Jeremiah 24:1

 Jeremiah 24:1 says, The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.  This occurred after  the people of Judah and Jerusalem were carried away in captivity to Babylon.  Matthew Henry says that those who went away into captivity did so for their good, and that those who remained behind were still hardened in their heart against God and would eventually go away in captivity to their harm.  It was not the captivity but the attitude of the heart that was going to matter.  God showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs, again an everyday item.  Verse two adds, One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.  One of the baskets contained good figs and the other bad figs that could not be eaten.  Verse three declares, Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.  God asked Jeremiah what he saw, and he said a basket of good figs and a basket of bad.  If we are just looking at things physically, we may miss God's message because we have not looked at them through faith.  We should not be waiting for God to speak to us with trumpets and horns, but we should be attuned to the Holy Spirit so that we can hear God speak to us through the ordinary things of life.  Verse four states, Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  Then verse five adds, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.  Here God told Jeremiah that those who were sent away into captivity were like the good figs, and that He did it for their own good.  Verse six continues, For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.  God told Jeremiah that He was still with those who had been carried away into captivity and who still had faith in Him, and that He would bring them into the land again and build them up once more.  We cannot judge God's blessings by our physical situation.  Even if we are taken away captive or even if we die for our faith, we are still secure in God's hand if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seven concludes, And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.  God said that the hearts of these people would be devoted to Him.  We should never attempt to judge the faithfulness of an individual by their physical or material situation.  Verse eight proclaims, And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:  God said that the bad figs represented Zedekiah and the rest of the rulers of Judah who had yet to go into captivity but who soon would.  They may have felt that they were in a better position than those who had been taken away, but God said this was not so.  Verse nine adds, And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.  God said that the king and the rulers would serve as a reminder of what happens when those who claim to be His people are His in name only.  They had failed to live in the covenant relationship to God and had even claimed that God was behind all that they did.  We must be very careful to never attribute God's will to things that we simply want to happen for our own earthly good.  Verse ten concludes, And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.  God said that these people were going to be destroyed off the land that He gave to their fathers.  Ultimately, every person will be judged by their relationship with God through accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Material status will never be a factor.

Jeremiah 23:26

 Jeremiah 23:26 says, How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;  God asked how long the hearts of the prophets would be ruled by lies.  They were prophesying what they wanted to be true and not the truth of God.  We must never proclaim what we want to be true as God's word if we are Christians.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.  God said that even as the prophets spoke in His name that they were causing the people to forget about Who He really is and causing the people to worship Baal instead.  Verse twenty eight states, The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD:  God called on the prophet to share the word of God faithfully, and so must we today.  Verse twenty-nine asks, Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?  God asked if His word was not like fire that purified everything or like a hammer that broke lies into pieces.  Verse thirty declares, Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.  Verse thirty-one adds, Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.  Verse thirty-two concludes, Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.  God made it very clear that He was against the false prophets who were leading the people of Judah away from Him.  These false prophets were claiming that what they were saying was the word of God.  We better be very careful that we do not claim to be speaking in God's name if we are only sharing what we believe and not what God's word teaches us.  Verse thirty-three says,  And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.  The false priests and prophets would make light of the word of God if it caused a burden to the people.  They were proclaiming prosperity, but God was warning of the coming doom through Jeremiah.  Verse thirty-four adds, And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.  God said that those who made light of His word as being a burden would soon find out how wrong they were.  Many people today who speak in God's name may one day find out that what they professed was really not God's word.  Verse thirty-five states, Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?  People would be questioning what God had spoken.  Verse thirty-six adds, And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.  God said that the people would be judged by their own words since they did not follow God's law, but saw it only as a burden.  Verse thirty-seven declares, Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?  God told Jeremiah to ask the prophets what God had said to them.  If we are speaking in God's name, we better make sure that what we are saying is God's word.  Verse thirty-eight adds, But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;  God told Jeremiah to tell the prophets and priest to no longer claim to speak for Him, since they were not relying on Him to give them the words to speak.  Verse thirty-nine proclaims, Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:  Verse forty adds, And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.  God  said that He was going to hold them accountable for what they said, and He still will today.

