July 31 - Jeremiah 5:20-6:30 | 2 Kings 22:3-20 | 2 Chronicles 34:8-28

Good morning everyone,

This morning we begin with Jeremiah spreading some pret-ty harsh words to the people of Judah. You can see now why Jeremiah was so sorrowful, weeping as we’ve learned, over what he had to say to them and too, why they were so angry to hear it. God asked them in 5:21 (paraphrasing) “Hey! Are you guys nuts or what? You’ve heard about me and seen what I can do. Why aren’t you afraid of me?” Then in 5:22 we see how God points to His creation as evidence to His great and mighty power. Oh my word, friends, what a mighty God we have! Sometimes I think we don’t stop and think about it, take time to appreciate what a great and wonderful God we serve! Seriously! We are often guilty of limiting Him to what we, mere mortals, can do and that is crazy laughable! In Jeremiah 32:27 we’re told, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” I have got to say “NO!” to that. You?

We also resumed the story of King Josiah, today, where you’ll remember this kid of a king who was a good king, the last good king Judah will see, was on a mission to rid the land of idol worship. It was his purpose to honor God and set his sights on seeing a revival in the land, whether the people wanted it or not. First, though, (and this is such a mind’s eye story for me … just sayn’) the temple needed some repair work done, so the Levites collected some monies and began the restoration. It was during this restoration when a long lost copy of the Book of the Law, that had obviously escaped destruction from the reins of Manasseh and Amon, was found amongst the ruins. I can only imagine how excited Josiah was to get word of the find, how eager he must have been to hear THE Words, God’s Word, and then ….. then, after Shaphan the secretary read to him what the Word said, how possibly confused and certainly angry he was when he realized just how far the nation had wandered off the plumb-line. Just how much God’s children had strayed from the heart of their Abba. 

Josiah then sent Hilkiah, the priest, and company to speak to the prophet Huldah to get some word, some insight, some meaning to what they’d just learned. Sadly, she confirmed the imminent disaster that would besiege Judah and and it’s people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah had read. Because of his humble submissiveness to the Lord, Josiah would not to have to bear witness to God’s angry wrath, however, imagine how heavy the good king’s heart must have been knowing what the future held in store for his kingdom, for a people he loved; but you know what? Josiah, even in the face of this tragic news did not quit bringing about reforms in the country. He kept right on doing what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord, like Jeremiah, preaching to an already doomed nation. Seriously folks, you have got to love this kids integrity.

In John 15:10-11 Jesus said, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” And who does not want complete joy? Amen?

Have a good day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..