Heralds Digest

“Then Zedekiah the king sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance of the house of the LORD. And the king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you something. Hide nothing from me.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭38:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.38.14.nkjv The worth of a carnal man is limited to the value of his physical and material possessions. These possessions hinder the minds to the things of the spirit, especially when the exposition comes from someone who is comparatively lower in terms of personal assessment. For example, the princes of Judah had no respect for prophet Jerusalem nor for the word of God, as long as those declarations are coming from someone considered ' a drowning man '. But king Zedekiah said " I will ask you something... ". Apart from the appreciation of the great substance in Jeremiah's exposition to the king's life and the prospect of the kingdom, it must be a great relief to appropriate the actual worth the man of God....

“When Jeremiah entered the dungeon and the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days, then Zedekiah the king sent and took him out. The king asked him secretly in his house, and said, “Is there any word from the LORD?” And Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon!”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭37:16-17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.37.16-17.nkjv Grace that keep everyone righteous and godly in the face trial and tribulation is good; but the generosity of this grace is doubtful in the atmosphere that lacks continuous communication with the throne of grace. After Jeremiah had spent many days in the dungeon and cells, there were sufficient reasons for possible switch from his preference of divinity to diplomacy. Especially when queried by king Zedekiah, who can approve a temporal relieve, not many can relate with the sense in his stance and the declaration of the message of doom to the king. Under an intense load of insecurity and ...

“And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭36:26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.36.26.nkjv The princes rightly premeditated the reaction of Jehoiakim to the written word of God on the script by recommending a hideout for Jeremiah and Baruch. The only problem with human's hideout is its reliability in times of real aggression in life. Just as the script was surrendered from its hideout, prophet Jeremiah and Baruch could have been surrendered by political influence of the authority of the king, if unprotected by additional layer of heaven's security system. Assault from the fiends in the workplace, negative attacks from friends during fellowship time, and declared aggression to personal efforts may appear predictable and manageable with personal care and discipline; it is difficult for anyone to manage the aggression of ...

“And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, “I am confined, I cannot go into the house of the LORD. You go, therefore, and read from the scroll which you have written at my instruction, the words of the LORD, in the hearing of the people in the LORD’s house on the day of fasting. And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come from their cities.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭36:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.36.5-6.nkjv The authenticity of divine inspiration in human ministration is best tested by carnal confinement. Authentic word of God or divine declaration cannot be successfully restricted by human proscription. Whereas, oratorical declaration is easily influenced by dedicated submissions to personal development and a studious commitment to available training in public speaking. When prophet Jeremiah's communication with the temple of the Lord was restrained by physical imprisonment, his willingness to personally declare the word of God was prevented. However, he refused...

“And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.” ’ ”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭35:18-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.35.18-19.nkjv The secret of passing the waters of political correctness in every social expression is nothing but the ability to sample public opinions, and the agility to respond appropriately to the demands for compromise. Invariably, a stand with the majority is perceived a smart and polite disposition. In order to correct this disillusioned disposition, God encouraged the house of Israel to learn from the courage and forthrightness of the Rechabites. They kept their conviction in the power and pride of moral distinctiveness, by keeping the instructions...

““Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,’ says the LORD — ‘to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭34:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.34.17.nkjv It is not funny that while everyone cannot be a Master, everyone is called to be a Follower. Getting a follower out of people commands respect and a recognition of their personal achievements. And being the king of Judah and the incumbent leader, Zedekiah and the elite people of Jerusalem would boast of holding the key to the people's liberty. Unfortunately, a fruitful leader must first be a faithful follower. " ...thus says the LORD: ‘You have not obeyed Me'... ". A leader at home, workplace and in the society is called to model the follower-ship of Jesus Christ, by doing everything possible to make the...

““Thus says the LORD: ‘If My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, then I will cast away the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his descendants to be rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will cause their captives to return, and will have mercy on them.’ ”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭33:25-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.33.25-26.nkjv The seeming inconveniences with every commitment to covenant relationship makes contract arrangement a convenient alternative. Man is limited by circumstances beyond his control, like the change economy, status, season, culture, etc. And his experiences of time with day and night change uncontrollably; but God's covenant with the same day and night never change from the creation of time. Therefore, irrespective of the facts there are possible unpleasant change in human situations and circumstances in life, career, and family, faith i...