“What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me. Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friendContinue reading “Worthless Ritual”
Category Archives: Jeremiah
No Shame
““For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; theyContinue reading “No Shame”
Why?
“And when your people say, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.’” (Jeremiah 5:19, ESV) One of the strangest debates wasContinue reading “Why?”
Greater Plans
“But even in those days, declares the Lord, I will not make a full end of you.” (Jeremiah 5:18, ESV) When I was a teen, my dad and I got into surf fishing in a big way. One of the things he did was to purchase a Jeep Wagoneer so we could drive onto theContinue reading “Greater Plans”
The Last Survivor
“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her.” (Jeremiah 5:1, ESV) In 2013 a movie, “Lone Survivor,” came out in the theaters. It was based on aContinue reading “The Last Survivor”
Anguish
“My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent, for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Crash follows hard on crash; the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are laid waste, my curtains inContinue reading “Anguish”
Sowing and Reaping
“Warn the nations that he is coming; announce to Jerusalem, ‘Besiegers come from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah. Like keepers of a field are they against her all around, because she has rebelled against me, declares the Lord. Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This isContinue reading “Sowing and Reaping”
Fallow Ground
“For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: ‘Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it,Continue reading “Fallow Ground”
Rock Bottom
“But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our fathers labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth evenContinue reading “Rock Bottom”
Blessed Remnant
“Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” (Jeremiah 3:14, ESV) In 1973, I entered the United States Army Ranger School. I reported in with 290 candidates and of that numberContinue reading “Blessed Remnant”
Renewing the Heart 