WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:02.420 They were on trial, not him. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:18.320 Happy Christmas Eve! Welcome! This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and I'm coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:25.200 I'm your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily podcast where we're reading through the entire Bible in a year. 00:00:25.720 --> 00:00:30.200 You've probably heard words to the effect, you don't know what you don't know. 00:00:30.720 --> 00:00:35.100 On yesterday's show, you probably remember that I mentioned to Sean of San Pedro that 00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:38.960 I wasn't getting his email, which he told me in a boostergram that he would send. 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:44.220 And I gave him an alternate email address to use, steve.lifespring at gmail.com. 00:00:44.620 --> 00:00:48.940 Well, today he sent an email to that address, which also contained the contents of several 00:00:49.180 --> 00:00:53.060 other emails he sent over the past few months, which I never received. 00:00:53.820 --> 00:01:01.320 I'm telling you this to say, if you have sent any emails to me and didn't receive a reply from me, it's not because I didn't care enough to respond. 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:04.199 I respond to Lifespring family emails. 00:01:04.910 --> 00:01:07.840 I didn't respond to you because I didn't know you emailed me. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:12.160 So, now that I know that there's definitely a problem with my email server, 00:01:12.590 --> 00:01:18.400 until I get to the bottom of it, please use steve.lifespring at gmail.com to email me. 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:21.980 And please resend any email you may have sent before. 00:01:23.380 --> 00:01:28.260 All right, with that out of the way, today our reading is Jeremiah 22 through 26, 00:01:29.020 --> 00:01:34.560 and I'm calling the episode, Courage. You can comment on this episode on the show notes page 00:01:34.660 --> 00:01:42.300 for this episode, which is lifespringmedia.com slash S12E116. So, let's get to the reading. 00:01:45.440 --> 00:01:52.139 Jeremiah chapter 22. The Lord says, Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak this 00:01:52.160 --> 00:01:56.920 word there. Say, Hear the word of the Lord, O King of Judah, who sits on David's throne, 00:01:57.510 --> 00:02:02.640 you and your servants and your people who come through these gates. The Lord says, Do what is 00:02:02.820 --> 00:02:07.800 right and fair and good, and take the one who has been robbed away from the power of the one who 00:02:07.810 --> 00:02:13.380 has made it hard for him. Do not hurt or do wrong to the stranger, the one whose parents have died, 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:18.800 or the woman whose husband has died, and do not kill those who are not guilty in this place. 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:24.420 For if you will obey this word, then kings will come through the gates of this house and sit on 00:02:24.420 --> 00:02:29.780 the throne of David. They will be in war wagons and on horses, together with their servants and 00:02:29.780 --> 00:02:34.980 their people. But if you will not obey these words, I promise by myself, says the Lord, 00:02:35.480 --> 00:02:40.280 that this house will be destroyed. For the Lord says about the house of the king of Judah, 00:02:40.820 --> 00:02:46.439 You are like Gilead to me, or like the top of Lebanon. Yet I will be sure to make you like a 00:02:46.460 --> 00:02:52.140 desert, like cities without people. I will send destroyers against you, each with his things for 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:57.900 fighting. And they will cut down your best cedar trees and throw them on the fire. Many nations 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:02.980 will pass by this city, and they will say to one another, Why has the Lord done such a thing to 00:03:02.980 --> 00:03:08.480 this great city? And they will answer, Because they did not keep the agreement of the Lord their God. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:15.180 They worshipped other gods and served them. Do not cry for the one who is dead or have sorrow for him, 00:03:15.260 --> 00:03:20.400 but cry all the time for the one who goes away, for he will never return or see the land of his 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:26.200 birth again. For the Lord says about Shalom the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who ruled in the 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:32.180 place of Josiah his father, and who left this place, he will never return. He will die in the 00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:38.120 place where they took him, and he will not see this land again. It is bad for him who builds this 00:03:38.260 --> 00:03:43.759 house by wrongdoing, and his upper rooms by not being fair, who has his neighbors serve him for 00:03:43.780 --> 00:03:49.620 nothing, and does not pay him, who says, I will build myself a big house with large upper rooms, 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:54.220 I will cut out its windows, cover it with cedar, and color it bright red. 00:03:55.120 --> 00:04:01.180 Do you become a king by trying to build better houses of cedar? Did not your father eat and drink? 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:08.019 He did what was right and fair and good, so all went well with him. He spoke strong words in the 00:04:08.040 --> 00:04:13.900 cause of the poor in those in need, and so all went well. Is not that what it means to know me, 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:19.200 says the Lord? But your eyes and heart are set only on what you can get by wrongdoing, 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:24.640 and on killing those who are not guilty, and on making it hard for people, and on hurting others. 00:04:25.280 --> 00:04:28.800 So the Lord says about Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:34.700 They will not cry in sorrow for him, saying, It is bad, my brother, or it is bad, my sister. 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:40.320 They will not cry in sorrow for him, saying, O Lord, or, O how great he was! 00:04:40.960 --> 00:04:46.540 He will be buried like they bury a donkey, pulled away and thrown out on the other side of the gates of Jerusalem. 