I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.
Today, I am reading and commenting on Jeremiah 45-48.
The beginning of this passage is a message from Jeremiah to Baruch (the man who had assisted Jeremiah by transcribing onto a scroll Jeremiah’s prophesies and reading them to the people in the Temple). The timing of my reading this passage is interesting. I wrote a blog entry on Jesus parable of the three servants just yesterday. In it I commented that one of my concerns was that I identify with the third servant. In many ways, Jeremiah’s message to Baruch is God’s answer to me about my fear. Jeremiah’s message to Baruch was that he should not seek great things for himself. In light of that message I will continue to seek ways to use my talents for God’s glory, but will be content with the small audience I have on this blog for as long as God so desires.
I am not quite sure what to make of Jeremiah’s prophesies against the nations around Judah, but I think they are important to note. They are not just examples of God predicting through His prophets what is coming. I believe they are warnings to us today that when God’s judgment comes down on one nation, those nations surrounding the judged nation will suffer as well. War and destruction are no respecters of borders. This is not just about nations either. When we see our neighbor’s (whether that be our personal or national neighbors) doing that which will bring God’s judgment, we must not just look the other way thinking it will not affect us. We must warn them of the tragedy they are inviting, and we must seek to help those who are suffering as a result of our neighbor’s sin.
