PM Nov 4th Jer 34

November 4^th     Jeremiah 34      Jeremiah’s warning

1: The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, 2: Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire: 3: And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. 4: Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword: 5: But thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee; and they will lament thee, saying, Ah lord! for I have pronounced the word, saith the LORD. 6: Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, 7: When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.

The broken covenant

8: This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; 9: That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother. 10: Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go. 11: But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids. 12: Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 13: Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying, 14: At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear. 15: And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: 16: But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids. 17: Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 18: And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof, 19: The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf; 20: I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth. 21: And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you. 22: Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.

Jeremiah 35      The Rechabites

1: The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2: Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink. 3: Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; 4: And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: 5: And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. 6: But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: 7: Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. 8: Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; 9: Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: 10: But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11: But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem. 12: Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 13: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD. 14: The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. 15: I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. 16: Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: 17: Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. 18: And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: 19: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.

When Nebuchadnezzar became king of the greatest empire the world had ever known The Lord sent a message to Jeremiah. The simple message was to Zedekiah the king of Judah telling him that he had given the city to Nebuchadnezzar. It is the Lord God who rules the kingdoms of men and he will give them to whosoever he will. The message from the Lord said that he would see Nebuchadnezzar face to face and that the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. And the Lord said that he would die in peace and not in battle. All the slaves of Israel were set free at this time. The children of Israel had always had an ordinance for the delivery of Hebrew slaves after seven years service yet they had never kept this law. In this captivity the Lord would exercise judgment on these unfaithful men. The free became slaves and the slaves became free. Those who committed this crime were cut in two parts by the Babylonian rulers. Their bodies will remain unburied and become food for carrion. In Ch 25 Jeremiah records the prophecy he received in the days of Jehoiakim. He was sent to the Rechabites to bring them into the house of the Lord to drink wine. Yet they answered that they had never drunk wine and had no intension of doing so forever. They were under an oath not to drink wine or to build houses, or sow seed or plant vineyards. They were to live in tents all their lives. Because the Rechabites had remained faithful to their Fathers wishes so there will always remain a man of their tribe to stand before the Lord forever. The Lord loves those who keep their oaths. 

AM Nov 4th Heb 7

November 4^th  

15: And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16: Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17: For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18: For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19: For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20: And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22: By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23: And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26: For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27: Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28: For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

So Christ has been raised up a priest, not like the Aaronic priests, but like Melchisedec the priest, whose priesthood is not according to the law of commandments to feeble human life but in the empowering of God to an endless life. The commandment of the Law had to be disannulled because it was weak and unprofitable. The Mosaic Law did not bring salvation to anyone but the bringing in of a better hope, did bring salvation. And it is to this hope found in the person of Christ that is offered to you. The Aaronic priests were not ordained by an oath, but Christ is ordained by an oath. The LORD swore and will never change his mind. Christ is a priest after the order of Melchisedec. Therefore Jesus is made a surety (A person who guarantees future blessing) of a better testament (Covenant). Christ Jesus is the guarantor of the New Covenant. The old priests ministry ended in death but Christ’s ministry continues forever and his priesthood in unchangeable. Therefore he is able to save to the uttermost (right on to the end) those who come to him, because he ever lives to make intercession for them. We have a high priest who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, made higher than the heavens. His ministry is not like the priests of old who daily offered a sacrifice first for their own sins and then for the people. Christ only offered one sacrifice for sin when he placed himself upon the altar. (There was no sacrifice necessary for him because he was without sin) The Law ordained man with human limitations but the Word of the Lord in the form of an oath made Christ the Son of God, Priest forevermore. 

PM Nov 3rd Jer 31

November 3^rd    Jeremiah 31      A happy return

1: At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2: Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 4: Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. 5: Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. 6: For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. 7: For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. 8: Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9: They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10: Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11: For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 12: Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. 13: Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14: And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

The Lord is merciful

15: Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. 16: Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17: And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border. 18: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. 19: Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. 20: Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. 21: Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. 22: How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. 23: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. 24: And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks. 25: For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. 26: Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

The New covenant

27: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. 8: And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD. 29: In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. 30: But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. 31: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 35: Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 36: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. 37: Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. 38: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39: And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40: And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

Jeremiah 32      Jeremiah buys a field

1: The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. 2: For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house. 3: For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; 4: And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes; 5: And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper? 6: And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 7: Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it. 8: So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. 9: And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. 10: And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. 11: So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open: 12: And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. 13: And I charged Baruch before them, saying, 14: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days. 15: For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

