THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may go to the archive below and find it.

Bruce McGee, Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik

HERE

Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.

Jeremiah

CHAPTER 6

1 O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

Jeremiah, having seen the destruction which will come to Jerusalem, gives warning to his own family. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.

There is a play on words here. The word "Teko'a" means "blow," and the word "Beth-haccerem" means "house of the vineyard." The people are being warned to flee from the city which will receive the "blow" from God and run to the city which is in the midst of God's protection.

2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. 3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place. 4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. 5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces. 6 For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

A "comely and delicate" woman is one raised without hardship -- raised with the best of comforts. God's comparison here is with great contrast. This woman shall be visited by those who have come with great hardship. They come to take away the best of comforts and to deal misery.

The "shepherds with their flocks" are the Babylonians. They will "pitch their tents" against Jerusalem with "flocks" of soldiers. Jerusalem will be surrounded, and the inhabitants will be forced to starve until the enemy finally comes in for the conquest.

7 As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds. 8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited. 9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

Like a spring that constantly gushes water, Jerusalem has become a "fountain" of "wickedness." And God is grieved because of her sinfulness.

Unless Jersusalem hears God's instructions and repents, He will cause the city to become "desolate" by destruction of the enemy (verse 8).

The Babylonians will "glean" the city like a grapegatherer picks a vine clean.

Today, my friends, our cities and even our nation spews out wickedness. Innocent babies are murdered under the corrupted law which says it is "choice." Gambling is promoted by our governments. Adultery and promiscuous sex is promoted by our televisions and movies. Homosexualism is even promoted by our governments.

Yet God is giving "instruction" to repent and turn again to Him.

10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. 11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days. 12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

But WHO is listening to God's instructions? As in the days of Jeremiah, it seems that the majority of ears are "uncircumcised," or not "tuned in" to God's voice.

Today, I fear that God is "weary with holding it in," and will soon "pour" out His fury upon our land. Never has a nation which turned its back on God been able to survive self-destruction from the sickness of sin.

13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Greed is one of the greatest destroyers of people. Today, I fear, that many of those claiming to speak for Christ, do so with compromise for money.

Many prophets and priests in Jeremiah's day were corrupted by the desire to maintain funding. They compromised on the true "word from God," in order to keep their standard of living.

Surely a loving God would not bring destruction upon His people! The prophets who desired to maintain their lifestyle said, "Peace! God will bring PEACE!"

My friends, God will only bring "peace" to those who follow Him in truth. For God is "angry with the wicked every day" (Psalm 7:11).

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. 16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Years ago, even in my lifetime, it was an horrendous embarrassment for someone to be called a homosexual, or for a young lady to become pregnant outside of marriage. The influence of Christ and the Bible was tremendous in our society. But today there seems to be no shame in either!

Where are the "old paths?" Why are we not influenced by our Lord and His Word? Only if we live in "the good way" can we find "rest" for our souls.

Why are people not paying attention to God's Word today? Because they have determined to NOT LISTEN (verse 16).

17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

God sent prophets ("watchmen") to Judah in Jeremiah's day, but people would not listen. God has sent His Word through His people today, but people have determined to NOT LISTEN.

The comfortableness of prosperity has hardened the ears of people in the pew and even some preachers. They do not want to confront societal immorality because they do not want to compromise their personal security. Therefore, they just don't LISTEN to God's truth!

18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. 20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. 21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish. 22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. 23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

God was about to send a message to the whole world. He was about to destroy the kingdom of Judah and bring Jerusalem, its capitol, to ruins.

God was even then orchestrating the events of history in order to "correct" His people and put them back on course. He was raising up a great nation of strong people who would come and deliver chastisement to those who would not listen to His warnings (verse 22).

Even though they came to the temple and got the priests to offer sweet incense to God, their hearts were still determined to live in compromise and not truth (verse 20).

God never runs out of mercy. But God will, in mercy, send correction to those who call themselves His own.

24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail. 25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

The people of Judah and Jerusalem heard about the Babylonians. They became fearful. But they didn't repent as God required (verse 26). Therefore, the "spoiler" would SUDDENLY come upon them.

27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way. 28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. 29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. 30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

Jeremiah is protrayed as an assayer who tests the true metal of the people. He preached the REAL Word of God, but the people refused to listen. They were fearful at the thought of destruction from the Babylonians, but they were not willing to turn from compromise to truth.

Therefore they would be like "reprobate silver," depraved, unapproved, worthless!

God had set the nation as a leader in righteousness and holiness. But they had become corrupt within. They compromised truth for monetary gain. And now, they were REJECTED by the Lord as leaders in the world!

See how closely this resembles the travel of America through her history of over 200 years!

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.