King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Chapters: Jeremiah Chapters 41-44
Message: Requests Made Known To God
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today it had me thinking about everything that has been going on in my life in one year. What am I trusting in to get me through life’s challenges? God? The world? My own strengths? While I know in my heart that I am trusting God with everything, but am I? Am I even doing everything within my power to show those who look to me for guidance that I am trusting in Him? As saved, born again Christians we need to be careful not to diminish the power of God who lives inside us, and while we may think that we can handle some things on our own, the truth is that we need to hand everything over to God, even the little things, [Philippians 4:5-7 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.]
Do you see the three key words that we need to get through life’s challenges? Prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. Prayer, is more than asking God to grant our requests, it also includes giving praise and honor due to Him for even in our darkest hour we can find something to praise Him for. And we cannot forget that prayer also includes sincere and humble confession of our sins and repentance, [Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.]
God, truly is the God of peace, even during our challenges, that is as long as we take every burden and hand it over to Him. As we return to the reading of Jeremiah, this was the state of Israel, God, judgment has come to Judah after warning them for decades that He was going to send judgment if they refused to stop the abominable sins they had been committing. It has been three years since Nebuchadnezzar carried and most of Judah had been taken to Babylon, including the king. There was only a small group left of them, but as long as they remained there they would be under God’s protection and could start rebuilding the nation under the direction of the man appointed as their governor, Gedaliah. However, a group of rebels led by one of King Zedekiah’s nephews decided that they were going to escape and killed Gedaliah.
[Jeremiah 41:1-3 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah. 2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. 3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.]
[Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him,] Believing himself to be next in line to the throne since his uncle and cousins were either dead or carried off, this fool killed everyone who got in his way, including a group of innocent men passing through who may have seen what happened.
[Jeremiah 41:4-5,7-8 And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it, 5 That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD. 7 And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him. 8 But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.]
[having their beards shaven…and having cut themselves,] Although cutting themselves was not biblical, these men mourned the destruction of the temple and captivity of the people. Their road naturally led past the city of Mizpah, and they traveled along without the slightest apprehension of the danger ahead. Since death and hell often meets those ignorant to the dangers ahead, it is important that true worshipers of God not only know the truth about Christ, but receive Him before they take their last breath on earth, [John 4:22-24 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.]
[So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.] As for those who are saved, they should continually make sure that they are in the right state and frame of mind, as they would wish to be found when Jesus calls for them, [1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.]
These are actually prophecies that Jeremiah made to the people after Nebuchadnezzar had carried away king Zedekiah as a captive to Babylon and left the poor of the people in the land. At this point, things were getting out of control and Ishmael know it too, he proceeded to capture the remnant that remained in Judah, including Jeremiah, and headed toward the Ammonites, in an attempt to sell them as slaves, but his plan backfired on him when a man named Johanan fought back.
[Jeremiah 41:10-13,15 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites. 11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12 Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. 13 Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad. 15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.]
[when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan…then they were glad.] Looking upon Johanan as their savior, they were glad to follow him in hopes that they would escape from becoming slaves to the king of Ammon. However, that hope would soon come to an end when he was leading them toward Egypt, the very place that God told them not to go. At this point they do not know what to do so they find Jeremiah and asked him to pray for them.
[Jeremiah 42:1-4 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.]
[pray for us unto the LORD thy God,] Notice that they ask him to pray to his God, but Jeremiah was quick to remind them that He was still their God as well. The first test of any person who says they want to hear what God has to say is if they are going to obey what He says. I can give countless examples of people who have come to me and asked me to pray for them that have no relationship with God whatsoever, or rather on their own terms and expect the response that they are looking for. And God, did give them a response, ten days later.
[Jeremiah 42:7-8,10-12 And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. 8 Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. 11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.]
[If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you…I repent me of the evil that I have done] The evil being the famine and disease that had plagued the land while God sent judgment. Even though God does have His faithful in the midst of the world’s judgments that does not mean that He will not protect them. The reason why so many Christians live defeated lives is because they are trusting in their own abilities to get them though their challenges, even when praying to God, [James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.]
