Day 216 of MY 4th Bible study Journey

Day 216, 3 August 20243 

1) Jeremiah 1, 2, 3

Jeremiah 1

The Commission of Jeremiah

1 (1Ch 6:60; 2Ch 36:21) The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah,
of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,
2 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah
the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3 (2Ki 23:34; 2Ch 36:5-8) It came also in the days of Jehoiakim
the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah
the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem
in the fifth month.
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 (Isa 49:1; Ps 71:5-6) "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
and before you were born I sanctified you,
and I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
6 (Ex 6:12) Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly, I cannot speak,
for I am a youth."
7 (Nu 22:20) But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth.'
For you shall go everywhere that I send you,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 (Ex 3:12; Jos 1:5) Do not be afraid of their faces.
For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord.
9 (Ex 4:11-12; 4:15-16) Then the Lord put forth His hand
and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
"Now, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 (Jer 31:28; 24:6) See, I have this day set you over the nations
and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down,
to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant."

[1] The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in
Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
[2] To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon
king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
[3] It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah,
unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of
Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
[4] Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[5] Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest
forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto
the nations.
[6] Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
[7] But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to
all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
[8] Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith
the LORD.
[9] Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD
said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
[10] See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms,
to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build,
and to plant.

The Almond Rod and Boiling Pot

11 (Am 7:8) Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
"Jeremiah, what do you see?"
And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree."
12 Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well. For I will hasten
My word to perform it."
13 (Eze 11:3; 11:7) The word of the Lord came to me the second time,
saying, "What do you see?"
And I said, "I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north."
14 (Isa 41:25; Jer 4:6) Then the Lord said to me: Out of the north calamity
will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.
15 (Jer 4:16; 9:11) For I will call all the families of the kingdoms
of the north, says the Lord.
And they will come and they will set each one his throne
at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
and against all the walls all around,
and against all the cities of Judah.
16 (Jer 7:9; 19:4) I will utter My judgments against them
concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me
and have burned incense to other gods,
and have worshipped the works of their own hands.
17 (1Ki 18:46; Job 38:3) You therefore gird up your loins
and arise, and speak to them all that I command you.
Do not be dismayed at their faces, lest I confound you before them.
18 (Isa 50:7; Jer 6:27) For indeed, I have made you this day a fortified city
and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land,
against the kings of Judah, against the officials, against the priests,
and against the people of the land.
19 (Jer 1:8) They will fight against you, but they will not prevail
against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.

[11] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what
seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
[12] Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my
word to perform it.
[13] And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What
seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward
the north.
[14] Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth
upon all the inhabitants of the land.
[15] For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,
saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne
at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof
round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
[16] And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their
wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods,
and worshipped the works of their own hands.
[17] Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all
that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee
before them.
[18] For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron
pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah,
against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the
people of the land.
[19] And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against
thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

