Week 33 August 13 - August 19

Day 1

The Lord continues to tell Israel to return to Him.  The will be without courage and judgement of the Lord will be upon them because they won't return to God. Their ways and deeds have brought this upon themselves.  They were "wise" in doing evil. They refused to repent or take correction.  They didn't listen to the warnings and they took no pleasure in the Word of the Lord. 

Day 2

King Josiah restores the passover.  But the Lord's anger didn't turn away because of all the evil that had been done during the time of Manasseh.  King burnt all the vessels used to offer sacrifices to false gods. In all of the days of Josiah the people didn't turn away from following the Lord. 
The people trusted in deceptive words.  They would do terrible things and then go into the house of the Lord. The Lord was DONE with them.  They had provoked Him long enough.  Our God is patient and long suffering but there does come a point where it is time to punish. Everyone had turned to their own course and the people didn't know the rules of the Lord.   They set their detestable things in the House of the Lord and defiled it. 

Day 3

The people were adulterous and treacherous.  No one could be trusted by one another. They refused to know the Lord. 
The Lord practices in steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth, He delights in these things.  There is none like You O Lord, You are great and Your name is great in might. The Lord is the true God.  He is the living God and the everlasting King. 
The Lord warned them persistently but they still didn't obey. 
You O Lord, know me and test my heart toward You. 

Day 4

King Josiah is killed and then the sons begin to reign and it is back to evil.  Nebuchadnezzar is about to take them over and will reign. 

Day 5

Jeremiah continued to warn the people and tell them that they need to turn from their evil ways. The people wanted to kill him.  He said that was fine but the innocent blood would be on their own hands.  The souls of the people were proud or puffed up and they didn't live upright lives.  
The righteous shall live by faith.  Yet I will rejoice  in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my Salvation.  God, the Lord is my strength.

Day 6

The Lord told Jeremiah to test the Rechabites.  They had been told by their fathers to not drink or allow any other family member to either.  They were offered the wine and they refused.  The Lord saw their obedience and blessed them.  The convictions of these people was awesome.  The Lord told them that they would never lack a man to stand before the Lord. 
Punishment was on its way and Nebuchadnezzar takes over. Jeremiah had told the people for 23 years to turn from evil ways. 

Day 7

King Neb.  took the spoil of the people and took the youths that were without blemish and were smart and good looking into his position.  He educated them for 3 years.  He allowed them to eat and drink of his food.  Daniel and his friends didn't want to defile themselves with the kings food.  So they asked to be fed vegetables and water.  They did this for 10 days and looked better than those others eating the choice foods and drinks.  God gave these youths favor by giving them learning, skill in all literature and wisdom.   The king found these men to be 10X better then all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.  
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness or injustice.  
King Neb has a disturbing dream and wants it interpreted.  He calls on his men and they can't do it.  The king won't even tell them what the dream is, but he wants them to tell him what it means.  Daniel finds out that all the wise men will be killed because the dream can't be told or interpreted.  He and his friends pray to the Lord for favor and the Lord shows Daniel the dream and its meaning.  He tells the dream to the king and is promoted greatly in the kingdom.  His friends are also promoted as well. Daniel is sure to tell the king that it wasn't him who interpreted the dream but the God of Heaven, and He should get all the credit.  Truly He is the God of gods and Lord of kings.  

What great examples we had this week of people who stood up for the Lord, with turmoil all around them. Jeremiah continued to tell the people of the coming disaster if they didn't repent.  The Rechabites were upright people who refused to fall into a trap.  Daniel and his friends stood firm in their convictions to not defile themselves and they were blessed and honored.  It won't be easy to stand up to the fiery darts and tests in our lives but we must commit ourselves to what the Lord shows us.  We can't do it alone.  We NEED His help.  Call out to Him and ask each and every day for Him to protect us and give us the guidance we need to overcome anything that would cause us to turn away.

Happy Reading - Jeannie