This chapter continues to chronicle the political and spiritual collapse of the Jewish remnant left in the land after the fall of Jerusalem. Seven months into Gedaliah’s governorship, Ishmael returns to meet with Gedaliah. Ishmael, who is almost always referred…
Category: Life Lessons
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 39)
This is the first of two recounting of the fall of Jerusalem; the final chapter in the book (52) gives a more detailed version of the same events. Chapter 39 tells the grim news in chronological sequence with the surrounding…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 35)
Chapter 34 focused attention on the fickle king and people of Jerusalem; chapter 35 introduces the faithful Rechabites. Where Zedekiah, his officials and people vacillated in keeping their covenant promises, the Rechabites were faithful to their covenant promises. Where the…
Wise Men (and Women) Still Worship
This Christmas I’ve been reflecting on Matthew’s account of the Magi who came to worship the infant Christ. Worship was the sole purpose of their long journey: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we…
Christmas in the Psalms
This morning in my devotional time, I read Psalm 22. Not your traditional Christmas reading. In fact, it seems much more suited to Good Friday. In this psalm, David laments the suffering he is experiencing and cries out for God…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 31)
This chapter is the high-watermark of the “Book of Consolation” (30-33) and the book of Jeremiah. It could be the high point of the entire Old Testament! It contains an extended description of the joyful re-gathering and resettlement in the…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 27)
In this chapter Jeremiah lives out his calling as a prophet to “nations and kingdoms”, a prophet sent to “uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (1:10). He has a message for kings and…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 26)
This chapter is dated “early in the reign of Jehoiakim” (1) which makes it one of five chapters specifically tied to events from this time period (four chapters are from the “fourth year of Jehoiakim”—25:1; 36:1; 45:1; 46:2). Chapter 26 likely…
Tuesdays with Jeremiah (Chapter 25)
When he was first called to prophetic ministry, Jeremiah was appointed “over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (1:10). Over the first twenty-three years of his ministry. Jeremiah had…
Tuesday with Jeremiah (Chapter 24)
Verse 1 sets the historical back story for this short chapter: this vision and message are given to Jeremiah after Jehoiachin (Jeconiah), court officials (like Daniel and his three Hebrew friends), and craftsmen/artisans are captured and exiled to Babylon. Jehoiachin’s…