Jeremiah 2

God Pleads With Israel to Repent

1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 (Dt 2:7; Eze 16:8) Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying,
Thus says the Lord:
I remember you, the kindness of your youth,
the love of your espousals,
when you followed Me in the wilderness,
in a land that was not sown.
3 (Jas 1:18; Ex 19:5-6) Israel is holy to the Lord,
and the first fruits of His harvest.
All who eat of it will become guilty;
disaster will come upon them,
says the Lord.
4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob
and all the families of the house of Israel.
5 (2Ki 17:15; Jer 2:31) Thus says the Lord:
What iniquity have your fathers found inMe,
that they have gone far from Me,
and have walked after vanity
and have become vain?
6 (Dt 32:10; Hos 13:4) They did not say, "Where is the Lord
who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,
who led us through the wilderness,
through a land of deserts and of pits,
through a land of drought and of the shadow of death,
through a land that no man passed through and where no man lived?"
7 (Dt 8:7-9; Jer 16:18) And I brought you into a plentiful country
to eat its fruit and its goodness.
But when you entered, you defiled My land
and made My heritage an abomination.
8 (Hab 2:18; Jer 5:31) The priests did not say,
"Where is the Lord?"
And those who handle the law did not know Me;
the shepherds also transgressed against Me,
and the prophets prophesied by Baal
and walked after things that do not profit.
9 (Eze 20:35-36; Jer 2:35) Therefore I will yet contend with you,
says the Lord,
and with your sons' sons I will contend.
10 (Ps 120:5) For pass over the coastlands of Cyprus and see,
and send to Kedar and consider diligently,
and see if there is such a thing.
11 (Ps 106:20; Isa 37:19) Has a nation changed their gods,
though they are not gods?
But My people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
12 (Isa 1:2) Be astonished at this, O heavens,
and be horribly afraid, be very desolate,
says the Lord.
13 (Ps 36:9; Jer 17:13) For My people have committed two evils.
They have forsaken Me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out for themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14 (Ex 4:22) Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave?
Why has he been plundered?
15 (Jer 4:7; 50:17) The young lions roared at him
and roared loudly,
and they made his land a waste;
his cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant.
16 (Jer 46:14; Dt 33:20) Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.
17 (Jer 4:18) Have you not brought this on yourself,
in that you have forsaken the Lord your God
when He led you in the way?
18 (Jos 13:3; Isa 31:1) And now what are you doing in the way of Egypt,
to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what are you doing in the way of Assyria,
to drink the waters of the River?
19 (Isa 3:9; Hos 5:5) Your own wickedness will correct you,
and your backslidings will reprove you.
Know therefore and see
that it is an evil thing and bitter for you
to have forsaken the Lord your God,
and the fear of Me is not in you,
says the Lord God of Hosts.
20 (Dt 12:2; Lev 26:13; Isa 1:21) For long ago I have broken your yoke
and burst your bonds;
and you said, "I will not serve."
For upon every high hill
and under every green tree
you wander, playing the harlot.
21 (Ex 15:17; Ps 80:8) Yet I had planted you a noble vine,
a wholly faithful seed.
How then have you turned
into the degenerate plant of a strange vine to Me?
22 (Job 14:17; Jer 17:1) For though you wash yourself with lye,
and take much soap,
yet your iniquity is marked before Me,
says the Lord God.

[1] Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
[2] Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I
remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when
thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
[3] Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase:
all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
[4] Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of
the house of Israel:
[5] Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that
they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
[6] Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land
of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and
of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a
land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
[7] And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and
the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine
heritage an abomination.
[8] The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law
knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets
prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
[9] Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your
children's children will I plead.
[10] For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and
consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
[11] Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people
have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
[12] Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye
very desolate, saith the LORD.
[13] For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the
fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns,
that can hold no water.
[14] Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
[15] The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land
waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
[16] Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy
head.
[17] Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken
the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
[18] And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters
of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters
of the river?
[19] Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall
reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter,
that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee,
saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
[20] For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou
saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every
green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
[21] Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art
thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
[22] For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet
thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. 