These people were afraid of the Chaldean’s, the lack of food, and the disease that was taking out people by the multitude, but they did not have to if they would only listen to God. Jeremiah, goes on to reiterate that.
[Jeremiah 42:16-17,20-21 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die. 17 So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them. 20 For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. 21 And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.]
[For ye dissembled in your hearts,] God, calls them out, He flat out tells them that they have brought all this on themselves for not only their attitude toward Him, but blatantly ignoring everything He said. He already knew that those people were not sincere in wanting to know His will and follow it, these proud and arrogant men accused Jeremiah of lying and took them all to Egypt.
[Jeremiah 43:2-4,7 Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah. 7 So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.]
[Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee] If we are going to call of God for help, then we need to make sure that we are willing to accept the answer that He gives us. Okay, we may not always agree with His answer, but if we listen to Him and go where He tells us then we will come out of it safely, [1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.]
God’s commands truly are not grievous and for our own good I might add, but the truth is that many will not follow them because they enjoy their sin more than their safety. God, did not say anything different than He had already been saying them and they were not ignorant to that fact either. God, reiterates what will happen to them if they step foot onto Egypt after telling Jeremiah to gather and hide some stones.
[Jeremiah 43:9-11,13 Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; 10 And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. 13 He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.]
[he shall smite the land of Egypt…and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians] Did you ever think that the wars, famines, and diseases that are plaguing our cities and nations has to do with God’s people not obeying Him? Nevertheless, God, will use everything to His advantage. Their disobedience led to the destruction of their idols and houses of worship to their false gods. These fools thought that they were avoiding judgment by going Egypt, but all they did was make matters worse, they were now going to die there, and not peacefully either.
[Jeremiah 44:2-3,7-8 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein, 3 Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers. 7 Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain; 8 In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?]
[Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls,] Anyone who denies the truth of Christ commits a great evil against their own soul as they will end up in hell and those who follow them will go down there with them. It is not God who sends souls to hell, it is not even the devil, it is each and every person who denies the truth, [2 Timothy 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.]
Well, as you can imagine, that news did not go so well, in fact, the people rebelled even more and actually had the nerve to say that they were perfectly fine worshiping their false gods until they stopped and started praying to God.
[Jeremiah 44:15-17 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, 16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. 17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.]
[for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well,] Now, that is the devil in all his glory, he loves to make one think that by their accepting Christ they will suffer more. Well, the truth is, if they keep living in sin without repentance they will suffer more. We all backslide to some extent, from time to time, even if it is just for a little bit, but He will never let us go, simply due to our faith alone in Him. That does not mean that He will chasten us, but it does mean that our salvation is eternal and nothing can change that, [Hebrews 12:11-13 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.]
The more you read the Bible the more you begin to understand how God works and that much of the evil we face today is a result of judgments God has placed on nations, whether they be His own or played a part of His own. Sometimes, His faithful even fall short as they become overwhelmed by all the affliction they seem to never get enough of. God, knows all this and right now what He is actually doing is as they say, separating the men from the boys or women from the girls. While the majority of those who were taken into Egypt would die there, God assures them that His faithful will survive.
[Jeremiah 44:26-28 Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth. 27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. 28 Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.]
[Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return] God’s faithful are small in number, but in the end they are the ones who will be exalted, even in lapses of judgment. God has mercy, grace, and patience on all who seek Him, but He knows if we are sincere in what we are asking of Him. Imagine the power that Jesus has to help us walk on water, but we stop Him out of pride and therefore sink. Imagine the miracles He has yet to show us, but limit Him because we choose what want we obey from His Word. We cannot expect to see God do the impossible if we are not willing to do the possible, [2 Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Jeremiah 42:18 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.]
Today’s Prayer: God, The world is getting more evil by the day, we are fighting over things that have no merit, and innocent people are getting caught up in it all. Lord, soften some hearts, help them to let go of their pride, sin, and or fear, and turn to You. Be with those who are caught up in the middle of Your judgments, bring them to safety, and let them know You are near and will take care of them. Give us Your power, wisdom, and guidance to go where You tell us to go, help us reach those who are in the midst of the judgments, and give us Your strength to endure the suffering we face for our faith. I pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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