Jeremiah. Lots in this book that weighs heavy on our hearts. His name as “the weeping prophet” sets the tone for the book. Is there anything in here for us to smile about, to draw encouragement from?
Indeed there is!
This week’s reading contains some verses that are likely familiar to you. I exhort you not to skip over them but rather to ask God to give you fresh perspective, renewed application. Let me share just a bit from chapters 15 and 17 -
Jeremiah 15:16 - “Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”
What glorious counsel! To “eat” the Word of the Lord! That remind me of Psalm 34:8 - “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” If you are reading these weekly posts, and doing even parts of the reading challenge, then I expect you can proclaim with Jeremiah that God’s Word is a joy and the delight of your heart. I pray that will continue to be true.
If your heart does not proclaim that, then here is your challenge for the week : Ask God to make it true in your life. Last month, I received a card that I treasure. A woman expressed to me how she had asked God to cause her to love and desire His Word. His affirmative answer has unfolded before my eyes! I have watched her grow in understanding of, joy in, and desire for His Word. That has been a delight for me as well as her! Sisters, this should be true for all of us who have been called by His name. Ask Him for this treasure!
The other passage I was struck by this week is related to the joy of His Word and is found in chapter 17 - verses 7,8 - “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust IS the Lord, for he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” What a promise! Trusting in the Lord brings blessing - confidence (instead of anxiety) and purpose (instead of uselessness). Wow.
How does that relate to the verse in chapter 15? Well, a couple of things come to mind - how do we trust in the Lord? By knowing Who He is and what He says - through His Word! And if what Jeremiah is saying sounds familiar, it’s because this passage is almost exactly like Psalm 1:2,3 - “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in is season and its leaf does not wither and in whatever he does he prospers”
That is a promise you can take to the bank! Delighting in His law (loving it, concentrating on it, obeying it) brings confidence and fruitfulness - glory Hallelujah!
Sisters, I don’t know what your focus is for this year. Perhaps you don’t even have one but are just gong about your daily tasks. Consider asking our Father to give you the blessing of delighting in His Word, of tasting His goodness through His Word for 2022.
Just a word to sober our hearts - read verses 10-12 in chapter 14, especially verse 11. That is a punch in the gut. Wow. Just wow. How I pray that we would not place ourselves EVER in that position!
And, come December, I hope I get some more notes like I got last month. Notes that testify of God’s power to answer that prayer! Happy New Year, friends!