Jeremiah 14-16; Psalm 76; 2 Corinthians 13
The wickedness of the people of Israel had reached such a level that God told Jeremiah: "Then the Lord said to me, "Do not pray for the well-being of this people." (Jeremiah 14:11). There was no longer any hope for this nation. Their fate was sealed. In every downward spiral, there is a point of no return when God’s patience reaches its end. Jeremiah wept for the people and cried out to God, appealing to the covenant God had made with them, but God refused to listen to him: "Then the Lord said to me, "even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!" (Jeremiah 15:1).
Jeremiah expresses the difficulty of his calling. God made him a prophet to the nation, constantly confronting and rebuking them: " Woe is me, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!" (Jeremiah 15:10). Yet God strengthens Jeremiah, calling him to remain faithful: "Therefore this is what the Lord says: "f you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 15:19-20).
Psalm 76
Believers know God as their protector in times of trouble. God turns the dangers He allows in His children into opportunities for His glory to be revealed.
2 Corinthians 13
In concluding his letter, Paul speaks about his upcoming visit to Corinth, emphasizing several key truths:
- Just as Christ, though He took on human flesh and lived in weakness, was raised in power by God, so too is the strength of every believer in Christ through power working in, through, and around them: " or to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God's power we will live with Him in our dealing with you." (2 Corinthians 13:4).
- Therefore, one of the most important questions for Christians is having confidence that they truly belong to Christ: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Jeremiah expresses the difficulty of his calling. God made him a prophet to the nation, constantly confronting and rebuking them: " Woe is me, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!" (Jeremiah 15:10). Yet God strengthens Jeremiah, calling him to remain faithful: "Therefore this is what the Lord says: "f you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 15:19-20).
Psalm 76
Believers know God as their protector in times of trouble. God turns the dangers He allows in His children into opportunities for His glory to be revealed.
2 Corinthians 13
In concluding his letter, Paul speaks about his upcoming visit to Corinth, emphasizing several key truths:
- Just as Christ, though He took on human flesh and lived in weakness, was raised in power by God, so too is the strength of every believer in Christ through power working in, through, and around them: " or to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God's power we will live with Him in our dealing with you." (2 Corinthians 13:4).
- Therefore, one of the most important questions for Christians is having confidence that they truly belong to Christ: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Posted in Reading Bible Together