00:04:47.520 --> 00:04:51.420 Go up to Lebanon and cry out, and let your voice be heard in Bashan. 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:55.720 Cry out from Abram also, for all your lovers have been destroyed. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:05:00.380 I spoke to you when things were going well for you, but you said, I will not listen. 00:05:01.280 --> 00:05:04.940 This has been your way since you were young. You have not obeyed my voice. 00:05:05.700 --> 00:05:09.920 The wind will take away all your shepherds, and your lovers will be taken away in chains. 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:13.580 Then you will be ashamed and troubled because of all your sin. 00:05:14.320 --> 00:05:17.720 O you people of Lebanon, who make your nest among the cedars, 00:05:18.180 --> 00:05:21.420 how you will cry inside yourselves when pain comes upon you! 00:05:21.880 --> 00:05:23.760 It will be pain like a woman giving birth. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:29.740 As I live, says the Lord, even if Coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:33.560 were marking a ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:37.680 I will give you over to those who want to kill you, to those whom you fear. 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:42.260 I will give you to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and to the Babylonians. 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:47.600 I will throw you and your mother who gave birth to you into another country where you were not born, 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:49.100 and there you will die. 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:52.960 You will want to return to this land again, but you will not return. 00:05:53.760 --> 00:05:56.320 Is this man Caniah a hated, broken jar? 00:05:56.780 --> 00:05:59.100 Is he a pot that no one cares for? 00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:03.700 Why have he and his children been thrown out into a land that they had not known? 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:07.960 O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord. 00:06:08.670 --> 00:06:14.060 The Lord says, Write this man down as one who has no children, a man who will not do 00:06:14.220 --> 00:06:14.940 well in his days. 00:06:15.640 --> 00:06:20.000 For none of his children or children's children will do well sitting on the throne of David 00:06:20.390 --> 00:06:21.920 or ruling again in Judah. 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:24.579 Jeremiah chapter 23 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:30.520 It is bad for the shepherds who are destroying and dividing the sheep of my field, says the Lord. 00:06:31.280 --> 00:06:35.020 The Lord God of Israel says this about the shepherds who are caring for my people. 00:06:35.820 --> 00:06:40.500 You have made my flock go everywhere, and have driven them away, and have not cared for them. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:45.060 See, I am about to punish you for your sinful things you have done, says the Lord. 00:06:45.820 --> 00:06:50.460 Then I myself will gather those who are left of my flock out of the countries where I have driven 00:06:50.570 --> 00:06:54.420 them, and will bring them back to their field, and they will have many children. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:59.840 I will have shepherds over them who will care for them, and they will not be afraid any longer, 00:07:00.210 --> 00:07:03.720 or filled with fear, and none of them will be missing, says the Lord. 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:09.920 See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a right and good branch. 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:15.240 He will rule as king, and be wise, and do what is right and fair and good in the land. 00:07:16.020 --> 00:07:22.540 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will be safe. And this is the name he will be called by, 00:07:22.880 --> 00:07:28.560 the Lord who makes us right and good. So see, the days are coming, says the Lord, 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:33.940 when they will no longer say, as the Lord lives, who brought the sons of Israel up from the land 00:07:33.940 --> 00:07:39.100 of Egypt. But they will say, as the Lord lives, who brought up and led the children of the people 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:43.400 of Israel back from the north country and from all the countries where he had driven them. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:48.800 Then they will live in their own land. As for the men who speak for God, 00:07:48.820 --> 00:07:56.060 my heart is broken within me. All my bones shake. I have become like a drunk man, like a man who has 00:07:56.160 --> 00:08:02.120 had too much wine, because of the Lord and because of His holy words. For the land is full of people 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:07.520 who are not faithful. Because of the bad things that have come upon it, the land is filled with 00:08:07.730 --> 00:08:13.399 sorrow, and the fields of the desert have dried up. Their way is sinful, and they use their power 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:19.720 in a wrong way. For both the men of God and the religious leaders are sinful. I have found their 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:25.800 sin even in my house, says the Lord. So their way will be a danger to them. They will be driven away 00:08:26.020 --> 00:08:31.040 into the darkness and fall down in it. For I will bring much trouble upon them in the year of their 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:37.620 punishment, says the Lord. In Samaria I have seen a very bad thing among the men of Samaria who tell 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:43.380 what is going to happen in the future. They speak for the false god Baal and have led my people 00:08:43.400 --> 00:08:49.340 into sin. In Jerusalem I have seen a very sinful thing among the men of Jerusalem who tell what is 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:55.600 going to happen in the future. They do sex sins and tell lies, and give help to those who do sinful 00:08:55.780 --> 00:09:01.740 things, so that no one turns from his sin. All of them have become like Sodom to me. The people of 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:07.020 Jerusalem have become like Gomorrah. So the Lord of all says about the men who tell what is going 00:09:07.020 --> 00:09:12.240 to happen in the future, See, I will make them eat bitter food and drink water with poison. