Jer 8:18-21  When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

When you read the book of Jeremiah remember what gave birth to its writing. The southern kingdom has followed the lead of her northern sibling and turned from God. Little by little they moved away from the holy and moral foundations that exemplified their walk with God. God is a Holy God and therefore demands holy living from His children in order to maintain a sweet fellowship with them. While God doesn’t turn away from them He does turn on them. They had chosen to let the moral and holy standards that had been established by their forefathers and honored by their God to slip. Little by little they drifted from the once safe harbor of sweet fellowship. As they looked at the world and the temporal enjoyment that fleshly living brought them they began to question the standards that kept their fellowship with God open. Satan got them considering their present desire to satisfy their flesh. The only thing that stood between them and enjoying life like the heathens did was those wretched standards of holiness. They ultimately cast them aside in favor of idols and lust. Anyone who stood in the path of their carnal desires were beaten (Jer 20:2; 31:19), ridiculed (26:11) and incarcerated (38:4-6). Now, in the NT, Paul tells us that in the last days these events will be repeated (2Ti 4:3). Paul spent much of his time trying to reign in the carnal believers from the judgment of God which would come upon them. God’s first desire is to bless us (Garden of Eden) but our sinfulness moves Him to judge us. Would you rather have the blessings of uninterrupted fellowship with God or the constant gnawing of guilt as to the coming judgment brought about by your wandering from His holiness? Ask yourself, “Have I spoken with God about the movies I watch? What about the clothes I wear? The choices of entertainment I make?” When the world becomes the major influencer in these decisions know that you’re drifting from the safe harbor of holiness.

Isa 28:9-10   Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

God is looking for those to whom He may impart greater wisdom. Those whom He can trust with great revelation, knowledge, and wisdom. In this text He tells us plainly who those people are, or, rather what those people have done with what He has already given them. God expects us to exercise our responsibility toward His saving Grace. When a person places their faith in the grace of God that has revealed their need of forgiveness through Christ, God then expects those people to grow. At first we are to desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby (1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:). Once we have allowed the basic rudiments of the Word of God to sustain and grow us, God then presents to us the strong meat (the deeper teachings) of the Word of God. While God does not hold a baby Christian to the same standard as a mature believer, He does expect baby believers to grow and become mature so that God can entrust more wisdom to them. Are you growing in the Word of God? Are you ready to be entrusted by God with more Biblical truth? Are you prepared to deepen your intimacy with the Father? Do you want to know more of God? Each time you read the Word of God meditate upon what it is teaching you and then employ those truths in your daily life. When God reveals to you that you are wrong then do not let pride and personal prejudices prevent you from correcting your error. Take Apollos for your example: Act 18:26  And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. If you will not make the effort to grow in the Word of God you will never advance from Baby stage. Babies are cute but a 20 year old that still acts like a baby is a pathetic site. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Ki 21:7  And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

1Ki 21:16  And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

Job 2:9-10  Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

In this text we see that the dangers of turning on God are as available to the lost as they are to the follower of God. Ahab and Jezebel are the poster children of the ungodly. However, even among the ungodly there is a position to be occupied in the home.  When Jezebel took the lead and made satanically motivated decisions Ahab should have stood in her way. Instead he remained curled up in his bed facing the wall and pouting. His inaction resulted in the murder of a good man and the subsequent judgment of God upon both him and his wife. Now we look at Job and his wife. Having witnessed one tragedy after another, not the least of which was the death of her 10 children, Job’s wife could take it no longer. She spoke up for her husband to curse God knowing it would bring his death and ultimately the end of his suffering.  Job, however, looked beyond the grave to see the consequence of leaving his wife behind with him having taught her it was alright to curse God during times of tragedy. Tragedy is the very time we must run to God, not curse God.  Job took his position as a godly man and leader of his home and immediately corrected his hurting. He did this with a heart of love toward his wife and reverence toward his God. Here are two different couples that give us two options on how to handle an ungodly decision made by a spouse. Will you curl up in your bed facing the wall or will you rise up from the ashes and spare your loved ones further heartache?

Psa 105:16  Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

Here is a verse that causes us to take note of the difficult times that visit every life. God has just revealed both His love and ownership of Israel. He had let it be known that no one was to touch Israel. The enemies of God cursed Israel at their own peril. But then something happens. God, Himself, brings about a famine upon the very people He would not allow others to harm. We find here a wonderful truth that, as with Job (Job 1), God does not prevent trials from visiting His people but He does control those trials. We are therefore taught that all that comes into our life has first passed through the loving and protective grace of God. When you are facing seemingly indescribable events and circumstances that simply cannot be explained, know that God has protected you from the Wicked One but has allowed this valley to help you at length. Be encouraged and know that God both sees and hears you and therefore is working on your behalf. God is for you!

