THURSDAY, 18 APRIL 2024
TEXT:
Jeremiah 11:1-17
1:
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
2:
“Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and
to those who live in Jerusalem.
3:
Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the
one who does not obey the terms of this covenant—
4:
the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of
the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you,
and you will be my people, and I will be your God.
5:
Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land
flowing with milk and honey’—the land you possess today.” I answered, “Amen,
Lord.”
6:
The Lord said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the
streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them.
7:
From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them
again and again, saying, “Obey me.”
8:
But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the
stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the
covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.’”
9:
Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and
those who live in Jerusalem.
10:
They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my
words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have
broken the covenant I made with their ancestors.
11:
Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they
cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.
12:
The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods
to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster
strikes.
13:
You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns; and the altars you have set up
to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of
Jerusalem.’
14:
“Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I
will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.
15:
“What is my beloved doing in my temple as she, with many others, works out her
evil schemes? Can consecrated meat avert your punishment? When you engage in
your wickedness, then you rejoice.”
16:
The Lord called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form. But
with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire, and its branches will
be broken.
17:
The Lord Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the
people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused my anger by burning
incense to Baal.
(New International Version Holy
Bible)
TOPIC:
BROKEN COVENANT
In
today's reading, God reminded the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the
penalty their forefathers paid for breaking the covenant He had with them.
Our
own generation should learn from history and desist from breaking any
agreements they enter with their fellow human beings so as to avoid the bitter
consequences.
It
is the fear of such repercussions that drives some people into cultism to seek
protection from gods that cannot really save them. People are easily lured into
different secret societies in search of the protection that doesn't actually
exist.
The
Lord warned the people that they shouldn't conspire to go the way of their
forefathers, otherwise, "I will bring on them a disaster they cannot
escape". No one, either politicians in leadership positions or ordinary
citizens, can escape the wrath of a broken covenant with God.
QUESTION:
Are you a serial covenant breaker with your friends or your God?
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, make me a faithful covenant keeper with my fellow human beings and
with You, in Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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