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:16.720 For from these men of Jerusalem sin is gone out into all the land. 00:09:17.700 --> 00:09:22.040 The Lord of all says, Do not listen to the words of those who are telling you what will 00:09:22.260 --> 00:09:22.940 happen in the future. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:25.100 They are filling you with empty hopes. 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:29.260 They tell of dreams from their own thoughts, not from the mouth of the Lord. 00:09:30.040 --> 00:09:34.140 They keep saying to those who hate me, The Lord has said, Ye will have peace. 00:09:35.180 --> 00:09:39.740 To everyone who walks in the strong will of his own heart they say, Trouble will not come 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:40.040 to you. 00:09:40.780 --> 00:09:45.360 But who among them has listened to the Lord, that he should see and hear his word? 00:09:45.920 --> 00:09:48.140 Who has given thought to his word and listened? 00:09:48.880 --> 00:09:52.300 See, the strong windstorm of the Lord is gone out in anger. 00:09:52.900 --> 00:09:54.940 It will come down upon the head of the sinful. 00:09:55.620 --> 00:10:00.500 The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has done all that he has planned in his heart. 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:03.200 In the last days you will understand. 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:08.900 I did not send these men who say they speak for God, yet they ran to tell their news. 00:10:09.520 --> 00:10:12.480 I did not speak to them, yet they spoke in my name. 00:10:13.420 --> 00:10:17.420 But if they had listened to me, then they would have made my words known to my people, 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:22.420 and they would have turned them back from their sinful way and from the sinful things they did. 00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:27.480 Am I a God who is near, says the Lord, and not a God who is far away? 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:32.920 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him, says the Lord? 00:10:33.560 --> 00:10:36.100 Do I not fill heaven and earth, says the Lord? 00:10:37.160 --> 00:10:40.420 I have heard what the men say who speak false words in my name. 00:10:41.040 --> 00:10:43.320 They say, I had a dream, I had a dream. 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:48.280 How long will there be lies in the hearts of those who speak false words in my name, 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:50.500 who speak the lies of their own heart? 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:55.660 They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams which they tell one another, 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:58.800 just as their fathers forgot my name because of Baal. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:01.820 The one who has a dream may tell about his dream, 00:11:02.400 --> 00:11:05.440 but let him who has my word speak my word in truth. 00:11:06.300 --> 00:11:09.060 How can straw be compared with grain, says the Lord? 00:11:09.780 --> 00:11:14.760 Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like iron that breaks a rock in pieces? 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:19.480 So I am against those who tell what is going to happen in the future, says the Lord, 00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:21.600 who steal my words from each other. 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:26.840 See, I am against these men, says the Lord, who use their tongues and say, 00:11:27.300 --> 00:11:28.680 This is what the Lord says. 00:11:29.160 --> 00:11:32.160 I am against those who have told false dreams, says the Lord, 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:36.780 and have led my people the wrong way by their lies and foolish words of pride. 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:39.560 I did not send them or tell them what to say, 00:11:40.180 --> 00:11:42.720 so they do not help these people at all, says the Lord. 00:11:43.540 --> 00:11:45.920 When these people, or the one who speaks in my name, 00:11:46.420 --> 00:11:48.040 or a religious leader asks you, 00:11:48.400 --> 00:11:50.480 What heavy load has the Lord placed on us? 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:51.940 Then you say to them, 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:55.680 You are the heavy load, and I will throw you off, says the Lord. 00:11:56.300 --> 00:11:59.160 As for the man who speaks in my name, or the religious leader, 00:11:59.640 --> 00:12:05.280 or any one of the people who say, The heavy load of the Lord, I will punish that man and those of 00:12:05.280 --> 00:12:10.240 his house. Each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, What has the Lord answered? or, 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:17.600 What has the Lord said? But you must not say, The heavy load of the Lord, any more. For every man's 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:23.140 own word will be the weight upon himself, and you have made sinful the words of the living God, 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:28.480 the Lord of all, our God. This is what you should say to the man who speaks in my name. 00:12:29.020 --> 00:12:32.580 What answer has the Lord given you, and what has the Lord said? 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:37.140 But if you say, The heavy load of the Lord, then the Lord says, 00:12:37.470 --> 00:12:41.380 You have said, The heavy load of the Lord, when I told you not to say it. 00:12:41.880 --> 00:12:44.360 So I will pick you up and throw you away from me, 00:12:44.790 --> 00:12:47.520 together with the city which I gave to you and your fathers. 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:49.640 I will put you to shame forever. 00:12:50.110 --> 00:12:53.140 You will always be ashamed, and it will not be forgotten. 