Readings:
Jeremiah 21-23
Sirach 50-51

Sir fin

Jeremiah 21-23

The king asked Jeremiah to intercede with God on his behalf, but to say it didn’t go according to plan is an understatement. Not only did the Lord refuse to deliver them from the Babylonians, he tells them that they’re carrying out his divine punishment on the king and the city of Jerusalem. But he does offer them a slight out, even though it’s still a horrible fate, anyone that surrenders will survive as slaves, all who stay will die.

They cry for deliverance but refuse to obey the word of God that promises deliverance. They only had to avoid worshiping other gods and all this would’ve been avoided. The other sins committed by the nation and the kings never brought condemnation and destruction on everyone like idolatry did. It was the fatal sin they wouldn’t let go of.

I spoke to you in your prosperity,but you said, ‘I will not listen.’This has been your way from your youth, that you have not obeyed my voice.

Jeremiah 22:21

That verse perfectly sums up what’s happening here. Israel has disobeyed God from the very beginning, but they stopped accepting correction and that was the beginning of the end for them.

But all is not lost. This coming punishment will be harsh, severe and long lasting, but it won’t be forever. God promises to bring them back like a shepherd brings his sheep back. And he promises a new branch of David will sprout up and take the throne of his ancestors. This of course is fulfilled in Jesus Christ Our Lord.

He finishes out todays chapters with a rebuke to all the false prophets of Jerusalem. They affirm the people in their sinful ways and tell them everything is going to be ok, while Jeremiah tells them they’re all evildoers and everything will certainly not be ok. Guess who is popular and who is reviled by the whole city. The people want to hear the easy prophecy, the “keep doing whatever you want” type of prophet, they want the “it’s not sinful if your conscience says it’s ok” type of leaders.

Readings:
Jeremiah 24-25
Hebrews 1