THE WORD FROM THE LORD
Jeremiah 32:1 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.
This was a timely word! Notice the words, “For then” in verse two. If the armies of a foreign power were surrounding Washington, D. C., wouldn’t you want a word from the Lord? And it was “then” that the Chaldeans were besieging Jerusalem, when this word came from the Lord!
When Jeremiah was called into the ministry of the Prophet of God, from the home of a priest, the Lord showed him two visions in order to make him understand the urgency of this situation. Both of these instructing visions were preceded by the words, “What seest thou?”
The first item that Jeremiah saw was a rod, or branch, of an almond tree. Knowing that this was an early sign of Spring, Jeremiah knew that a new season was soon to be settling on the peoples of Israel! And the brief instruction from the Lord that followed confirmed this. For we read, Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. (Jer. 1:12).
The second vision shown to him was “a seething pot” facing “toward the north.” And just like a pot that is at the boiling over point, ready to spill out over all that is below it, the Chaldeans were about to break loose in fury upon Israel!
Jeremiah 1:3 plainly instructs us that he prophesied “unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah!” And our passage in chapter 32, listed above, records that this word from the Lord takes place in the “tenth year of Zedekiah!” So Jeremiah’s ministry was almost at an end!
America’s Dilemma
Isaiah 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
O America! Be sure your sins shall find you out! As you celebrate 233 years of God’s mercies and long sufferings, be sure to include some humility, with a generous helping of repentance with your hot dogs! Be sure a wave of gratefulness to God, for his toleration in our ignoring him, is lifted up with your banners of patriotism!
Let us bow our heads and hearts and confess that our love of money has let in a flood of evil upon us! Let us realize that these warm, fuzzy feelings in our cannot possibly be the Spirit of God, as we harbor greed and selfishness in those same hearts!
Jeremiah’s was a word of fast approaching judgment. Prov. 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. America has had some of the most faithful men of God, labor long, and in difficult conditions in order to provide her with the truth of the word of God. But there is little national evidence that she has heeded their instruction!
We shall fulfill the attitude of those of Noah’s day on this national holiday! Listen at what they were doing: Matt. 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
They were only concerned with the satisfaction of the natural tastes! Almost none had a consciousness of God! And our Lord said that this would be the conditions of his coming! Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Who Is In Charge?
Rev. 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Be sure you know that the Lord Jesus Christ obtained the right of Sovereign Ruler at the cross! He didn’t just shed his blood to purchase the elect from every nation. But he also purchased for himself the crown rights over all creation! Rev. 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
And be sure you know that the Lord Jesus Christ didn’t come to take sides! He came to take over! He “commands” all men everywhere to repent! (Acts 17:30).
Pastor Gene Breed