00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.979 Jeremiah chapter 24 00:12:56.940 --> 00:13:02.060 After King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took away Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:07.480 and the leaders of Judah, together with the able workmen from Jerusalem, and brought them to Babylon, 00:13:08.160 --> 00:13:12.340 the Lord showed me two baskets of figs set in front of the house of the Lord. 00:13:13.140 --> 00:13:19.000 One basket had very good figs, like figs just ready to eat, and the other basket had very bad 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:25.120 figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. Then the Lord said to me, What do you see, Jeremiah? 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:33.060 And I said, Figs, the good figs, very good, and the bad figs, very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:38.540 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, This is what the Lord God of Israel says. 00:13:39.260 --> 00:13:44.180 Like those good figs, so will I think of the people of Judah as being good, whom I have sent 00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:48.780 away from this place into the land of the Babylonians, for I will keep my eyes on them for 00:13:48.780 --> 00:13:54.100 their good, and I will return them to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:57.160 I will plant them and not pull them up by the roots. 00:13:57.860 --> 00:14:00.960 And I will give them a heart to know me, for I am the Lord. 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:06.340 They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with their 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:06.980 whole heart. 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:13.200 But the Lord says, Like the bad figs which are so bad they cannot be eaten, so I will 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:18.560 give up Zedekiah king of Judah and his captains, and I will give up those left of Jerusalem 00:14:18.660 --> 00:14:21.580 who stay in this land, and those who live in the land of Egypt. 00:14:22.260 --> 00:14:25.660 I will make them a cause of fear and trouble for the nations of the earth. 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:30.720 They will be a shame and a curse and spoken against in all the places where I will make them go. 00:14:31.400 --> 00:14:34.620 And I will send the sword and hunger and disease upon them 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:38.200 until they are destroyed from the land which I gave to them and their fathers. 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.580 Jeremiah chapter 25 00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:45.440 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:48.920 in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.900 that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:57.480 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 00:14:58.460 --> 00:15:03.000 For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Ammon, king of Judah, 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:08.500 to this day, the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:13.580 but you have not listened. You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, 00:15:14.140 --> 00:15:18.520 although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, saying, 00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:25.340 Turn now every one of you from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the Lord 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:31.740 has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. Do not go after other gods, or serve and 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:38.100 worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm. Yet you 00:15:38.140 --> 00:15:43.019 have not listened to me, declares the Lord, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your 00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:49.840 hands to your own harm. Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, Because you have not obeyed my 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:56.060 words, behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord, and for Nebuchadnezzar, 00:15:56.060 --> 00:16:01.180 the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:07.600 and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:13.620 a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. Moreover, I will banish them from the voice 00:16:13.760 --> 00:16:18.460 of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:24.120 the grinding of the millstones, and the light of the lamp. This whole land shall become a ruin and 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:30.520 a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then, after seventy years 00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:35.840 are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:42.420 for their iniquity, declares the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste. I will bring upon that 00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:47.520 land all the words that I have uttered against it, everything written in this book, which Jeremiah 00:16:47.880 --> 00:16:53.520 prophesied against all the nations. For many nations and great kings shall make slaves even 00:16:53.590 --> 00:16:58.400 of them, and I will recompense them according to their deeds and the work of their hands. 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:04.959 Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me, Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, 00:17:05.020 --> 00:17:11.240 and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. They shall drink and stagger and be crazed 00:17:11.439 --> 00:17:17.439 because of the sword that I am sending among them. So I took the cup from the Lord's hand and made all 00:17:17.439 --> 00:17:22.760 the nations to whom the Lord sent me drink it, Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:28.979 officials, to make them a desolation and a waste, a hissing and a curse as at this day, Pharaoh king 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:34.400 of Egypt, his servants, his officials, all his people, and all the mixed tribes among them. 