Jeremiah 23:9

 Jeremiah 23:9 says, Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.  Jeremiah spoke of his great sorrow and confusion at the persecution he received from the false prophets.  Verse ten adds, For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.  Jeremiah said that because of the wickedness of those who were supposed to be God's people, especially the priests and religious leaders, that the land itself was no longer being blessed by God.  We today should not expect to be able to turn away from God and have Him still bless our land.  Verse eleven declares, For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.  God said that both the prophet and the priest were profane and that He had found their wickedness in His house, the temple.  They not only profaned God in their everyday life but even when they were in the temple to represent Him.  Verse twelve adds, Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.  God said that their evil was going to lead them to fall since their way would be like a slippery way in the darkness.  When we do not follow God's guidance, we are on a slippery slope to destruction.  Verse thirteen continues,  And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.  God said the prophets of Judah and Jerusalem had become like the prophets of Samaria, who had been destroyed for proclaiming Baal instead of God.  These prophets were attributing to God the same things that were said of Baal by the prophets of Samaria.  We cannot allow anything other than God's word to be proclaimed as followers of Christ if we are going to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse fourteen proclaims, I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.  God said that these priests were no better than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.  We cannot just attach God's name to something that we believe and expect Him to bless it if it is not in accordance with His will.  Verse fifteen adds, Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.  God said that the prophets of Jerusalem were going to be punished, because not only had they turned away from God, but they were leading the people of Israel to do so as well.  Verse sixteen declares, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.  God told the people of Judah to not follow the teachings of the prophets, because they led people away from God.  We must be careful today that we do not follow false teachers, and even more importantly that we do not proclaim false teachings in the name of God.  Verse seventeen adds, They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.  God said that these priests were proclaiming false promises of peace an d prosperity and that no evil would come to the people.  Verse eighteen asks, For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?  God basically asked which of these prophets and priests had actually sought His counsel in what they were saying.  If we are going to proclaim God's word, we must first know what His word really says and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand it.  Verse nineteen adds, Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.  God said that His judgment was going to be like a whirlwind.  These false prophets were proclaiming peace was going to continue, but God said that His judgment was going to like a destructive whirlwind.  Verse twenty declares, The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.  God's judgment was certain, just as it is today on those who will not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-one adds, I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.  God said these false prophets were not sent by Him nor did they represent Him.   Verse twenty-two continues, But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.  God said that had the prophets and priests been following His word that they would have turned from their evil ways.  So must we today.  Verse twenty-three asks, Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?  God asked if they thought that He was a God afar off, not involved in the everyday aspects of their lives.  God is always at work in His world today.  Verse twenty-four adds, Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.  God asked if the people thought that there was a place where they could hide from God.  We may fool the world about what we believe, but we will never fool God.  Verse twenty-five declares, I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.  God then said that He had heard the prophets prophesy in His name claiming t have a vision from God.   We need to be wary of anyone who claims to have had a vision from God that is contrary to God's word.

Jeremiah 23:1

 Jeremiah 23:1 says, Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.  There was a special warning to the pastors, those who were supposed to be teaching the people to obey God but who were instead leading them away from Him.  Verse two declares, Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.  God specified how the pastors had failed.  They had scattered  His flock and driven the people away from Him.  God said that they would be punished for their actions.  Pastors then and pastors now have a responsibility to lead people to God and take care of their needs, especially the spiritual ones.  Matthew Henry says that these pastors had no concern about the welfare of God's sheep, or people, at all.  Verse three states, And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.  God said that He would one day gather the remnant of His flock together, and one day He is going to gather all of His people to Him forever.  These would be those who had remained faithful to God, no matter what.  Verse four adds, And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.  God said that He would place faithful shepherds over them and they would no longer have to live in fear.  God places true shepherds over His people today and when we listen to His word spoken through them and obey His word, we do not have to live in fear.  Verse five proclaims, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.  This is a prophesy about the coming of the Messiah, Who would reign in power and judgment.  Verse six adds, In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  God said that the people of Judah and Israel would dwell in safety.  These were the people of Judah and Israel who put their faith in the God and the coming Messiah, and fortunately for us would include the Gentiles, or everyone else, as well.  Verse seven continues, Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;  God said the day was coming when He would not be known just as the God Who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.  Verse eight concludes, But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.  God said that one day He would be known as the God who brought His people back out of the north country.  God established a covenant with His people when He brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they failed to live up to their part of the covenant and were once again defeated and scattered.  God was going to establish a new covenant with His people through the Messiah, and it would be an everlasting spiritual covenant.

Jeremiah 22:20

Jeremiah 22:20 says, Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.  God said the people of Judah would call out to Him when all their idols had failed them, not because they were really putting their faith in Him, but out of the expectation that He would be obligated to save them.  We cannot just call out to God when all else fails and expect that He will have to save us.  We must go to God in real faith.  Verse twenty-one adds, I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.  God said that He had spoken to the people in their prosperity and thy would not listen to Him.  Too often, even as followers of Christ, we ignore Him in times of prosperity and only call out to Him in times of trouble.  Verse twenty-two continues, The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.  God said that after the people went away into captivity that then they would be ashamed of their wickedness.  Some people will never accept God's word until it is too late and then when they are forever separated from God they will cry out in despair.  Verse twenty-three states, O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!  God said that when the destruction came, then the people would cry out to Him, but it would be too late.  Verse twenty-four declares, As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;  The real statement was that Coniah had not been as a signet on God's right hand as he should have been I believe.  Verse twenty-five adds, And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.  God said that He was giving the king up to his enemies.  If we refuse to accept God when He offers us salvation then one day we will be given up to face the penalties of our sins alone.  Verse twenty-six continues, And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.  God said that those who were supposed to be his people would be cast out of the land that he gave them.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.  God said that even though the people of Judah who had put their faith in false gods would desire to return to their land that they never would.  If we reject Jesus Christ in this life, then we may desire to go into heaven when judgment comes, but we will never be able to do so.  Verse twenty-eight asks, Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?  Though Coniah had been adored by the people, after his fall they would ask if he was really the person that they had looked up to.  Verse twenty-nine proclaims, O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.  God calls on all the earth to hear His word and not just the people of Judah.  God's plan has always been to save all who will hear and heed His call to salvation, and not just certain people.  Verse thirty concludes, Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.  The word that God had at that point was that Coniah nor his descendants would ever rule in Judah again.  

