehovah-Tsidken! In his great sermon at Pentecost, Peter accuses his hearers of denying the Holy One and the Just or Righteous (Acts 3:14). Hebrews 1:8, 9 says of Him: But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

Jesus our righteousness

Jesus, in human nature, lived up to the perfect standard of the divine law, so that His righteousness was of the same complexion and character as the righteousness of God. Still more, as one with the Father, His righteousness was the perfect manifestation of the righteousness of God.

Jehovah-tsidkenu! Such a wonderful name! This name must be on our lips and in our hearts if this nation, even this world is to escape the coming chaos and shame. The Righteousness of our coming King is indeed the only method and the measure of our acceptance before Holy God; cleansed in the blood of the Lamb; clothed with the white robe of the righteousness of Him who is Jehovah–our righteousness–even our Lord Jesus Christ.

I once was a stranger to grace and to God
I knew not my danger, and felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree
Jehovah-tsidkenu was nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me, by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die:
No refuge, no safety, in self could I see;
Jehovah-tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;
My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free:
Jehovah-tsidkenu is all things to me.

[Whitelaw, Jehovah-Jesus, pp. 102, 103].

Jeremiah Was the First Mud Preacher

Posted: January 11, 2008 in Jeremiah, Preaching
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Jeremiah is not my idol.

In fact, not too many preachers aspire to be like Jeremiah. Too many bad things happened to him. Like the time in chapter 38 that the princes of Judea had had enough of Jeremiah’s ramblings. They cried to the King, “please let this man be put to death, because he is discouraging everyone. He is not helping us, he is hurting us with the things he says”. So the King said “whatever you guys want to do, I won’t stop you”.

Jeremiah in the Mud So these princes threw him into the cistern or well in the middle of the prison court. At the bottom was mud which was probably as deep as three or four feet. It was so deep that Jeremiah became hopelessly stuck. They left him there to die, with no food or water. That was a mud bath no one wants to take.

Some eunuch named Ebed-Melech had pity on Jeremiah and went to King Zedikiah to appeal to his sense of reason. The King repented of his decision and commanded Ebed-Melech to take 30 men with ropes to pull Jeremiah out. After much work, they were able to pull him out, and Jeremiah stayed in the court of the prison.

What do you say when you are stuck in the mud? Did Jeremiah say “I’m Sorry, Get me out?” No, I think he kept on proclaiming God’s Message. In fact, I think his message became even louder because of the acoustics of the well.

So this blog is dedicated to the message of Jeremiah, who declared the message of God no matter where he was. Even when he was stuck in the mud. Here’s to you Jeremiah, the first “Mud Preacher”

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