Jeremiah’s prayer

16: Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying, 17: Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: 18: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, 19: Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: 20: Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day; 21: And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror; 22: And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; 23: And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them: 24: Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. 25: And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26: Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 27: Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? 28: Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it: 29: And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger. 30: For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD. 31: For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face, 32: Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33: And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction. 34: But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it. 35: And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

Hope in the Lord

36: And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; 37: Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: 38: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: 39: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: 40: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. 41: Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. 42: For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them. 43: And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. 44: Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 33      Jerusalem will recover

1: Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2: Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; 3: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. 4: For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword; 5: They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city. 6: Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. 7: And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. 8: And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. 9: And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it. 10: Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast, 11: The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. 12: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 13: In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD. 14: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 15: In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16: In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. 17: For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; 18: Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. 19: And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, 20: Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21: Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me. 23: Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24: Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. 25: Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; 26: Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

In Ch 31 Jeremiah speaks of the joy of the restoration of the Lord and he promises to be the God of all the families of Israel. The Lord will deal with them in Grace and his love for them will be everlasting, therefore he will draw them back to himself. They will live in peace, joy and fruitfulness. The lord will bring them for the north country even the lame, blind and the woman with child. The Lord will lead them. Even the terrain will be changed to make their journey straight. The nations will marvel that the Lord will be the shepherd of Israel. The Lord will turn their mourning into joy and he will comfort them. The Priests who offer sacrifice will become full of tasting the food offered to the Lord. The Lord will prosper Israel and there will be true justice in Israel. Then we have the famous prophecy where the Lord promises to enter into a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will be different to the covenant he made with them when he brought them up out of Egypt. That covenant they broke. This will be a covenant of law but the law will be written on their minds. No man will need to teach his neighbour because they will all know the LORD from the least to the greatest. The Lord will forgive their sins. (Previously their sins had only been covered) The sun and moon will be witness forever of Gods faithfulness to Israel. The Lord will cause the city to be rebuilt and even the graveyards will be holy to the Lord. In Chapter 32 Jeremiah brings a prophecy of the restoration of the land and of the people. It was given in the 10^th year of Zedekiah. Jeremiah was imprisoned for his testimony and the army of the Babylonians had besieged the city. The Lord said that the king would be captured by the Babylonians and taken to Babylon. Then the Lord sent Hanameel to Jeremiah to tell him to buy a field in Anathoth. The agreement was signed and sealed and the 17 shekels paid and this was sealed into a pot and given as a sign to the elders of Israel that Israel would be buried in the land but that one day they would rise up again. The Lord said he would do it and is there anything too hard for the Lord? The Lord explains why the city will be destroyed because they have turned away from the Lord - turning their backs to him. In this prophetic perspective Jeremiah sees no difference between the return from captivity and the return in a future day from every nation of the world. But the Lord promises that he will bring them back and bless them and the land and bless their physical lives. The religion of Judaism was a religion of human life. In Jeremiah Ch 33 he records a prophecy when he was in prison. The Lord promises that one day he would cure them and fully restore them. He will pardon their sins and cleanse them of their filthiness. All the nations will hear of the goodness of the Lord to Israel. There will be joy and gladness again in the streets of Jerusalem. He will send a Leader – Christ, who will bring peace and justice to the Land. He will save Judah and he will be called the LORD our righteousness. David’s line will never lack for a king anymore. Nor will the priests be short of men to serve in the temple.

AM Nov 3rd Heb 7

November 3^rd    Hebrews 7         Christ a Melchizedek Priest

1: For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2: To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3: Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4: Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5: And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7: And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8: And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9: And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10: For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11: If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12: For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13: For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14: For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