Jeremiah 22:10

Jeremiah 22:10 says, Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.  God said to not weep for the dead, but for those who would be taken away captive.  God said that they would never return to their native land.  Matthew Henry says this was in reference to the king who had recently died and mourning for him, and his son who now reined who would be taken captive and never return.  Verse eleven adds, For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:  This was the two kings referred to in the statement about mourning.  Vere twelve continues, But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.  Though the people may have believed that the king would eventually return, God said otherwise.  The people still were not accepting the prophesies of Jeremiah, but they came true nonetheless.  People may not want to accept God's word today, but it is always the truth.  Verse thirteen declares, Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;  God began to warn the people against some of the sins that they were committing, these first to do with mistreating their neighbor.  The people of Judah were already condemned for their idolatry, but their disobedience to God also affected their relationship with their neighbors.  Verse fourteen adds, That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.  God also warned the people against building large houses while they had no concern for those less fortunate.  When we read of multimillion dollar houses being built today while some people are homeless, I do not believe that God is pleased by this, especially if it is done by someone who professes to be a follower of Christ..  Verse fifteen states, Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?  These were questions for the king, and so was the specific warning in the last verse according to Matthew Henry, but I believe that it is a warning to all those who treat others as though they aren't worthy of basic needs being met while someone else lives in luxury.  Verse sixteen declares, He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.  God said that the last king, Josiah, had acted with concern for the less fortunate and that God knew this.  God knows our actions, even if we don't want Him to.  Verse seventeen adds, But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.  God said that the present king, Jehoiakim, was not like his father.  He was only concerned with making himself richer, even using violence and oppression to do so.  Verse eighteen continues, Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!  God said that the people were not to lament for Jehoiakim.  Verse nineteen concludes, He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.  God said that Jehoiakim would be buried as an animal would be buried, with no mourning or the usual things that are done at a funeral.  Of course, even if we have the most expansive burial possible, if we do not know Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we will still die outside of the kingdom of God and will remain there forever.

Jeremiah 22:1

 Jeremiah 22:1 says, Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,  God sent Jeremiah to the king of Judah's house.  Jeremiah was to speak to the earthly king of the people of Judah on behalf of the heavenly King, Who was the only one Who mattered.  We must not fear to speak out against the rulers of this land if God tells us to.  Verse two declares, And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:  God gave Jeremiah the message to share with the king.  He was to remind him of who he was, and that was the king of God's people.  He sat on the throne of David, a man after God's own heart.  The king was called on to hear God's word.  We as followers of Christ can never afford to forget who we are and Who we represent in the world today.  Verse three adds, Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.  Jeremiah was to tell the king that it was time to following God's law, which the king should have already known and have been doing.  Verse four concludes, For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.  Jeremiah was to tell the king that if he and the people of Israel continued to follow God that God would continue to bless and protect them.  If we are being obedient to God's word, He will always bless us spiritually, no matter what happens in this life.  Verse five then proclaims, But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.  Jeremiah was to then tell the king what would happen if he did not listen to and follow God's word.  The word but serves as a warning to the king based on His choice.  The same is true today.  If we obey God's law He will bless us, but if we don't, then we will suffer the consequences of our disobedience.  Verse six adds, For thus saith the LORD unto the king’s house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.  Jeremiah was to tell the king that as long as he was obedient to God that he was like Gilead to God, or that God was with him.  Verse seven continues, And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.  The God said that if they king continued in disobedience that he would no longer have the protection of God and that he would find his defenses worthless.  If we attempt to stand under our own power without God's protection, none of our defenses will be worth anything.  Verse eight says, And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?  God said that other nations would ask why God had done this to the people of Judah.  Other people may not have given God credit for the success of Judah, but they would question why He had caused their destruction.  Verse nine concludes, Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.  God had an answer for those who questioned what had happened to Judah.  It was because they had forsaken their God and had worshipped and served other gods.  No one can serve God effectively if there is any other god in their life.