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

If the reader will take in the teaching through verse 17 of this passage he will without fail discover the importance of peace to our Lord and Saviour. Christ taught us in His Sermon on the Mount that “Blessed are the peacemakers.” The reason behind that is that they are taking on them the ministry of our Lord. In this season of Christmas we will do well to remember that God became flesh as the Christ child because of a division between God and man. God was right, man was wrong, and because man could not reconcile himself to God a mediator was employed. There is but one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus. Jesus came to mend the rift between God and man and in doing so brought about peace. I ask you, “Is there a rift between you and another? A spouse perhaps? A friend? Co-worker? Boss, peer, or subordinate?” When tension or division is found there is need for a peacemaker after the example of our Lord. Paul identified himself as the ‘prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ’ and as a prisoner he must conduct himself in a fashion pleasing to his master. Determine now to take upon you the ministry of the Lord Jesus and seek to make peace where contention is found. Do not run away from it, sweep it aside, or try to ignore it. Tackle it head on and if your personal efforts fail find a neutral third party and ask them to help bring about peace. You will never regret the effort invested in bringing peace to any relationship.

2Ch 8:11  And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.

Here we have the importance of marrying the person God has chosen for you. Solomon, the son of David, has married the daughter of Pharaoh. Pharaoh (devil) was King of Egypt which is a type of the world. Due to her lineage Solomon knew she could not live in his father’s house so he built her a separate home. One should never consider marrying someone that must be brought into your heavenly Father’s home. They must already be a part of your Father’s House (2Cor 6:14). If you want to ensure in-law issues then marry one whose spiritual father is Pharaoh, King of Egypt.

Here are two verses that teach a vital truth regarding our relationship to the sin in our life:

1Ki 8:33  When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:

1Ki 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

God desires fellowship with us each day of our lives. However, this fellowship will only occur on His terms. Therefore God presented to us a clear and ready way to maintain a daily walk with Him in spite of the fact we sin every day of our lives. When the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come instantly humble yourself under the mighty and merciful hand of God and repent of your conduct. Instantly you will be restored to a sweet fellowship with God. You will go from darkness to light in an instant! As quickly as you were forgiven when you received Christ that very same swiftness will restore you to a right standing with the Lord.

2Sa 15:31  And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

2Sa 15:32  And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

2Sa 17:7  And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

God stands ready to hear and answer our prayers and to meet our needs. Here is one of many examples from the inspired Word of God to validate this truth. David, continuing to suffer for his sin with Bathsheba, has been informed that one of his confidants and spiritual leaders has betrayed him and is now working for his adversary. David is ascending the Mt of Olives when he receives the news. He instantly sends a prayer to the Lord to confound his former confidant’s counsel. By the time he reaches the summit of his climb a man comes from out of the crowd to express his devotion to David during this time of great trouble. David, ever tender to the Lord, realizes this to be a possible answer to his prayer and seizes the opportunity. His prayer would be answered as a result. I wonder how many of our prayers we assume are not answered when in reality God was answering them through circumstance and situation. Today, when you pray for a need, be sure to remain sensitive to the people and places God brings into your life as vehicles God is using to deliver the answer to your request.

2Ti 2:11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

It does us well to take time each day to remember just how gracious God is to us. Consider how unfaithful we are toward Him. His has given us His Word and men gave their very lives to protect and produce it. Yet, consider how little we peruse it let alone meditate on it. Yet, God loves us in spite of our casualness toward His word. Recently the news is telling us of a new religious movement headed by the rapper Kanye West. His wife stated that it should not be construed as a church service but more of a spiritual healing event for her husband. She said it does not entail any sermons or preaching of any type but is solely a music fest with a Christ theme. While I am glad for any who seek to draw near to the Lord I cannot escape the truth that people hear the gospel by way of a preacher (Rom 10:14) and that which the world considers to be foolish (preaching) is the very vehicle God selected to deliver His salvation message (1Cor 1:18,21). Never forget there are no actions or inactions that will cause God to love us either less or more. God loves us perfectly but the very fact that God abides faithful toward His unfaithful children should move His unfaithful children toward a faithful life. God has earned our love and devotion. Give Him your life today and then leave it in His hands!

1Sa 18:13  Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.  

In this passage we are introduced to a leadership principle that is essential to our success with those we influence.  You will remember that it was said of Saul that he had hid himself ‘among the stuff’ when they were looking for him to come forward as king.  In another situation, when the giant Goliath was defying the armies of Israel King Saul, who himself was head and shoulders taller than everyone else in Israel, was found in his tent.  Time and again Saul is found to be aloof from the people he was called to lead.  The responsibilities assigned to leadership in any position can pressure one to become introverted and lose focus on the social aspect of their position.  God has created us as social creatures and therefore fellowship and social interaction are essential to a balanced and successful life.  David was a man that remained in the presence of the people.  Upon returning from battles he did not hide in his tent or among his small circle of friends but placed himself amid the people, sharing with the stories of his forays into the enemy.  He shared stories of God’s grace and provision and in doing so built the faith of the people in their God.  It is important that we place ourselves in the presence of those in our circle of life.  Whether it be our spouse, children, church members, co-workers, etc., we must keep ourselves in the public forum to allow others to accept us and allow us to edify them.  Hebrews 10:25 says it this way, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  And Solomon stated the principle this way in Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”