July 27th - Watch the Wound

Watch the Wound

(Jeremiah 5:14-31; 6:1-30)

Luxury Band-Aids

Photographer Unknown

In Old Testament times, the Lord called His people frequently and faithfully to follow Him. He sent prophets to shake and awaken the hearts of His children to dangers and deceits among them.

The prophet Jeremiah spoke plain truth to the people of Israel. He pointed out social evils and personal sins and chastised the people for failing to deal honestly with the root of their sorrows.

"’From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.

They dress the wound of My people
as though it were not serious.
'Peace, peace,' they say,
when there is no peace.

Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,’
says the Lord.”

(Jeremiah 6:13-15, NIV, emphasis added)

How might we, in our modern-day culture and even our churches, be a lot like the ancient Israelites?

What gaping and ghastly wounds might we try to appease with insufficient means? What soul-wasting septicities do we simply cover with proverbial band-aids, rather than dealing with the deepest germs within?

What sorts of infections are we hiding? Do we suffer from dishonesty, doubt, guilt, pride, rage, shame or other ills?

Will we allow the Great Physician to carve away our rotten parts, so that He may fill us with health and vitality that lasts forever?

Will you pray with me?

Oh, Lord,

You alone are the Healer of our souls.

Give us strength

And resolve,

So that we will not prevent You

From tearing off the bandages that hide

Us from Your healing.

Remove all that festers within us,

And fill us with the life

That only You can give.

Amen.

July 26th - Fallow Fields and Hard Hearts

Fallow Fields and Hard Hearts

(Jeremiah 3:6-25; 4:1-31; 5:1-13)

Fallow Ground

Free Stock Photos

In today’s Scripture readings, we have discovered more detail about the Lord’s love for His people. In addition, we have found, in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, how God has called His own by such fond and familiar names as sons, daughters and even spouse. Throughout the Bible, Jehovah refers to His people as His bride, His beloved and even the treasure of His heart.

Jeremiah declared a promise of God, offering true and loyal leaders to guide the people belonging to the Lord:

"’Return, faithless people,’

declares the Lord,

‘for I am your husband. I will choose you –

one from a town and two from a clan –

and bring you to Zion.

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart,

who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.’”

(Jeremiah 3:14-15, NIV, emphasis added)

However, the Lord also issued conditions for this promise. Jehovah vowed to return His exiled people, restoring them in the homeland He had declared to be their heritage, if only they would return to Him. Ever since Abraham, God had called His people to be circumcised, as a sign of their faith and commitment to the Lord.

However, Hebrew circumcision was only to be an outward indication of a heart-centered covenant. Clearly, the Lord valued the condition of the heart even more. Jeremiah called God’s people to a spiritual and attitudinal circumcision of the heart itself.

^“This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:

‘Plow up the hard ground of your hearts!
Do not waste your good seed among thorns.
O people of Judah and Jerusalem,
surrender your pride and power.
Change your hearts before the Lord,
or My anger will burn like an unquenchable fire
because of all your sins.’”

(Jeremiah 4:3-4, NLT)

How might we have become hard-hearted? If we consider the human heart as a homeland for the Holy One, in what condition does He find it? Do our attitudes offer arable acreage? Does our faithfulness make room for the Father’s farming? What will it take to break up the hardness of our hearts, so that the Holy Lord may plant His truth and bring His spiritual fruit in our lives?

Will you pray with me?

Father God,

You have promised to be

Our Beloved,

For You love us more than we can fathom.

Soften our hearts.

Guide us gently

To make room for more of You.

Cultivate our souls,

So that only Your fruit may appear,

Blessing Your own heart.

Amen.

July 25th - Springs or Cisterns

Springs or Cisterns?

(Jeremiah 1:1-9; 2:1-37; 3:1-5)

Jesus and the Woman of Samaria

Providence Lithograph Co.

1899

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah has been called “The Weeping Prophet.” He mourned the complacency of the Lord’s people in easy times and warned of challenging times to come. Jeremiah prayed painfully for the hearts of God’s children and called them to repentance and faithfulness. He urged them to rely on the one true Source of Life, rather than on temporary trappings and false security.

Bringing the Word of the Lord, Jeremiah said:

"[The Lord says,]

’My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken Me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.’”

