Sonshine's Journal

The evil and wicked false prophets led the people of Judah astray and so it happens just now as then. If you speak of the Lord to unbelievers they have the same refrain: “the word of the Lord is burdensome.” Yet, this is what Jesus says: “Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry,” Today as you witness to those who do not know the Lord listen carefully to what they say and then reply that God’s Word is easy and light. The unbelieving refuse to listen to the Word of the Lord because they see if as hard, it is burdensome and they reflect “ And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’[Luke 12:19] thinking that they do not need to consider their destiny. They say tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. But, what if there is no tomorrow? What if God should call you home today? Are you prepared or do you still think that His Word is burdensome, hard or too difficult? 

Come join us and see that the Word of the Lord enlightens, encourages, and is profitable for those who want to know His ways. 

If you are of my age, you recall the comic strip Dennis the Menace. The Israelites are just like that character. God says obey Me but they respond: “ But they just keep saying, ‘We do not care what you say! We will do whatever we want to do! We will continue to behave wickedly and stubbornly!” [Jer 18:12] When Dennis disobeyed, his parents would sit him in the corner to “think about his behavior.” His famous quote came from that time: I may be sitting down on the outside but standing up on the inside. That is just how the Israelites answered God. They were stubborn and refused to change. Sometimes we are just like that when we know to do good but instead choose to do what is wrong. 

When that character quality surfaces how do we respond? Are we like Dennis and the Israelites or do we humble ourselves and repent? 

Jeremiah has had a difficult task from the Lord. Even though he has been faithful, his heart is burdened because the people have rejected God. The time for consequences has come and God uses Jeremiah to reveal what it will be. The people have followed their leader who is corrupt and sinful. They have not listened to Jeremiah tell of the Lord and His Word. Sounds like today. God has persistently provided all the people have needed both physically and more importantly spiritually, but they have rejected the truth.  In the midst of Jeremiah’s lament he writes: “As your words came to me, I drank them in,and they filled my heart with joy and happiness because I belong to you, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.“ 

Is this how we respond when we hear bad news? Do God’s Words fill our heart with joy, which is the Fruit of the Spirit? Do we stop to think that no matter what comes our way, we respond with joy and happiness? Do we stop and say God what you bring about is from You because You are sovereign? James writes what our response should be when we are in a trial: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” [James 1:2-4]

Application for today: be ye joyful in the midst of trials and heed the Word of the Lord. 

In what or who are you boasting? As the prophet of the Lord,  Jeremiah (also Paul) reiterate what we are to boast in: “Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” [Jer 9:23-24]

This is a wake up call to all of believers! So often the pride of the sin filled flesh boasts in his accomplishments but Jeremiah reminds us that our only boast should be this: we understands and knows God!  And what should we know about Him? He is the one who exercises what the NET translates as: “act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth and that I desire people to do these things.” 

The question before us today is this: in what are you boasting? Do you understand and know Him? 

Jeremiah 5: Praise the Creator!

Jeremiah has been pleading with the nation to return to God. In one of his more testy exchanges he asks them to recall the God they supposedly worship. However, as Jeremiah recounts, they had forgotten that God is Creator of heaven and earth. Jeremiah reminds them that they/“You should tremble in awe before me! I made the sand to be a boundary for the sea, a permanent barrier that it can never cross. Its waves may roll, but they can never prevail. They may roar, but they can never cross beyond that boundary.” Paul adds to that they are without excuse for His eternal attributes are clearly seen in Creation. [Rom 1:20] 

How about us? Do we worship the creation or the Creator? Think about it today 

I love this comment about this chapter: “He has not done so yet because He is patient and is giving people time to repent (cf. 2 Pet. 3:9). Yet that day will surely come (2 Pet. 3:10). In view of its coming, Christians need to be holy in conduct and godly in character looking for and hastening that day (by our prayers and preaching, 2 Pet. 3:11). The great outpouring of divine wrath on the earth predicted here will take place during the Tribulation, before our Lord returns to set up His kingdom (cf. 2:2; Zech. 14:2; Rev. 16:14, 16).”