The writer now goes on to show that the priesthood of Melchisedec was superior to the Aaronic priesthood. He says, this man, who was king of Salem (the site of Jerusalem) and priest of the most high God met Abraham after his battle with the five kings of Canaan. He came to Abraham to bless him and Abraham gave to him a tenth of all he had. Then he goes on to say that, this man has no recorded mother or father, nor any ancestors recorded, nor is his death recorded. In this sense he is a type of Christ - a living parable. He was like Christ in that he had no recorded end to his priesthood. While Melchisedec has no recorded end to his priesthood, Christ himself will have no actual end to his priesthood. Now consider how great this man - Melchisedec is. He was honoured by Abraham before Abraham's children were born. The tribe of Levi take a tenth of the income of the other tribes to enable them to continue in the work of the priesthood. But in contrast Melchisedec whose descent is not recorded, receive tithes from them (The Levitical priests) because they were the sons of Abraham. And it goes without saying that 'the less is blessed by the greater'. Therefore Melchisedec is greater than Levi. Levi paid his tenth to Melchisedec - in Abraham. If therefore perfection - i.e. salvation could come by the Levitical priesthood then what need would there be for another great priesthood to arise. In the Aaronic priesthood there was no salvation offered to Israel. Now because the blessing of God comes only from a change in the priesthood from Aaron to Christ there must therefore be a change in the Law, because it was clear that Christ came from the tribe of Judah and there was no priesthood associated with that tribe. Christ is therefore a priest after a different order than the Aaronic priesthood. He had a superior priesthood like that of Melchisedec.

PM Nov 2nd Jer 29

November 2^nd    Jeremiah 29      Jeremiah’s letter to the captives

1: Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon; 2: (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) 3: By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying, 4: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; 5: Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; 6: Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. 7: And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. 8: For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. 9: For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. 10: For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12: Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14: And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. 15: Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; 16: Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity; 17: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. 18: And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them: 19: Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD. 20: Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon: 21: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; 22: And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire; 23: Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD. 24: Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, 25: Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26: The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks. 27: Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you? 28: For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 29: And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet. 30: Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 31: Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: 32: Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.

Jeremiah 30      D. The future of 12 Tribes & Judah’s near Captivity         Israel coming home

1: The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2: Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3: For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. 4: And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5: For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6: Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8: For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9: But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 10: Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. 11: For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. 12: For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. 13: There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. 14: All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. 15: Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. 16: Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. 17: For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. 18: Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. 19: And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. 20: Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. 21: And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD. 22: And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 23: Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. 24: The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

After the people of Judah had been sent to Babylon Jeremiah is instructed by the Lord to send a letter to the elders of the children of Judah. The message from the Lord was that they were to have children and increase and they are to build houses and plant gardens and eat the fruit that they grow. The young men are to take wives and have children. They are to live in peace with the people with whom they settle. And they are to pray that they might live in peace there. And the Lord said don’t let your prophets deceive you in the land. Then the Lord says after seventy years l will bring you back from Babylon to you own land. I know how you think and you will call on me and l will answer you. And you will seek me and you will find me when you seek for me with all your heart. The Lord sent a special message regarding Shemaiah because he prophesied falsely and he perished in Babylon. In Chapter 30 we have a section of the book which brings together other prophesies that are not part of the previous section they are arranged out of chronological order, yet being the word of the Lord they are worth recording. First we see that Jeremiah is instructed to record his prophesies in a book for posterity. In this chapter he describes the Tribulation - the time of Jacob’s trouble. Jeremiah sees the great deliverance of Israel during the Tribulation. The Lord will heal Israel and bring then back to himself. Jeremiah describes these latter days (Which are yet future) when God will pour out his wrath upon the nations.

AM Nov 2nd Heb 6

November 2^nd    Hebrews 6

1: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2: Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3: And this will we do, if God permit. 4: For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5: And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6: If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7: For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9: But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10: For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11: And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God cannot lie

