…And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, and said unto them, “Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before Him; ‘If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him,’ saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land…’ ”
Jeremiah 42:7-12
afraid
…Because you have put your trust in Me…
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
“Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day,” saith the LORD: “and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the LORD.”
Jeremiah 39:15-18
Envy with Hatred: Evidence of Departure from GOD
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, “I will smite David even to the wall with it.” And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
1 Samuel 18:10-16
They that trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
Psalm 125:1
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, and discover not a secret to another: lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Proverbs 25:9-10
When I Am Afraid
“Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou Most High.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” Psalm 56:1-4 (KJB)
What a Way to Treat the Word of God
“Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.” Jeremiah 36:24 (KJB)
My thoughts as I read through Jeremiah 34 – 36 this morning is the title – “What a way to treat the word of God”. It is the word of God.
It was from God, given to Jeremiah, to have read before king Jehoiakim. To this present time the king had paid no heed to the word of the LORD. God is merciful, and kind, and patient with His people. He will not allow evil in His people to go unanswered.
How can a king who is leading God’s people be so spiteful, hateful, and just downright wicked toward God, His word, and His prophet? It seems like a frightening thing to me.
Yet, notice in the verses before and after the text above. The king cut the written words up into pieces, then threw them into the fire; not even willing to hear what God says. Some plead with the king not to do it; and he does not hear them. “They were not afraid” neither did they “tear their garments” in remorse.
I am seeing things similar to this in many who call themselves “Christian” today. Maybe not actually taking a Bible and cutting it up, throwing it in the fire; but just out and out rebellion, unbelief, and making statements such as “The Bible is antiquated and unnecessary for our day”. There are even a few religious “churches” who have no respect for the word of God. They allow what God condemns; even to ordaining leaders who commit abomination against God and His word.
When professing Christians are believing that there are other ways to God and Heaven, and that Jesus Christ is only one of many ways, they are shunning the word of God, and declaring the words of men just as valuable as the word of God. That accusation is against the word of God, tears it to shreds, and throws it into the fires of the false prophets.
Jesus Christ Himself said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no one comes unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6) Through Jesus Christ alone is the salvation of those in Adam’s race. You can believe that, and trust Him, or you will perish.
As They Followed Him They Were Afraid
“And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto Him,
‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles: and they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall rise again.’” Mark 10:32-34 (KJB)
This was the final time Jesus and His disciples would be going up to Jerusalem. The disciples seemed to understand that, but not really understanding the coming consequences of this trip. They had heard Jesus mentioned His death; and they had seen the hatred of the religious leaders toward Him.
They probably were afraid of any coming backlash against them, because they were His followers; and of what would become of them following the worst they could imagine.
Verse 32 was my focus as I was reading chapters 10-12 today. There are times I am fearful. Sometimes it is a senseless fear. I mean by that it is something contrived in my own mind. Other times it comes from real time and life situations. When ever fear invades is usually when I am not expecting it. When I am afraid I choose to hear what the Master says, rather than what my fearful thoughts have imagined.
I have learned that I must question my fears; never my faith. I am still learning that.
Don’t you just love the way Jesus comforts, and encourages His disciples? He tells them the events that are going to happen; the ones they are fearful of; but does not leave them without the promise, “He shall rise again.”
Are you going through a fearful situation? Is it something too big for you to handle? Is it a contriving of your own mind? Either way remember He has risen. He died on the cross for the sins of the world; yours and mine; then, He was buried, and He rose again. He forever lives that we too might live and reign with Him forever.
Great and Awesome GOD
What happens when we do not fear God? Do we really want an answer? I will answer it. We will fear everything else, and be crippled by that fear even though there is only a perceived notion, or a shadow in the darkness ahead. BOO!
This is something the LORD has been revealing to me for the past few years. If I fear God, there is absolutely nothing I need to fear. If I do not fear God, then I will fear every thing, every dark shadow around me. I have noticed the “Fear not” passages and the “Do not be afraid” ones too. The Almighty does not desire that we be fearful, and when we are walking with Him there is nothing to fear.
Hear what the LORD says to the children of Israel when they were near to crossing into the Promised Land…
“If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; the great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed. Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a Mighty God and Terrible. And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.” Deuteronomy 7:17-22 (KJV)
If you will notice verse 21 (you will need your Bible to figure that out) says, “Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.” The phrases “Mighty God and terrible” are translated “Great and awesome” in the NKJV. I have always love the word “Awesome”. I think it is greatly overused. There is no one individual I know that is “Awesome” – except Jesus my Lord and Savior.
God’s instruction to the people was not to fear the people of the Land they were about to enter. He is the Great and Awesome GOD. There is none like Him. There is none beside Him. Anything man has made and declared a deity is set for destruction. GOD is set forever.
The Psalmist has written…
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.” and “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” Psalm 56:3, 11
Yes there are fears that will come our way, but the Christ honoring, God fearing believer will turn that fear to faith, will trust and believe the LORD is with us; and not fear what lies ahead; neither what is behind us.
This kind of faith comes through the faith of Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection. If you have not trusted Him you have much to fear; not the least of which is being outside the will and way of God.
The Fire and Hammer 