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:40.880 All the kings of the land of Uz and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:48.200 Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod, Edom, Moab, and the sons of Ammon, all the kings of Tyre, 00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:54.360 all the kings of Sidon, and all the kings of the coastland across the sea, Dedan, Tema, 00:17:54.780 --> 00:18:00.560 Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair, all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of 00:18:00.560 --> 00:18:05.700 the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert, all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:11.520 and all the kings of Media, all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another, 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.820 and all the kingdoms of the world that are on the face of the earth, and after them the king of 00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:23.200 Babylon shall drink. Then you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:30.060 Drink, be drunk, and vomit. Fall and rise no more, because of the sword that I am sending among you. 00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:35.300 And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:41.660 Thus says the Lord of hosts, You must drink. For behold, I begin to work disaster at the city that 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:47.960 is called by my name, and you shall go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:53.580 sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the Lord of hosts. You therefore shall 00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:58.460 Prophesy against them all these words, and say to them, The Lord will roar from on high, 00:18:58.860 --> 00:19:04.900 and from His holy habitation utter His voice. He will roar mightily against His fold, and shout, 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:10.380 like those who tread grapes against all the inhabitants of the earth. The clamor will resound 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:15.420 to the ends of the earth, for the Lord has an indictment against the nations. He is entering 00:19:15.560 --> 00:19:20.360 into judgment with all flesh, and the wicked He will put to the sword, declares the Lord. 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:27.240 Thus says the Lord of hosts, Behold, disaster is going forth from nation to nation, and a great 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:32.440 tempest is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth, and those pierced by the Lord on that day 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:37.540 shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, 00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:43.240 or buried. They shall be dung on the surface of the ground. Wail, you shepherds, and cry out, 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:48.540 and roll in ashes, you lords of the flock. For the days of your slaughter and dispersion have come, 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:53.840 and you shall fall like a choice vessel. No refuge will remain for the shepherds, 00:19:53.990 --> 00:19:59.300 nor escape for the lords of the flock. A voice, the cry of the shepherds, and the wail of the 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:04.320 lords of the flock. For the Lord is laying waste their pasture, and the peaceful folds are 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:09.520 devastated because of the fierce anger of the Lord. Like a lion he has left his lair, 00:20:09.850 --> 00:20:14.680 for their land is become a waste because of the sword of the oppressor, and because of his fierce 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:21.960 anger. Jeremiah chapter 26. In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:28.400 king of Judah, this word came from the Lord. Thus says the Lord, Stand in the court of the Lord's 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:32.880 house, and speak to all the nations of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord, 00:20:33.190 --> 00:20:38.700 all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not hold back a word. It may be they will 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:43.940 listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:49.780 to them because of their evil deeds. You shall say to them, Thus says the Lord, If you will not 00:20:50.040 --> 00:20:54.840 listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, and to listen to the words of my 00:20:55.180 --> 00:21:00.280 servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, then I will make 00:21:00.320 --> 00:21:05.180 this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth. 00:21:06.060 --> 00:21:10.480 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:15.200 of the Lord. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him 00:21:15.230 --> 00:21:20.000 to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:25.920 saying, You shall die. Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be 00:21:26.020 --> 00:21:31.180 like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without inhabitant? And all the people gathered 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:36.220 around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. When the officials of Judah heard these things, 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:40.460 they came up from the king's house to the house of the Lord, and took their seat in the 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:45.400 of the new gate of the house of the Lord. Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:50.640 and to all the people, This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied 00:21:50.800 --> 00:21:56.380 against this city, as you have heard with your own ears. Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials 00:21:56.640 --> 00:22:01.920 and all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the 00:22:02.060 --> 00:22:07.460 words you have heard. Now therefore, mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:11.900 your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:17.880 But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:23.820 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:29.800 upon this city and its inhabitants. For in truth, the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words 00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:35.180 in your ears. Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:40.960 This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord 00:22:41.020 --> 00:22:46.300 our God. And certain of the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembled people, 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:52.820 saying, Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:59.200 people of Judah, Thus says the Lord of hosts, Zion shall be plowed as a field, Jerusalem shall 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:05.560 become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height. Did Hezekiah king of Judah 00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:10.660 all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord? 00:23:11.260 --> 00:23:16.180 And did not the Lord relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:21.980 to bring great disaster upon ourselves. There was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, 00:23:22.300 --> 00:23:27.860 Uriah the son of Shemaah from Kiriath-Jerim. He prophesied against this city and against this 00:23:28.040 --> 00:23:33.540 land in words like those of Jeremiah. And when King Jehoiakim with all his warriors and all the 00:23:33.560 --> 00:23:38.600 officials heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah heard of it, 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:44.880 he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt. Then King Jehoiakim sent to Egypt certain men, 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:50.660 Elnathan the son of Achbor and others with him. And they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him 00:23:50.760 --> 00:23:55.960 to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and dumped his body into the burial place 00:23:55.960 --> 00:24:01.580 of the common people. But the hand of Ahicham the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was 00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:08.140 not given over to the people to be put to death. I'm going to talk today about Jeremiah 26, 00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:12.340 but before I do, I'm just going to reread the first six verses to you. 00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:18.140 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:24.120 the Lord. Thus says the Lord, Stand in the court of the Lord's house and speak to all the cities of 00:24:24.230 --> 00:24:28.800 Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak 00:24:28.820 --> 00:24:34.500 to them, do not hold back a word. It may be they will listen, and every one will turn from his 00:24:34.780 --> 00:24:40.520 evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds. 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:46.440 You shall say to them, Thus says the Lord, if you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:51.580 have set before you, and to listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I send to you 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:56.960 urgently, though you have not listened, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make 00:24:56.980 --> 00:25:03.560 this city a curse for all the nations of the earth. All right. A prophet of God is one who 00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:09.700 speaks what God has told him to say. Prophecy is not only telling what will happen. Prophecy 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:17.040 is delivering God's message. And here in chapter 26, God gave a very specific message to Jeremiah, 00:25:17.820 --> 00:25:22.300 and he told Jeremiah to speak all the words that I command you to speak to them, 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:27.980 do not hold back a word. Well, given the message that Jeremiah was to deliver, it took quite a bit 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:34.340 of courage to do this. He was to go to the temple court. Now, this was a large area where a lot of 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:40.240 people gathered. And, by all accounts, Jeremiah seems to have been a quiet man, a retiring man, 00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:46.080 not a man who relished the limelight. And in his instructions, God told Jeremiah, 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:51.380 it may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:56.580 disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds. It's important to know that when 00:25:56.760 --> 00:26:02.440 God said, it may be that they'll listen, He knew, of course, how this message would be received. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:08.560 But He wanted Jeremiah to deliver the message with a hopeful heart. He wanted Jeremiah to 00:26:08.800 --> 00:26:13.620 communicate to the people in a way that told them that their future was in their hands, 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:18.040 not as if the decision to bring judgment was a foregone conclusion. 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:24.900 So Jeremiah obediently followed the Lord's instructions to the letter. And when the people 00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:30.120 heard the message, they laid hold of him, saying, You shall die. And the text says, 00:26:30.580 --> 00:26:33.960 And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. 00:26:34.750 --> 00:26:40.880 This beloved was an angry mob. They were bent on killing him because they didn't like his message. 00:26:41.520 --> 00:26:46.740 And even the priests and prophets said, This man deserves the sentence of death because he has 00:26:46.760 --> 00:26:51.740 prophesied against this city. So they seemed to have thought that Jeremiah was a traitor. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:58.180 They thought he was against Jerusalem. And then what happened? Jeremiah made his case to the 00:26:58.360 --> 00:27:03.820 officials and all the people. He said, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:10.340 city all the words you have heard. Now therefore, mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:16.040 of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that He has pronounced against you. 00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:23.080 So Jeremiah restated exactly what the Lord had told him to say. He didn't soften his words. He 00:27:23.280 --> 00:27:29.360 didn't try to make it any easier to hear. He faithfully delivered the message. Do you think 00:27:29.410 --> 00:27:34.620 that was an easy thing to do, in the face of an angry mob who had just threatened his life? 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:41.940 And then he went on to say, But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:47.820 write to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood 00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:54.340 upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants. For in truth, the Lord sent me to 00:27:54.400 --> 00:28:00.860 you to speak all these words in your ears. I don't think Jeremiah spoke defiantly in his defense. 