Jeremiah 2

23 (Jer 7:31; Pr 30:12) How can you say, "I am not polluted,
I have not gone after the Baals"?
See your way in the valley.
Know what you have done.
You are a swift young camel
entangling her ways,
24 (Jer 14:6) a wild donkey used to the wilderness
that sniffs the wind in her passion.
In the time of her heat, who can turn her away?
All those who seek her will not weary themselves;
in her month they shall find her.
25 (Dt 32:16; Jer 3:13) Withhold your foot from being unshod
and your throat from thirst.
But you said, "There is no hope. No!
For I have loved strangers,
and after them I will go."
26 (Jer 32:32) As the thief is ashamed when he is found,
so is the house of Israel ashamed.
They, their kings, their officials,
and their priests, and their prophets
27 (Isa 26:16) say to a tree, "You are my father."
And to a stone, "You gave birth to me."
For they have turned their back to Me,
and not their face.
But in the time of their trouble they will say,
"Arise and save us."
28 (Dt 32:37; Isa 45:20) But where are your gods
that you have made for yourself?
Let them arise, if they can save you
in the time of your trouble;
for according to the number of your cities
are your gods, O Judah.
29 (Jer 5:1; 6:13) Why will you plead with Me?
You all have transgressed against Me,
says the Lord.
30 (Ne 9:26; 1Th 2:15) In vain I have smitten your children;
they received no correction.
Your own sword has devoured your prophets
like a destroying lion.
31 (Dt 32:15O) generation, consider the word of the Lord:
Have I been a wilderness to Israel?
A land of darkness?
Why do My people say, "We are free to roam.
We will come no more to You"?
32 (Ps 106:21; Isa 17:10) Can a virgin forget her ornaments,
or a bride her attire?
Yet My people have forgotten Me
for days without number.
33 You prepare your way very well to seek love.
Therefore you have also taught the wicked women your ways.
34 (2Ki 21:16; 24:4) Also in your skirts is found
the blood of the souls of the innocent poor.
I have not found it by breaking in,
but in spite of all these things.
35 (Pr 28:13) Yet you say, "Because I am innocent,
surely His anger shall turn away from me."
Now I will plead with you,
because you say, "I have not sinned."
36 (Jer 31:22; Hos 5:13) Why do you go about so much
to change your way?
You also shall be ashamed of Egypt,
as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 (2Sa 13:19; Jer 37:7-10) Indeed, you shall go forth from him
with your hands upon your head;
for the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust,
and you shall not prosper in them.

[23] How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim?
see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift
dromedary traversing her ways;
[24] A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her
pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her
will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
[25] Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but
thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after
them will I go.
[26] As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel
ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their
prophets,
[27] Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast
brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their
face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
[28] But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if
they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number
of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
[29] Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me,
saith the LORD.
[30] In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction:
your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
[31] O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness
unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we
will come no more unto thee?
[32] Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people
have forgotten me days without number.
[33] Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also
taught the wicked ones thy ways.
[34] Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor
innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
[35] Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn
from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not
sinned.
[36] Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be
ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
[37] Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for
the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

Jeremiah 3

Unfaithful Israel

1 (Dt 24:1-4; Jer 2:20) If a man divorces his wife,
and she goes from him and becomes another man's,
shall he return to her again?
Shall not that land be greatly polluted?
But you have played the harlot with many lovers;
yet return again to Me,
says the Lord.
2 (Ge 38:14; Jer 2:7) Lift up your eyes to the high places,
and see! Where have you not been ravished?
In the roads you have sat for them
as the Arabian in the wilderness.
And you have polluted the land
with your harlotry and with your wickedness.
3 (Jer 6:15; Lev 26:19) Therefore the showers have been withheld,
and there has been no latter rain.
And you had a harlot's forehead;
you refused to be ashamed.
4 (Jer 2:2; 3:19) Shall you not from this time cry to Me,
"My Father, You are the guide of my youth?
5 (Isa 57:16; Jer 3:12) Shall He reserve His anger forever?
Shall He keep it to the end?"
Indeed, you have spoken
and done evil things as you could.

[1] They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become
another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be
greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet
return again to me, saith the LORD.
[2] Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not
been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the
wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy
wickedness.
[3] Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no
latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be
ashamed.
[4] Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide
of my youth?
[5] Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold,
thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

A Call to Repentance

6 The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king:
Have you seen that which backsliding Israel has done?
She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree,
and there has played the harlot.
7 (Eze 16:46) I said after she had done all these things, "Turn to Me."
But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8 (Dt 24:1; Isa 50:1) I saw that for all the adulteries of backsliding Israel,
I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce. Yet her treacherous
sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.
9 (Jer 2:27; Isa 57:6) Through the lightness of her harlotry
she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and with trees.
10 (Hos 7:14) Yet for all this, her treacherous sister Judah has not
turned to Me with her whole heart, but feignedly, says the Lord.