13: For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14: Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15: And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16: For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17: Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The writer to these Hebrew speaking Jews, encourages them to go on from the basis principles of acknowledging Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, not laying the foundation again of a turning back to their covenant God, of ceremonial cleansing, of the laying on of hands, the message of the resurrection from the dead and of eternal judgment. It is possible to turn from the light of the Gospel of the Kingdom back to the darkness of rejection of their Messiah. It is possible to rejoice in the light of Christ, to have a taste of the heavenly gift, to partake of the ministry of the Holy Spirit (in a superficial way). To taste the good message of the coming Kingdom and to have a taste to authority of the world to come. (Which the apostles exhibited with great power) However after being enlightened with ‘the glad tidings of the coming king’ to turn from it and to fall away. If they do fall away, they are unable to turn again unto repentance. Why is that? Because having heard and rejoiced in their Messiah they now reject him. God refusing to allow them another opportunity to think again. This is not salvation. This is referring to the repentance of Israel at the preaching of the kingdom. The Children of Israel rejoiced at the preaching of John and Christ and the Apostles, yet later they turned from it and rejected the message of the coming kingdom - finally. A good example of this was the crowds who welcomed Christ on the Palm Sunday but cried out for his crucifixion on the Friday. By turning from Christ they made a final choice. God would hold them to their rejection. The writer says, l have high hopes for you that you will not reject the Message of the Kingdom which was preached to you. He says, God is not unrighteous to forget your works and labour of love under the law. You have shown kindness to the saints, God will remember that. We long that you all will show the same conscientiousness in doing good to the full assurance of hope in the kingdom right on to the end. (Entrance into the kingdom is based on doing good works under law for Israel) Don’t give up or fall asleep, but be followers of those who through faith and longsuffering will inherit the promises made to the fathers and to Abraham in particular. When God spoke to Abraham he said swore by himself that he would fulfil his promise, that he would bless Abraham and multiply him. And so after a long time, Abraham obtained the promise. When men swear, they swear by a greater than themselves and an oath is a confirmation of the certainly of the statement and an end to all strife. And so it is with God, when he wanted to show to the heirs, the certainty of the promise and the unchangeable nature of the promise he confirmed it with an oath. By two things which are unable to be changed. First God cannot lie and second he cannot change his promises. Therefore we have a very strong assurance that those of us that have fled to Christ for a refuge, (believing Jews) so that we might lay hold on the hope that is set before us. (The hope set before the Hebrew is the hope of eternal life and resurrection into the blessings of the kingdom, which will be the fulfilment of the promises to Abraham.) This assurance is an anchor to the soul in the storms of life which we Jews face daily. The hope is sure and steadfast it is anchored into the holy place. Our forerunner has gone on ahead – Jesus who has been made a priest after the order of Melchisedec.

PM Nov 1st Jer 26

November 1^st     Jeremiah 26      Jeremiah on trial

1: In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, 2: Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: 3: If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. 4: And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, 5: To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; 6: Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. 7: So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. 8: Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. 9: Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. 10: When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house. 11: Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. 12: Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. 13: Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. 14: As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. 15: But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. 16: Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God. 17: Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18: Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountains of the house as the high places of a forest. 19: Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. 20: And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: 21: And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt; 22: And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt. 23: And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. 24: Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

Jeremiah 27      The Ox speaks

1: In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2: Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck, 3: And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah; 4: And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters; 5: I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. 6: And now have I given all these lands unto the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. 7: And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. 8: And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. 9: Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: 10: For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish. 11: But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein. 12: I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. 13: Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14: Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. 15: For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. 16: Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD's house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. 17: Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste? 18: But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon. 19: For thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city, 20: Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem; 21: Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem; 22: They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.

Jeremiah 28      Hananiah’s false prophecy

1: And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2: Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3: Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: 4: And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. 5: Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD, 6: Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD's house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. 7: Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; 8: The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. 9: The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. 10: Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it. 11: And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. 12: Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13: Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. 14: For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also. 15: Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. 16: Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. 17: So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

The next message from the Lord came at the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah who was king of Judah. The message was to be delivered in the temple court to all the people who came to worship there. If the people would listen to Jeremiah then the Lord would turn away from destroying the city. When Jeremiah had finished they threatened him with murder. The whole city rulers and people said he has condemned himself. Jeremiah was not afraid he said d with me whatever you will but remember that if you kill me then the Lord will require my blood from you. The princes and the people accepted Jeremiahs word but the prophets refused him. Then the elders reminded the people of the ministry of Micah who prophesied against the city and the people repented and God spared them. And they reminded them of the prophet Urijah who prophesied against the city and when they threatened him he fled to Egypt but they sent men to bring him back and killed him with a sword in front of the King. God was with Jeremiah and protected him. Another message from the Lord came at the same time to Jeremiah. The Lord said make for me sets of ropes and yokes and put it on your neck and then send them to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyrus, Zidon, and Zedekiah king of Judah. And the messengers are to bring these yokes to these kings to explain to them what l the Lord is going to do. I am going to raise up Neduchadnezzar King of Babylon to rule over the whole earth and l am going to give him the land of Israel. And the nation that will not serve Neduchadnezzar putting themselves under his yoke l will punish with sword, famine and pestilence. Those who surrender to Babylon will be allowed to remain in their lands. Then a false prophet called Hananiah stood up to say that the Lord had said that Babylon was going to be a broken kingdom in two years. Then he took the yoke off Jeremiah and broke it in two pieces. Then the Lord sent Jeremiah to Hananiah to tell him that God will make yokes of iron and that his prophecy was a lie. And the Lord said to Hananiah you will die this year and he died that year.