“The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 2 So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: 3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. 4 And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.” Jeremiah 25:1-4 NIV
“8 Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, 9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. 10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 “But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate forever.”” Jeremiah 25:8-12 NIV
Lord Almighty,
You gave the people of Judah so many opportunities to return to You And then You had to do what You had spoken. 70 years labour under Babylonian rule. Hard servitude whether taken to Babylonia or left to serve in Judah.
I think back and see how many opportunities You gave me to find out about Jesus and Your love. I wonder You didn’t give up on me. And I am filled with gratitude that You are a God slow to anger. 70 years is a lifetime and their relief would again be seen by the next generation as with Moses in the wilderness. But like Your people Israel the church survives from one generation to the next. Not from children born to the family as with the tribes of Abraham but children adopted into Your family through Jesus.
And You promised the exiles that they would return to their home land, just as You promise us we will return to be with You one day (John 14:1-3). But help us to be faithful in heart and mind, so You do not have to send Jeremiahs among us.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 18th August 2025
This is a challenging promise for a Monday morning or any morning . . . thank God for Jesus
If you curse me, then I will bless you
If you hurt me, I will forgive
And if you hate me, then I will love you
I choose the Jesus way
If you’re helpless, I will defend you
And if you’re burdened, I’ll share the weight
And if you’re hopeless, then let me show you
There’s hope in the Jesus way
I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way
If you strike me, I will embrace you
And if you chain me, I’ll sing His praise
And if you kill me, my home is heaven
For I choose the Jesus way
I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way
And I choose surrender
I choose to love
Oh, God my Savior, You’ll always be enough
I choose forgiveness
I choose grace
I choose to worship, no matter what I face
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way
Lyrics: Jonathan Smith and Phil Wickham