Jeremiah 13:12

Jeremiah 13:12 says, Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?  Jeremiah told the people that their bottles would be full of wine, and the people answered that they knew that, but basically said so what.  Matthew Henry said that they were sure that Jeremiah meant something more than just the physical act their having bottles full of wine.  When God speaks to us, we must look beyond just the words and see the message that He has for us.  Verse thirteen declares, Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.  God told Jeremiah that he was to fill all the inhabitants of the land with drunkenness,  I don't believe that this means that God was going to cause them to be drunk, but that it means He was going to allow them to go on in their drunkenness.  Verse fourteen adds, And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.  God said He was no longer going to pity or have mercy on the people of Judah but was going to destroy them.  Without God's protection and mercy, we can only be destroyed spiritually, even if we are prospering materially.  Verse fifteen proclaims, Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.  God told Jeremiah to hear what He had to say and to not let self pride get in the way.  Some people are so full of self pride that they never allow themselves to believe in the word of God.  Verse sixteen adds, Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.  God told the people to look to the light of God before He allowed the world to turn into total darkness.  If we do not listen to the word of God, we will always stagger around in the darkness of sin.  Verse seventeen continues, But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.  God said that if the people of Judah would not listen to His word that He would be heartbroken, because they would be carried away captive.  God does not want anyone to be lost from His flock, but even if He is heartbroken when they are, He still allows people to refuse to follow Him if they choose to do so.  Verse eighteen states, Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.  God called on the leaders of the nation to humble themselves, and we need that same humility before God in our leaders today, and not just lip service to the word of God.  Of course, this applies not just to the leaders but to all who are called by God's name.  Verse nineteen declares, The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.  God said that all of Judah was to be carried away captive, and anyone who does not put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord today will be carried away in the captivity of sin.  Verse twenty declares, Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?  The people of Judah were warned to look to the coming destruction and then to realize that when it came that they would have lost everything.  Verse twenty-one adds, What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?  God asked what could the people say since they had brought His judgment on themselves.  We will be without excuse if we face God in the judgment without Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty=two continues, And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.  God said that the people of Judah would ask why this judgment had come on them, because they were blind to their own sins.  Verse twenty-three states, Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.  God said that just as people and animals were unable to change their appearance, so were the people of Judah unable to change their sinful nature because they refused to listen to and obey God's word.  We likewise cannot change our sinful nature by our own ability, but can only do so by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-four declares, Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.  God said that He was going to scatter the people of Judah like stubble before the wind.  Verse twenty-five adds, This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.  God said this was what the people of Judah had earned because they had turned away from Him and trusted in falsehoods.  We either believe in the truth of God and accept His salvation or we too will be sent away from Him into everlasting punishment.  Verse twenty-six continues, Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?  God said that the sins of Judah were not hidden to Him, and asked why thy would not be made clean.  God today knows the sins of each individual, and He asks why each one would not be made clean.  God has given the great gift of salvation to everyone who will accept it, so the question is why will we not be made clean by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 15:1

 Jeremiah 15:1 says, Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.  God said that the people of Judah had reached the point that no one had the power to convince Him to spare them.  He did not say that had the people honestly repented that He would not forgive them, but that someone else, even someone like Moses or Samuel, could not change His mind by pleading for them.  We cannot be saved simply by others pleading for us, but must confess our sins and accept forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse two adds,  And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.  God told Jeremiah that if the people asked him where they were to go that he was to tell them that some would simply die, some would be killed by the sword, some would starve, and some would be taken captive.  Verse three continues, And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.  Even in death, things were not going to be good for the people of Judah.  Verse four states, And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.  God said because of the sins of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, that the people of Judah were to be scattered into all the earth.  Of course, they were not all being punished for the sins of one man I believe, but his actions were indictive of the sinful nature of all the people.  Verse five asks, For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?  None of the other nations were going to have pity on the people of Judah or Jerusalem, and since God no longer had pity on them, then who would.  If we are not following God then there is no one who will really care for us in a way that will make a difference in our spiritual destination.  If God condemns us, then no one else can save us.  Verse six declares, Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.  God said what was about to happen to the people of Judah was because of the fact that they had forsaken Him and gone backward spiritually.  The fault was with the people and not with God.  We can never blame God if we find ourselves in a bad situation spiritually.  Verse seven adds, And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways. Verse eight states, Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.  Judgment was coming quickly and certainly.  Even the children, the hope of the next generation, would be cut off.  Verse nine adds, She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.  Already made widows, the women would even be deprived of the protection of their sons.  When we turn our back on God and He sends His judgment, there is nowhere that we can find relief. 

