Saturday, August 14, 2021
Ungodliness
Jeremiah presents us with a roll call of false leaders, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Jeconiah.
Woe to him who builds his house on wrong; his terraces on injustice, who works his neighbor without pay, and gives him no wages.
Jeremiah also presents us with a messianic vision, the promise of a good and honest shepherd who fulfills the promise of bringing the faithful home.
I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land.
Jeremiah shows us the dichotomy of evil and goodness in which we live. He gives us mirror in which we might discover our own ungodliness.
God says: You need not tremble when you read about the terrible leaders who lead my faithful away from me and to the hungry, demanding little gods of Baal. You need not fear for your life if you live in me. You need not hide or bury yourself away when danger threatens. You need only rest in me. Allow my peace to give you a quiet place of rest. Let the freedom I give you prove the depth of my love, the strength of my fidelity, and the healing power of my hope.
False and true leaders, false and true prophets, false and true shepherds. Jeremiah draws clear pictures of what we may see in ourselves and others as he warns us of the danger of ungodliness.
For information about Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Jeconiah, visit:
http://biblehub.com/dictionary/j/jehoahaz.htm
http://biblehub.com/dictionary/j/jehoiakim.htm
http://biblehub.com/dictionary/j/jeconiah.htm
To learn about Josiah, visit: http://biblehub.com/dictionary/j/josiah.htm
Image from: http://www.open-mike.ca/2013/08/13/day-225/
The Noontimes 
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