[6] The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou
seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high
mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
[7] And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But
she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
[8] And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed
adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her
treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
[9] And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she
defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
[10] And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto
me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
[11] And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified
herself more than treacherous Judah.

God Invites Repentance

11 (Eze 16:51-52; 23:11) The Lord said to me: Backsliding Israel has proved
herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
12 (Ps 86:15; Eze 33:11) Go and proclaim these words toward the north,
and say: Return, backsliding Israel, says the Lord,
and I will not cause My anger to fall on you.
For I am merciful, says the Lord,
and I will not keep anger forever.
13 (Dt 12:2; 30:1-3) Only acknowledge your iniquity,
that you have transgressed against the Lord your God
and have scattered your ways to the strangers
under every green tree,
and you have not obeyed My voice,
says the Lord.
14 (Isa 54:5; Jer 31:32) Return, O backsliding sons, says the Lord.
For I am married to you. And I will take you, one from a city
and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
15 (Ac 20:28; Jer 23:4) And I will give you shepherds according to My heart,
who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16 (Isa 65:17) It shall come to pass when you are multiplied
and increased in the land in those days, says the Lord, they will say no more,
"The ark of the covenant of the Lord."
And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it,
nor will they call for it, nor will it be made any more.
17 (Jer 11:8; 17:12) At that time they will call Jerusalem,
the Throne of the Lord, and all the nations will be gathered to it,
to Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord; nor will they walk any more
after the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
18 (Jer 31:8; 50:4) In those days the house of Judah will walk
with the house of Israel, and they will come together out of the land
of the north to the land that I have given to your fathers for an inheritance.
19 (Jer 3:4; Isa 63:16) But I said:
How can I put you among My sons
and give you a pleasant land,
the most beautiful heritage of the nations?
And I said: You shall call Me, My Father,
and shall not turn away from Me.
20 (Isa 48:8; Jer 5:11) Surely as a wife treacherously departs
from her husband, so you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,
says the Lord.
21 (Isa 15:2; 17:10) A voice was heard upon the high places,
the weeping and the supplications of the sons of Israel,
because they have perverted their way,
they have forgotten the Lord their God.
22 (Hos 14:4) Return, O backsliding sons,
and I will heal your backslidings.
"We come to You;
for You are the Lord our God.
23 (Ps 3:8; 121:1-2) Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills,
and from the multitude of mountains.
Truly, in the Lord our God
is the salvation of Israel.
24 (Hos 9:10) For shame has devoured the labor
of our fathers from our youth,
their flocks and their herds,
their sons and their daughters.
25 (Jer 22:21) We lie down in our shame,
and our humiliation covers us.
For we have sinned against the Lord our God,
we and our fathers,
from our youth even to this day,
and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God."

[12] Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou
backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall
upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for
ever.
[13] Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against
the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every
green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
[14] Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto
you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will
bring you to Zion:
[15] And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed
you with knowledge and understanding.
[16] And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the
land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the
covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they
remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
[17] At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all
the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to
Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their
evil heart.
[18] In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel,
and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I
have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.
[19] But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a
pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou
shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
[20] Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye
dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.
[21] A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of
the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have
forgotten the LORD their God.
[22] Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.
Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
[23] Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the
multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
[24] For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth;
their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
[25] We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have
sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even
unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

2) Our Daily Bread for 3 August 2024 Titled <a href="
https://odb.org/2024/08/03/being-finishers"> 
Being Finishers in Christ</a>

1 Kings 19:14-21


Elijah Hears the Lord

14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, Lord of Hosts,
because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down
Your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I alone am left,
and they seek to take my life."
15 (2Ki 8:7-15) The Lord said to him, "Go, return on the road through
the Wilderness of Damascus, and when you arrive, anoint Hazael
to be king over Aram.
16 (1Ki 19:19-21; 2Ki 2:9) And you shall anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi,
to be king over Israel, and you shall anoint Elisha, the son of Shaphat
of Abel Meholah, to be prophet in your place.
17 (2Ki 8:12; 13:3) He who escapes the sword of Hazael will be killed
by Jehu, and he who escapes the sword of Jehu will be killed by Elisha.
18 (Hos 13:2) Still, I have preserved seven thousand men in Israel for Myself,
all of whose knees have not bowed to Baal
and whose mouths have not kissed him."