Jeremiah 12:10

 Jeremiah 12:10 says, Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.  God said that pastors had destroyed His vineyard and had trodden His portion underfoot.  Those who should have been doing all they could to promote the kingdom of God, which He still valued greatly, were instead promoting idols.  God still values His creation today, and we as His people should be doing all that we can to protect it, and especially His word.  Verse eleven states, They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.  God told Jeremiah that the whole land was made desolate and that the people of Judah did not care.  When God created man, He placed him and his helpmate in charge of caring for the earth.  We have as our greatest responsibility the calling of people to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, but we are to do so because we are followers of Christ, and as such we have a responsibility to take care of God's creation as well. Verse twelve adds, The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.  God said because of the disobedience of God's people that the spoiler was come upon them.  We should not be surprised if God allows destruction to come on our land if we turn away from Him.  Verse thirteen says, They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.  God said that the people had gone through the effort of planting but they would not profit by it.  We may put a lot of effort into the things of this world, but if we are not living in accordance with the will of God, we will not profit from it in the way that it matters, which is in God's view, no matter how much we may gain in this world.  Some people spend every free moment working for the things of this world and never have time for God, but ultimately they will be left with nothing.  Verse fourteen says, Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.  God had a warning for those who would come against His people, even if He was not pleased with His people.  God will always be against those who are not for Him, especially those who would attempt to destroy His people.  Verse fifteen declares, And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.  God said that He would come again and pluck those that were truly His people out of captivity and return them to their heritage and their land.  As followers of Christ, God has plucked us out of the captivity of sin and brought us into our heritage, which is a right relationship with God and the coming time when we will be brought to our heavenly home.  Verse sixteen adds,  And it shall come to pass,  they will diligently learn the ways of  my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.  God said that if those who would destroy His people would learn to call on Him as they had taught His people to call on Baal that they would be built up in the midst of His people.  God never intended for the people of Israel to be the only people who would be a part of His kingdom, which is very good for us today who were not born into the Jewish people.  Verse seventeen warns, But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.  Those who would not put their faith in God would be utterly destroyed, and this is still true.

Jeremiah 12:1

 Jeremiah 12:1 says, Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?  Jeremiah begins by acknowledging the righteousness of God, and so should we when we speak to Him in prayer.  Whatever is happening in the world is not going to change the righteousness of God.  Jeremiah did not come to God making demands, but came pleading to Him.  He had valid questions about why it seemed that the wicked prospered, and we may ask the same question today, but we cannot do so while blaming God for treating us unfairly.  Verse two adds, Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.  Jeremiah said that God had planted the people of Judah, but that they had not taken root, or grown in the ways that they should as His people.  He said they only paid lip service to God.  Many people today profess to believe God, but their actions are not consistent with their words.  Verse three declares, But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.  Jeremiah said that God knew him and his heart.  God knows us better than we even know ourselves.  Jeremiah asked God to punish the wicked.  This is never our call to make, but we must simply put our faith in the fact that one day God will punish the wicked.  Verse four asks, How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.  Jeremiah asked God how long the land would suffer because of the sins of the people of Judah.  When those who profess to be God's people turn away from His will, then we should not be surprised if the whole land suffers.  Verse five declares, If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?  God gave Jeremiah his answer by asking if he couldn't even run with the footmen then how could he run with the horses.  In other words, if Jeremiah could not hold strong in the smaller problems, then how would he be strong when the bigger ones came.  Our faith in God should be strong enough to keep us true to God in the small problems, and if we question God then, how are we going to do when the really big problems come long.  Verse six adds, For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.  Jeremiah was warned to beware of those who professed to be his brothers but rally persecuted him for what he was saying.  Verse seven declares, I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.  God told Jeremiah that He had forsaken His people because they had forsaken Him and started worshipping other gods.  God will never just arbitrarily abandon us, but if we abandon Him we should not expect to still have His protective hand on us.  Verse eight adds, Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.  Those that were supposed to be the sheep of God's pasture had instead turned into ravenous lions, and God said He hated that.  Verse nine continues, Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.  God's chosen people had become a group who fought against each other and destroyed each other.  If we are truly one of God's people, we cannot be fighting against each other, and we certainly cannot be fighting against God's word and hope to be successful in our relationship to Him.