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:06.720 I don't think he mirrored the anger that the people had. I think he spoke matter-of-factly. 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:10.660 He was at the mercy of the crowd and the priests and the prophets of the temple. 00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:16.660 He just pointed out to them that his message was from God, and that if they killed him, 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:22.680 they would be shedding innocent blood. In reality, they were on trial, not him. 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:27.480 17th century English Bible commentator John Trapp wrote, 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:34.440 See here how God gave His holy prophet a mouth and wisdom, such as His adversaries were not 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:40.280 able to resist. In the first chapter of Jeremiah, verse 19, God told Jeremiah, 00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:44.720 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:47.900 for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you. 00:28:48.560 --> 00:28:52.200 And here in chapter 26, after hearing Jeremiah's words, 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:54.480 the officials and all the people said, 00:28:55.020 --> 00:28:57.640 This man does not deserve the sentence of death, 00:28:58.140 --> 00:29:02.940 for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God, and Jeremiah was spared. 00:29:04.040 --> 00:29:09.780 Beloved, like Jeremiah, we live in a time where speaking God's truth can be frightening. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:16.660 cancel culture is alive and well. There can be very real consequences for speaking against the 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:22.880 ungodly, sinful things we see happening around us. And in some countries, even this very day, 00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:29.120 Christians are being killed simply for being Christians. And I hate to say it, but as quickly 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:35.180 as we're seeing societal changes take place in the world, it is entirely conceivable that these 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:42.920 murders will spread. Will we have the courage of Jeremiah? Will we speak the undiluted truth of God? 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:50.800 Beloved, now is the time to decide. Now is the time. Will you stand up to the angry mob, 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:58.520 or will you kneel to them? What do you say? Comment at Lifespringmedia.com slash S12E116. 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:05.160 Tomorrow we'll read Mark 13 and 14, plus I'll have a special encore presentation of the 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:11.160 Christmas story that James Cooper of whychristmas.com and I did way back in 2010 with several of our 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:15.980 friends for the Lifespring Why Christmas podcast. I don't think you'll want to miss that. I think 00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:22.540 you'll enjoy it. Boost! There's still time to make a Christmas donation to the show. 00:30:22.860 --> 00:30:25.980 You can do that at lifespringmedia.com support. 00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:39.140 On this date in Church history, December 24, 1818, the first singing of Silent Night, or 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:44.680 Stille Nacht, is heard. The original German verses of this timeless Christmas carol were 00:30:44.750 --> 00:30:50.140 written by Joseph Moore, the parish priest of Oberndorf, Austria. Its music was composed by 00:30:50.210 --> 00:30:54.880 church organist Franz Gruber. You already knew those things, but you didn't know that today 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:59.500 was the 203rd anniversary of the first singing of Silent Night. 00:31:00.280 --> 00:31:08.260 And on December 24, 1912, Lottie Moon, or Charlotte Moon, American Baptist missionary to China, died. 00:31:09.060 --> 00:31:12.120 After 40 years of service with the Southern Baptist Mission Board, 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:15.520 she suffered with the Chinese people in a terrible famine. 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:18.360 And slowly starving while sharing her food with others, 00:31:18.800 --> 00:31:22.600 she later died aboard the ship that was taking her back to America. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:36.360 In Sean's email to me today, he said how he continues to improve. 00:31:36.610 --> 00:31:40.120 It seems like with so much continuous improvement, he'd be home by now. 00:31:40.540 --> 00:31:42.280 But nope, he's still in the hospital. 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:46.040 Ann visits every morning on her way to work and again after work. 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:49.100 Family does their best to visit him during the workday. 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:55.220 It's a long, slow process of weaning him off the oxygen supply and restrengthening his lost muscles. 00:31:56.020 --> 00:31:59.580 Sean says, my wife Brittany and I will be driving out there on Christmas Eve, 00:32:00.040 --> 00:32:03.900 probably arriving a bit after 1.30 a.m. local time in Phoenix. 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:10.120 So we need to continue to pray for Howie, for the family, and for safe travels for Sean and Brittany. 00:32:10.780 --> 00:32:11.280 Let's pray. 00:32:12.040 --> 00:32:15.560 Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your assurance that you are always with us. 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:21.140 Jesus said, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, and we believe that promise. 