The Call of Elisha

19 (2Ki 2:8; 1Sa 28:14) So he departed from there and found Elisha
the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen
before him and he with the twelfth, and Elijah passed by him
and threw his cloak on him.
20 (Mt 8:21-22; Lk 9:61-62) He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said,
"Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you."
And he said to him, "Go back, for what have I done to you?"
21 (2Sa 24:22) So he returned from following him and took a yoke of oxen
and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes from the oxen
and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he got up and went after Elijah
and ministered to him. 

On Mount Horeb

9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word
of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the
children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent
the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but
the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;
but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his
mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold,
there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because
the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars,
and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left;
and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness
of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel:
and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be
prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael
shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha
slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have
not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

The Call of Elisha

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth:
and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me,
I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.
And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them,
and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto
the people, and they did eat.
Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

1 Peter 2:9

9 (Dt 7:6; 10:15) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may declare the
goodness of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 

[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

Barbara passed away before she could finish a sweater she was knitting for 
her great-grandson, Ethan. The sweater was entrusted to the hands of another 
avid knitter to be completed thanks to an organization that connects volunteer
crafters-"finishers"-with those whose loved ones have departed this life 
before finishing their projects. The "finishers" lovingly invest their time 
and skill to bring closure to a task that provides comfort to those
 who are grieving.

God appointed a "finisher" for Elijah's work too. The prophet was lonely 
and discouraged at how the Israelites were rejecting God's covenant 
and killing prophets. In response, God instructed Elijah to "anoint Elisha 
. . . to succeed [him] as prophet" (1 Kings 19:16). This ensured that 
the labour of proclaiming God's truth would continue long past Elijah's death.

To show Elisha that God had called him to succeed Elijah as God's prophet, 
Elijah "threw his cloak around [Elisha]" (v. 19). Since a prophet's cloak 
was used to indicate one's authority as God's chosen spokesman 
(see 2 Kings 2:8), this act made Elisha's prophetic call clear.

8 (1Ki 19:19; Ex 14:21-22) Then Elijah took his robe and rolled it up
and struck the water, and it was divided from one side to the other.
Then the two of them crossed on dry ground. 

[8] And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the
waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went
over on dry ground. 

As believers in Jesus, we've been called to share God's love with others
and "declare [his] praises" (1 Peter 2:9). Though the task may outlive 
us too, we can be assured that He'll sustain the work and will continue to 
call other "finishers" to the sacred work of making Him known.

By:  Kirsten Holmberg

Reflect & Pray

Who proclaimed God's truth to you? 
How can you be part of making Him known to the world?

Father, please use me to accomplish Your work in the world.

3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation

Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools

Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 7 Our God reigns!

Is 52:7

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

A messenger has a single duty: to carry information. During World War II, many
parents dreaded the arrival of the Western Union messenger, believing that
delivery of a telegram meant that their son has been wounded or killed.
Isaiah 52:7, however, indicates that a messenger's word is not always
unwelcome. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring
good news ..." the prophet says. The "Good news"? Peace , salvation,
and the resultant message: "Your God reigns!"
Our God reigns - in forgiveness, in reconciliation, bringing peace and freedom
and joy. Our God reigns, controlling our lives with a loving hand, ordering
our experiences for our good, and his glory. Our God reigns in relationships,
in professional circumstances, in families, in churches. The good news is
proclaimed: Life is not unmanageable. Our God Reigns!
When we know that God reigns in our lives, we can relax, let go of the reins
of control, and live in peace. We can forgive those who have hurt us, knowing
that God will reveal to them what they need to know. We can live
with good times and bad, recognising that God uses every circumstance
of our lives to conform us to the image of his Son. We can rejoice in his
grace, free from the compulsion to earn his love and acceptance, and
we can live in the peace that comes only through his lordship in our lives.
Our God reigns - that is , indeed "Good news".