Jeremiah 11:11

 Jeremiah 11:11 says, Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.  God said that He would bring evil on the people of Judah.  Again, we can either view this as God actually bringing the evil or removing His protective hand and allowing it to happen.  Verse twelve adds, Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.  God told Jeremiah that the people would look to their false gods for help, but no help could come from them.  Whatever we are putting our faith in or worshipping today besides God will ultimately fail us.  Verse thirteen states, For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.  God said that the people of Israel were worshipping false gods in every city and on every street, especially the false god Baal.  This was not just an isolated case of idolatry.  Verse fourteen declares, Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.  Jeremiah was told to not even pray for the people of Judah.  They had refused to listen to God for too long, and now they were going to face His judgment.  If a person, or even a nation, refuses to listen to God for too long, there may come a day when they will no longer be able to find His forgiveness, but this will never happen without plenty of opportunities to repent.  Verse fifteen asks, What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest. God asked what evil had the people of Judah done in His house.  They had even allowed evil into God's house, and rejoiced in it.  When we do gather together today in God's house, the church building, we need to make sure that we do not allow evil practices or thoughts even to enter with us, and we certainly need to never rejoice if such things do occur.  Verse sixteen declares, The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.  God said that He had called the people of Judah to be fair and productive in bearing fruit for Him.  Verse seventeen adds, For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.  God reminded them that He was the One who had planted them, but that they had chosen to follow after Baal instead of remaining faithful to Him.  Verse eighteen states, And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.  Jeremiah then says that God gave him the knowledge and showed him their doings.  God will make His people aware of the evil that is going on in the world today if they are willing to listen.  Verse nineteen adds, But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.  Jeremiah said that the people of Judah desired to kill him and even remove the memory of him, and yet we read his writings all these centuries later.  Verse twenty declares, But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.  We can either view this as Jeremiah wanting to see God punish the people of Judah or as Jeremiah saying that he knew that God was going to punish them.  Matthew Henry points out that Christ taught us to pray for and forgive our enemies, so this should be the way that we live today.  Verse twenty-one states, Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:  Jeremiah said that the men of Anathoth warned him to not prophesy in the name of God and that they would not kill him.  What would we do in a situation like this?  Verse twenty two declares, Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:  Verse twenty-three adds, And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.  God told Jeremiah that it was the people of Anathoth who would be destroyed completely.  God will ultimately destroy all those who do not hear His call and who work to destroy His servants.

Luke 2;6

 Luke 2:6 says, And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  Verse seven states, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  Verse eight adds, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Verse nine declares, And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  Verse ten adds, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  Verse eleven continues, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Verse twelve states, And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  Verse thirteen adds, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Verse fourteen concludes, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. That is the real Christmas story, and we can either believe it or not.  If we do, and accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, then we should live at peace in the world and have good will toward our fellowman and most of all give glory to God in the highest.  Merry Christmas and may God bless everyone.

Luke 2:1

 Luke 2:1 says, And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  We are going to look briefly at what was going on just before that first Christmas day.  People were not shopping and celebrating, but were traveling to the place of their ancestors to be taxed.  Verse two adds, (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  This was by the decree of the ruler of Syria.  The people of Israel, God's chosen people were ruled over by a foreign government at that time.  We may think that we have things bad today, but they were much worse for the people of Israel at that time.  Verse three states, And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  There was no revolt against this tax, but the people traveled to the city of their ancestors to be taxed.  How much different that Christmas Eve was than the one we celebrate today.  Jesus, the reason for the season was yet to be born.  Certain promises had been made to Mary and Joseph by God, and had yet to be fulfilled.  As they were traveling, did they still wonder about these promises?  Too many people today still refuse to believe that Jesus came to fulfill the promise of God and become the Messiah, the Savior of all people who will put their faith in Him as their Savior and Lord.  Until someone does, it will always spiritually be the day before Christmas for them, not with the celebration and all, but with the harsh reality of life without any real hope.  Verse four says, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem, the city of David, because he was a descendant of David.  God fulfilled at least two prophesies because of the decree of the king of another nation, one that did not believe in God.  Jesus was a descendant of David who was born in Bethlehem.  Verse five concludes, To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  Mary, who was about to give birth, had to travel with Joseph.  Those decreeing that the people return to the home of their ancestors were not concerned with her condition, so she had no choice but to go.  Still, God was with her to protect her and bring her safely to Bethlehem.  God will always be with His people and protect them spiritually no matter what demands the world may make on them today.