INTERESTING FACTS : William Paterson, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW JERSEY; SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION; U. S. SENATOR; GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY; U. S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

"When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. [invoking Proverbs 29:2 to instruct a grand jury]."

DAILY READING : JEREMIAH 42 - 45

TEXT : Jer 42:1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, Jer 42:2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) Jer 42:3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. Jer 42:4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you. Jer 44:15 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, Jer 44:16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

THEME : OBEDIENCE

It may seem strange, but most people do not want to know the truth. That is, at least not when it does not favor them, or requires change and effort. There is also the fact that many people do not want anyone [including the LORD] to prove them wrong. God calls this pride and arrogance. Further, there are those who will blame God for their troubles as though He were the cause of sin. To state it simply, to know truth you must have a heart to obey it. At least as it concerns the truth found in the Bible, with God's commands, precepts, and principles.

One marvels at the people of Judah and their leaders when you read the Book of Jeremiah. With years of merciful warnings about judgment to come, then judgment after judgment until Jerusalem itself is taken captive with its citizens, you have to ask - "how could God's people be so stubborn?" Yet, this is human nature when the Holy Spirit does not animate it. It is prone not only to wander from the LORD, but also to resist Him as though He were the enemy and not a loving Father.

When you read the Book of the Revelation, you see the same law of sin operating in those who are on the earth. Rather than submit to the LORD, repent and let God spare them, people will resist Him as the Jews did in the time of Jeremiah and throughout their history.

Rev_2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Rev_9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Rev_9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Rev_16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Rev_16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Five times during the period Jesus said would be the worst in human history, the people of the earth - not just Jews, but all people, will refuse to submit to God who tries to spare and save them. Truly, human nature is obstinate, aberrant, and rebellious. Keep in mind whatever the LORD does or instructs you to do is for your good - not His. God has no problems. He is only interested in your welfare. Therefore, we learn a lesson from the Jew in Jeremiah's time - the Lord reveals truth only to those who have the heart to obey it. This must be your heart.

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "TO KNOW TRUTH YOU MUST HAVE A HEART TO OBEY IT."

Strangely, the Jews ask Jeremiah to pray for them and ask God for mercy. Jerusalem is in ruins, multitudes are dead or held captive by the Babylonians. Asking for prayer and God's Word then, would be natural in their situation. However, when Jeremiah does what they request, the people tell him they will not obey. Rather, they belive it was the "queen of heaven"[1] that had blessed them. Further, they have their will set to return to this heathen deity to receive her blessing and salvation. Deliverance never came.

Read what Jesus said about knowing the truth, and pay attention to His emphasis on obedience.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Here Jesus states a [true] disciple must "continue" in following Him. This infers they made a start. It also implies they had a heart to obey. It is with this in mind - that is, continuing in obedience to the commands of Christ, that truth is known. Truth then, is not an objective commodity, but an inner reality known only by those who obey the LORD.

The people of Judah did not have this heart. Even after severe judgments fell, they refused to change. You must learn a lesson from this. That is, stay firm in the faith, for the Scriptures declare many will fall away in the last days. Make up your mind - "I will not be one of them!"

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;