Application

a) Have I ever felt that life was "out of control"? Why?

b) What does it mean in practical terms to know that "Our God reigns"? 

4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

Gen 26:12-14

12 (Ge 26:3; 24:1) Then Isaac sowed in that land
and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; the Lord blessed him.
13 The man became rich and continued to prosper until he became very wealthy.
14 (Ge 37:11; Ecc 4:4) For he had possessions of flocks and herds
and a great number of servants so that the Philistines envied him.

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year
an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
13 And the man waxed great, and went forward,
and grew until he became very great:
14 for he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds,
and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:

God's Unfailing Love

Ps 36:5-9

5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens,
and Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Your righteousness is like the great mountains,
Your judgments like the great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) How excellent is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore mankind seeks refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) They will drink their fill
from the abundance of Your house,
and You will cause them to drink from the river of Your pleasures.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light we see light.

5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
And thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains;
Thy judgments are a great deep:
O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house;
And thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: In thy light shall we see light.

Remember God's promises when You pray

The Lord's prayer

Matthew 6:9-13 

9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)

New Brunswick

Total population 753900
Muslim population (est.) 4543

Moncton, followed by Fredericton and Saint John, each have a growing Muslim
population in New Brunswick, In 2007, the building that was formerly a Baptist
church was converted into Moncton's 1st mosque. The University of Moncton
also has a Muslim student association hosting prayer services, fellowship
getherings, and outreaches on campus.
Fredericton also has one mosque and a Muslim student association serving the
campuses of the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University.
Fredericton's Muslim population consists in 2014 of about 50 families,
and between 300 to 400 university students.
Saint John is home to the 1st Muslim Association for the province,
which also helped foster the Islamic associations of Fredericton and Moncton.
a 'musalla', or prayer location that is not officially structured as a mosque,
has been established in the Uptown area with the intention of seeing it grow
into a 2nd official place of Muslim worship. Demand for this new location has
been primarily for university students moving into the area.

Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick
- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened
to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened
to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them

- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these
areas of concentration

- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,
and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.

Adding further

30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020

Under the Keep Praying page

When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.

Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."

Peter's Speech at Pentecost

14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'

- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.

Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."

Ideas for prayer

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!

And 

Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.

"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager, 
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.

Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians 
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before. 
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.

As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution 
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.

Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction. 
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.

I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through 
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom 
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."

13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy 
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope, 
through the power of the Holy Spirit.

[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

ROMANS 15:13

My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .

7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada

http://www.ehc.ca

3nd Day of the Month

a) Pray for the province of Alberta as follows:
I) Pray for the leaders of Alberta, that God's Spirit would influence then to
act justly, serve with integrity and honour high moral standards. (
1 Tim 2:1-4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3 (1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good and acceptable in
the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth.

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority;
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

II) Pray for the churches of the province, that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus

b) Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin
and Canadian to faith in Christ.
( John 16:8 - When He comes, He will convict the world of sin
and of righteousness and of judgment:

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment: )

Conclusion:

Pray to the Lord and pray for your nation in intervention to repent from its
sins.

Pray to the Lord: "Father, please use me to accomplish Your work in the world."

Pray to the Lord and pray to know He is in full control.

Pray to the Lord and pray to know He is full of Blessings.

Pray to the Lord and pray to understand His Lovingkindness.

Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick
- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened
to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened
to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them

- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these
areas of concentration

- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,
and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.

Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people - 
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims 
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days! 

Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin
and Canadian to faith in Christ.

Pray for wisdom and guidance on behalf of local churches in Iraq that are 
ministering to displaced Christians.

Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
-- 
Member - Liberal International This is [email protected] Ici [email protected]
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