Good day People of God in Christ Jesus. You are all welcome to another new day. Glory to God for the gift of life. It is a joyful new day for us all, in Jesus name.
In our today’s episode 503 of studying and understanding the Bible, we shall be looking into Jeremiah Chapter 13 titled:
Two Warning Signs Given To Jeremiah To Preach About
In Chapter 13 of the book of Jeremiah, we could see the two warning signs that the Prophet used to form the basis of his message to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
The first sign was “The Linen girdle” also known as sash or waistband.
The second sign was “The Wine Jar” used for storing wines in those days.
What do both signs signify?
Let’s start with the Linen girdle or sash or waistband.
The use of linen girdle or sash originated from the book of Exodus when God was giving instructions to Moses on how the Priests garment was to be designed and one of the major components of their garment was the sash. You will see this described in the book of Exodus Chapter 28.
Back to the book of Jeremiah, let’s read about how Jeremiah was instructed to apply this symbol or sign.
1 Thus saith the Lord unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
2 So I got a girdle according to the word of the Lord and put it on my loins.
Reading the chapter further, you will discover how he was instructed again to take the girdle that was already wrapped on his waist, to take it to the [river] Euphrates and hide it there in a crevice of the rock.
We all know what would happen to such cloth after some days right?
So, after some days, he was instructed again to go and check the status of the girdle and dig it up, which he did, only to discover that the gridle had decayed and ruined and completely worthless.
The implication of this symbolic demonstration was that Judah was the girdle that was initially on the Lord’s loin but because of pride, insubordination, disobedience and all forms of sins, they detached themselves from God and this gave the devil to penetrate their lives to wreak all forms of havoc.
That’s why Jeremiah says in verse 11 (AMP)…
11 For as the waistband clings to the body of a man, so I caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,’ says the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory; but they did not listen and obey.’
This is exactly what happened in Eden. Adam and Eve were on the Lord’s loin and they were enjoying the relationship until they disobeyed God and became detached from God and ruined by the devil. This same thing happened to humanity, because according to the Bible, we all came from Adam and as a result, we inherited the pattern of the sin of Adam and Eve.
However, because of God’s Love for us, He manifested Himself in human form, in the person of Christ Jesus, in order to rescue us from the shackles of sins. He paid the price we were unable to pay (Romans 6:23). He did this by dying on the cross, shedding His blood as a propitiation of man’s sin and then resurrected to finalize the whole process. It was a painful experience, which brought us eternal Salvation with Peace and Joy.
Essentially, God was not saying He was going to destroy the people of Judah. Rather, He was telling Jeremiah what the actions and behaviour of Judah would bring upon them.
God’s desire from the beginning has been to love and save not to destroy.
It’s human’s evil actions that always bring destructions.
In this chapter, it was their pride and rebellion that God was addressing.
The second warning sign which is “The Wine Jar,” is like the first. It’s their common practice those days to take wine.
That’s what verse 14 is talking about. They would be drunken to the point that they would be colliding with one another, smashing themselves against one another, which is typical of the behaviours of a drunken person.
He further warned them that if they refused to listen, they would eventually be invaded by the enemies and taken into captivity.
Remember, God will never force Himself on anyone, and that’s why He said, since they have refused to listen, He would withdraw from them and allow them satisfy their desire – drunken with wine, intoxicated and then face the consequences.
Apostle Paul gave a comprehensive description of such behaviour here, when he was describing the guilt of human race in Romans Chapter 1 from verse 18 but I will post here verses 28-32 (TPT)
28 And because they thought it was worthless to embrace the true knowledge of God, God gave them over to a worthless mind-set, to break all rules of proper conduct.
29 Their sinful lives became full of every kind of evil, wicked schemes, greed, and cruelty. Their hearts overflowed with jealous cravings, and with conflict and strife, which drove them into hateful arguments and murder. They are deceitful liars full of hostility. They are gossips
30 who love to spread malicious slander. With inflated egos they hurl hateful insults at God, yet they are nothing more than arrogant boasters. They are rebels against their parents and totally immoral.
31 They are senseless, faithless, ruthless, heartless, and completely merciless.
32 Although they are fully aware of God’s laws and proper order, and knowing that those who do all of these things deserve to die, yet they still go headlong into darkness, encouraging others to do the same and applauding them when they do!
So, how can we bring this to bear in the New Covenant dispensation?
It’s very clear. If you continue to live in sin, definitely you will face the consequences here on earth and ultimately at the end of the world, God’s judgment is coming upon the devil, his fallen angels and all sinners that refused to repent and receive the gift of Salvation.
The question now is: on whose side do you belong, God’s or the devil’s?
Ponder over this and amend where necessary.
Note that the compassion and tender mercy of God is still very much available right now. Delay no longer and receive Him into your life by faith and your sins will be blotted out and you will be enlisted among the Saints in Christ. Just like that? Yes, just like that. Take that leap of faith now…
2 Peter 3:15 (TPT) says: “And keep in mind that our Lord’s extraordinary patience simply means more opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him.”
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us pray:
- I declare you are found worthy of God’s eternal Salvation already. Receive the capacity to live pure lives always, without blemish and filled with eternal peace. You have this already, so, walk in it till He comes, in Jesus name.
- I declare concerning those who are already getting tired and wearied, receive divine strength to move forward, not going back on your life journey, doing greater works for God and humanity, in Jesus name.
- You will not live a wasted life, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: 2 Chronicles Chapters 31, 32 & 33 with Psalm 109
I call you blessed now and always.
Thursday August 13, 2020 (DDMI)