(Jeremiah 2:13, NIV)

Throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit of the Lord has been likened to life-giving water. After all, the Lord is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. He promises to meet the needs of His children, if we will only look to Him.

Still, the Old Testament children of Israel attempted to supply their own needs. Do we not do the same today?

In Jeremiah 2:13, the Lord declared Himself to be “the spring of living water.” He chastised His people for digging their own cisterns, which were even broken and leaking.

What is the difference between a spring and a cistern?

Historically, men have built wells over productive springs producing potable water. In areas where such resources were not readily available, men have constructed cisterns, which are basically holding tanks. A well is spring-fed, while a cistern must be filled from another source.

What could be more valuable to a community’s daily physical survival than an ever-faithful source of fresh water?

A leaking cistern, of course, is of no good to anyone.

This biblical metaphor points to the Lord’s boundless provision and man’s inability to provide adequately for his own needs. Is there anything we can do to save ourselves? Can we possibly provide all we need to survive, both now and in the life to come, without the Lord’s assistance?

Today, psychologists love to talk about love tanks and love reservoirs. Obviously, everyone needs love. What happens when a person's love tank runs a little dry? How can it be refilled?

People try all sorts of means and measures to refill their love reservoirs. Many of these methods prove disappointing, or even destructive. Could it be . . . that the Author of Love is the only real Source of the refreshing and restoring love that we need?

The Lord offers living water.

In Israel’s often arid climate, the city well, built upon a freshwater spring, was a daily gathering spot in Bible times. John 4 contains the biblical account of Jesus’ encounter with a woman at a Samaritan well, in which the Lord spoke again of living water that will end all thirst.

May we look to our great God, who does all things well, for our very lives.

Will you pray with me?

Jehovah Jireh,

You are our all-sufficient God.

You are all we need.

Remind us to abandon

Our broken attempts

To meet our own needs

Without Your help.

We need You

Every day.

Fill our hearts

To overflowing

With Your living water,

From Your well of love

That never runs dry.

Amen.

July 24th - The Day of Dominion

The Day of Dominion

(Zephaniah 1:1-18; 2:1-15; 3;1-20)

(2 Chronicles 34:3-7)

Sing, Daughter of Zion

By Charles Joseph Staniland

c1900

Today’s Bible reading includes the writings of the Old Testament minor prophet Zephaniah. Zephaniah pointed to the God’s judgment on the nation of Judah and to the coming day of the Lord.

The book of Zephaniah is filled with repeated phrases, looking towards the fulfillment of time. These wordings include “at that time,” “on that day” and similar lines. (How many can you find and underline in today’s Scripture readings?)

The day of the Lord may be fearsome indeed, particularly for those who have mocked His people and rejected His invitation to follow Him. On the other hand, this occasion will be a long-awaited answer to prophetic prayers for all who love and honor the great and mighty Jehovah.

Here is a poem the Lord gave me today, based on our readings in the Old Testament book of Zephaniah. May the Lord bless your heart and lead you ever closer to His own, today and always.

At That Time

A Poetic Dream on a Day Most Supreme

Perched on the piano of pleasantest prime,

Today entertains us – the passage of time.

Unseen, the Deliverer waits for His cue

To ransom and rescue His own faithful few.

When windows of wonder fly open at last,

Though storms of deception may billow and blast,

The darkest of hours draws close to its end,

Destroyed by the Letter of love He will send.

The Word that was spoken before time emerged

Is uttered again, as all evil is purged.

Too little, too late – the pretenders may call,

As Wonderful Counselor reigns over all.

The wounded and needy, He draws to His heart.

With spike-wounded hands, He removes every dart.

The Father, so gentle, wipes tears from their eyes.

The Kingdom of Heaven appears – all may rise.

c2009 by Linda Ann Nickerson

Will you pray with me?

Majestic Master,

How we look forward

To the day

When Your Word is fulfilled

At last,

And Your Kingdom appears

Forever.

How grateful we are

For the victory

You achieved

On the cross,

Conquering death and darkness

Forever.

What a blessing

To belong

To You.

Amen.

Posted in response to these prompts:

Blog Your Blessings (“the darkest hour”)

Easy Street Prompts (“too little, too late”)

Meme Express (Sunday Invitation – to Simply Snickers)

One Single Impression (“windows”)

Simply Snickers (“perch,” “piano” and “prime”)

Weekend Wordsmith (“letter”)