How wonderful to know that God is still patiently waiting for those who will become part of His kingdom. He is doing  His part, are we doing our part by bringing the gospel of peace to those who do not know Him? Are we holy in conduct and godly in character? 

Josiah sought to cleanse the land and its religious symbols but God was still not pleased because it was not just the outward showing of destroying symbols but it must be of the heart and the hearts were still hard. The way we know it is true because after Josiah came his son and he raised up the evil ways of the idols his father had destroyed. There is a lesson here for us. We can destroy the outside effects of our sins but if the heart is not changed,then the sin remains. 

God will not be mocked. What He has said, He will do. 

Today cleanse your hearts you people so God can bring a refreshing to your land. 

Jonah reluctantly came to Nineveh and the entire city repented but repentance is only so long it appears, for now one hundred years later they have returned to their wicked ways. The Lord uses Nahum to remind them: The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;the Lord will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished. Take heed as you read this tale of woe for this same principle is still active today. Our nation is just like Nineveh of old, steeped in mockery of God and His ways. God will be patient only so long for as Peter reminded his generation He will move heaven and earth to bring the gospel because God is not willing any should perish. He will patiently remind them of the truths of Romans 1. If you continue on your wicked ways, He will turn you over the desires of your heart and you will face the consequences. 

Listen carefully today and choose life as Moses reminded his generation: CHOOSE LIFE! 

Why does God have to bring suffering often to His people? It is because their hearts are proud and forget the ways of the Lord and His blessings. Two kings reveal this truth. Let’s learn from them so we do not have to do “another lap around the wilderness.”  Read these stories over and over to remind yourself the price we must pay for our pride. 

Lesson #1: King Hezekiah received a letter from the king of Assyria mocking the true God of Israel. He and the prophet Isaiah took that letter to the throne in prayer and God answered. Paul wrote centuries later, God will not be mocked. [Gal 6] God answered the king and Isaiah and the land was spared but what did Hezekiah do? He became proud and forgot the blessings of the Lord. 

Lesson #2: Hezekiah’s son Manasseh did not learn and recall the saving grace of God. Instead he reinstated idolatry so God sent an evil king to banish him in chains. While in prison, Manasseh humbled himself and God heard and gave him his kingdom back. Yet, his repentance did not carry over to the people. 

Lesson #3: Beware of pride for even if you do repent, the memory of your former life is not enough to repair the damage. Be ye steadfast in your faith. Be quick to listen, slow to anger and be humble first and foremost. 

King Hezekiah hears the news from Isaiah that he should put his house in order because death is not too far away. He weeps bitterly hearing this news and God listens with His open ear. God in His mercy extends Hezekiah’s life by 15 yrs and he is healed. How he responds is what we need to look at. Hezekiah is obviously overjoyed at this news and in his excitement welcomes the Babylonian enemies to his home as they come with gifts because they have heard of his illness. Hezekiah then takes the Babylonians on a tour of his home, his treasury and the glitter of his kingdom. As we read this we stop and ask ourselves how would we have responded?  

Obviously Hezekiah fails to realize that these are gifts from the Lord and they are to be held in humility, not in pride, but his heart is not in alignment with God. After their departure, Isaiah comes to tell him the fruit of his negligence in protecting God’s immense wealth and gifts. Again, it is Hezekiahs’ response that we need to zero in on. Isaiah’s words should stop us in our tracks and cause us to seek God’s face and forgiveness but Hezekiah is so “full of himself” that he fails to see the impending repercussions. As Hezekiah hears the words of the Lord which are devastating, he does not humble himself but says “The Lord’s message which you have announced is appropriate.” Then he added, “At least there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”  “Sigh”…how can the news of the Babylonians destruction of Jerusalem, his own children taken captive be good? 

Our responses to the words of the Lord should cause us to be humble but oftentimes it is our pride that stands in the way. Today, if you were in Hezekiah’s shoes how would you have responded?