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:27.760 I pray, Lord, that you would give us the kind of courage that Jeremiah had. Give us the words to 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:33.300 speak, Lord, and give us the courage to speak them, even in the face of the angry mob which 00:32:33.520 --> 00:32:38.700 seems to be so prevalent today. It is good to know that you are with us, come what may. 00:32:39.540 --> 00:32:43.979 And thank you so much for the healing that is taking place in Howie. I pray that you would 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:49.060 continue to strengthen him, and we pray that he'd be able to go home soon. And I pray that you'll 00:32:49.080 --> 00:32:54.820 give Sean and Brittany a safe drive to visit the family in Phoenix. And Lord, I thank you for the 00:32:54.920 --> 00:33:00.020 LifeSpring family. I pray that you would bless them today and tomorrow, and that this Christmas 00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:05.020 would be a time of love and rejoicing with their family. And Lord, for those who will be missing 00:33:05.280 --> 00:33:11.479 loved ones, be with them in a very special way, as only you can do, Lord. This can be a difficult 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:17.820 time for some, but you are our comforter. Even in the midst of loss, Lord, show them how they can 00:33:17.820 --> 00:33:26.300 be truly joyful in you. Enfold them, Lord, in your arms of love. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:33:27.360 --> 00:33:32.940 Please do send in your prayer requests at prayer.lifespringmedia.com and send in your praises. 00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:36.700 It's really great to hear how God is working in your life. 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:38.940 prayer.lifespringmedia.com 00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:50.360 As you know, I am committed to bringing this show to you every day, and tomorrow will be no different. 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:53.640 But I also know that you might have a thing or two to do tomorrow, 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:57.060 and you might not be listening to tomorrow's show until sometime later. 00:33:57.400 --> 00:34:01.440 So, on this Christmas Eve, I just want to tell you how thankful I am for you, 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:06.140 and that I truly hope that this Christmas will be the best Christmas you've ever had. 00:34:06.820 --> 00:34:11.360 Take time to say thank you to Jesus for giving up the glories of heaven to be born in that 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:16.540 Bethlehem manger so many years ago, so that he would ultimately be sacrificed on a cross 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:22.240 in your place and mine, and three days later be resurrected in victory over sin and death, 00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:27.679 so that all who believe would have eternal life. That is the real Christmas story. 00:34:32.060 --> 00:34:36.139 Since today is the 203rd anniversary of the first singing of Silent Night, 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:40.120 I think it's only appropriate to bring you one of my favorite versions of that song. 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:43.379 This is Brian Duncan and the Neo Soul Band. 00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:46.179 Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.700 Thank you for being here. 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:49.040 I'm Steve Webb. 00:34:49.520 --> 00:34:50.500 Have a Merry Christmas. 00:34:51.379 --> 00:34:51.520 Bye. 00:34:54.279 --> 00:34:55.399 Silent night 00:35:00.700 --> 00:35:01.820 Holy night 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:10.620 All is calm, all is bright 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:21.180 Round yon virgin, mother and child 00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:32.160 Holy infant so tender and mild 00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:39.940 Sleep in heavenly peace 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:51.720 Sleep in heavenly peace 00:36:00.540 --> 00:36:08.680 Silent night, holy night 00:36:11.540 --> 00:36:18.500 Shepherds quail at the sight 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:28.380 A glorious dream from heaven afar 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:39.140 Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah 00:36:42.260 --> 00:36:48.700 Christ the Lord, the Lord, the Lord 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:58.480 Christ the Savior is born 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:08.280 Christ the Savior is born 00:37:18.220 --> 00:37:21.420 Born a Savior on a silent night 00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:25.980 Sleep now in heavenly peace 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:31.940 Holy calm and bright silent night 00:37:32.820 --> 00:37:37.560 Keep us in heavenly peace 00:37:38.759 --> 00:37:42.280 Wanderers stall out on a silent night 00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:46.820 Keep us in heavenly peace 00:37:48.880 --> 00:37:52.860 Angels sing to a king's silent night 00:37:53.580 --> 00:37:58.020 Keep us in heavenly peace 00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:03.720 Peace on earth, good wills warning 00:38:03.740 --> 00:38:06.400 All keep us safe 00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:09.560 Heaven and peace 00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:12.480 Holy calm and bright 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.840 Silent night 00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:16.840 All keep us safe 00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:19.860 Heaven and peace 00:38:20.700 --> 00:38:22.600 Wonderous starlight 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:24.120 On a silent night 00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:27.180 All keep us safe 00:38:27.640 --> 00:38:30.460 Heaven and peace 00:38:30.700 --> 00:38:34.720 Angels sing to a king's silent night 00:38:35.620 --> 00:38:37.800 On a beautiful sea 00:38:38.560 --> 00:38:40.780 Heaven and me 00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:46.080 On a king's silent night 00:38:46.080 --> 00:38:48.180 On a beautiful sea 00:38:49.040 --> 00:38:50.880 Heaven and me 00:38:52.200 --> 00:38:54.100 Calm and bright 00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:56.960 On a silent night 00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:58.820 Sleep now. 00:38:59.630 --> 00:38:59.980 Heaven. 00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:01.280 Hey. 00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:02.620 Hey. 00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:04.880 One Restore Life