August 31st - Pagan Practice

Pagan Practice

(2 Kings 25:23-26)

(Jeremiah 40:7-16; 41:1-18; 42:1-22; 43:1-14; 44:1-30)

Asherah, Pagan Queen of Heaven

Ancient Artist Unknown

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah warned the Lord’s people against paying homage to false gods. But the people persisted in the pagan practice. The men followed their foreign wives, burning incense to the Queen of Heaven.

And the Lord brought judgment.

Who was the Queen of Heaven?

The term, “Queen of Heaven,” has become a reference to Mary, the human virgin mother of Jesus Christ, throughout Christian history. However, in ancient times, the Queen of Heaven was not nearly so virtuous.

In Old Testament times, the Queen of Heaven referred to goddess worship. Usually, this term indicated Asherah, the Semitic pagan goddess of fertility. In other historical instances, the Queen of Heaven meant Isis, an Egyptian goddess, as well.

Goddess worship has enjoyed a renewed popularity in recent generations, as Wiccans and New Agers have encouraged the adoration of Gaia, Mother Earth and other goddess figures. Surely, paganism is not merely an ancient practice.

What would the prophet Jeremiah say about modern culture? What would God say about it? What is the Lord already saying about paganism and today’s generation?

Will you pray with me?

Great God,

Above You is no other.

You are the only true God,

And we worship You.

Encircle our hearts,

That we might adore no other,

Worship no idols

And place no one or nothing

Above You

In our hearts.

Open our eyes

To any false worship

In our own lives

Or in the culture

That surrounds us.

Give us hearts

For holiness.

We praise You.

Amen.

August 30th - The Father Is Faithful

The Father Is Faithful

(Lamentations 3:1-54; 4:1-22; 5:1-22)

New Every Morning

Photographer Unknown

What a wonderful God, who transforms darkness into light, night into day and sin into righteousness. He can turn our sadness into joy and our mourning into merrymaking.

And His blessings are new every single day.

Because of the Lord's great love

we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.

I say to myself,

"The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him."

The Lord is good to those

whose hope is in Him,
to the one who seeks Him;

it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

(Lamentations 3:22-26, NIV, emphasis added)

No matter what we may face, the Father is ever faithful. Even when we are faithless, or when our faith in Him wavers, He remains ready and able to meet us where we are. And He beckons us with open arms to run to Him, so He can hold us close to His heart and comfort us in whatever we may face.

Each day He gives us a brand new start.

What struggles do you face today? What sorrows plague your soul and break your heart? Do you know that the Comforter longs to comfort you too?

Will you pray with me?

Lord,

You are the great

“I AM.”

You are love;

You are power.

You are mercy.

You are grace.

You are all we need,

For You are

The only wise God,

The All-sufficient Almighty.

Hold us close today,

And strengthen us

To face what we must

Today and hereafter.

Amen.

August 29th - Lamenting the Lost

Lamenting the Lost

(Lamentations 1:1-6; 2:1-22)

Weeping Prayer

Artist Unknown

Today’s daily Scripture reading focuses on the beginning of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah’s lengthy lament over the loss of Jerusalem and the sad fate of the Lord’s own people. The weeping prophet bemoaned the downtrodden and sincerely sobbed to see the affliction and judgment upon those who have forsaken the one true God.

Even then, in this discouragement and distress, Jeremiah called to the people to return to the faith of their fathers and to trust God. He urged them to lean upon Jehovah, the ever-faithful One.

“Arise, cry out in the night,
as the watches of the night begin;
pour out your heart like water
in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him
for the lives of your children,
who faint from hunger
at the head of every street.”

(Lamentations 2:19, NIV)

This passage certainly gives me pause and pierces my soul. Perhaps you feel the same way.

Does my heart hurt for those who have not yet given their hearts to God? Does my soul hunger to see other souls saved for eternity? Does my conscience convict me for my own unfaithfulness to the ever-faithful Father?

How I long to carry a heartfelt burden for those who need the Lord. May God grant me tears of earnest supplication for the lost world. And may He draw me to pour out my heart before Him, so that He might give me a new heart that more matches His own.

Will you pray with me?

Merciful God,

Your own heart surely mourns

To see a faithless world,

Even as You call out patiently

For hearts to turn to You.

Our own Lord,

Your Holy Son,

Shed tender tears

For those who turned their backs

On You,

Even as we all have done.

Draw us, Lord,

Closer to You.

Soften our hearts,

So that we may mourn

As You do

To see the lost suffering.

Make us agents of Your comfort

And Your peace,

So that others

May desire to know You

For Your own glory alone.

Amen.

August 28th - Protecting the Poorest

Protecting the Poorest

(2 Kings 25:2-10-22)

(2 Chronicles 36:17-21)

(Jeremiah 39:2-5, 8-18; 40:1-6; 52:5-7, 9-30)

Reaching for God

Artist Unknown

The time was approximately 586 B.C. Just as the prophet Jeremiah had foretold, the Babylonians swept in and destroyed Jerusalem, the City of David. The marauders destroyed the most significant buildings, executed the leaders, took all the treasures of the temple and palace, and carted the people off to captivity.

All except the poorest of the poor.

“But the commander left behind

some of the poorest people of the land

to work the vineyards and fields.”

(2 Kings 25:12, NIV)

Could this account tell us anything about how the Lord feels about the humblest and most needy among us?Does not the Perfect Provider seek to be the only Source of all we need?

In the Sermon on the Mount, The Lord Jesus said this:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

(Matthew 5:3, NIV)

Could it be that our view of success is somewhat skewed these days? Has it ever been otherwise?

What does the Lord’s own economy look like?

Will you pray with me?

Gracious Heavenly Father,

All You created

Belongs to You.

Point out our poverty,

And turn our eyes from all

We grasp

Besides Your hand.

Thank You for Your great grace

That looks beyond our greed

And our grief

And draws us to Your own heart

Where we may find

Your everlasting abundance.

Amen.