Heralds Digest

““Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.23.7-8.nkjv A voyage from the land with poor standard of living, insecurity, and economic instability to a different environment with improved standard of living, security, and economic stability removes much of life’s concerns. For the children of Israel, the land of Canaan was presented as land which flows with milk and honey, compared to Egypt which represented slavery, hard labour, and social/religious insecurity. However, the new pasture provides the needs for the body without consideration for an intimate fellowship with their souls. The concern is that ...

““Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol— A vessel in which is no pleasure? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, And cast into a land which they do not know?” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭22:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.22.28.nkjv A sustained relationship with fruitful fellowship feeds more on the character of parties involved, rather than the charisma of parties. Jeconiah the king of Judah had the status that can sustain good relationship until he was deposed. Unfortunately, he suffered being despised by the people of Judah; and severed being deposed by the potentate of Babylon. The negative influence of a change in status, like a loss of position, privileges, and preferences, is a common phenomenon in life. Sometimes, it is one of the necessary conditions for career progression, ministerial accomplishments, and family integration. God’s good intentions depose man’s best interventions for the final fulfillment of the promises of God in the affairs of His people. Therefore, c...

““Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?” says the LORD.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭22:15-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.22.15-16.nkjv When the scriptures ascribed little profit to bodily exercise and fitness, it merely underscores the tendency for a mis-placement of priority in human pursuit of wellness. A focus on the physical wellness of personal prosperity often has much more than human resources in life can handle. For example, the drive for career security, economic stability, and family independence represents a sufficient battle of the fittest in life. Whereas, those who have succeeded with reasonable level of fit would readily attest to the experience of wayward wellness in personal prosperity. Unfortunately like the king of Judah, many are bereft of an appropriate response to the life...

“Thus says the LORD: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭22:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.22.3-4.nkjv Those whose pursuits in life are limited to sitting on the throne cannot readily notice the difference between a promised palace and a palace promise. While the focus of the former is the palace, the priority of the latter is the promise. A focus on the palace cares for the privileges, prestige, and the prosperity of the possessor within the palace, without possible consideration for people without the palace. Whereas, a focus on the promise is concerned about sustaining a cordial relationship with the pro...

““Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, And rock of the plain,” says the LORD, “Who say, ‘Who shall come down against us? Or who shall enter our dwellings?’ But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,” says the LORD; “I will kindle a fire in its forest, And it shall devour all things around it.” ’ ”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭21:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.21.13-14.nkjv Sometimes, it is difficult to imagine the possibility of peace in regions where the state of emergency is a regular occurrence. Unfortunately, it is evident that those who dwell in highly walled-houses and secured-cities are mostly the victims of high-blood pressure and emotional disorders. Peace is a state of the heart and not a security for the body. In fact, improvement in the security for the body is capable of proffering false security to the soul of man. When Judah relied on its physical peace for being ‘inhabitant of the valley, And rock of the plain’, then they said ‘Who shall...

“For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good,” says the LORD. “It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.” ’” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭21:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.21.10.nkjv Everyone is attracted to pleasant places of the world; while many would readily sacrifice their fortunes in order to possess visiting or residency access to such pleasant places. Jerusalem was such a pride before the invasion by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. Prior to the invasion and like many other invasions in life, the people always profile pleasantries with material affluence, physical appearances, and religious influences. With such deceptive mindsets, the people of Judah and Jerusalem had desecrated the places around them with idolatry and ignored the presence of God. Whenever affluence by the world of goods replaces influence by the word of God, pleasant places are turned to polluted places. And God said “For I have set My fac...

“ But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten. But, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, And see the mind and heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭20:11-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.20.11-12.nkjv A focus on the wholesomeness of God and the winsomeness of the heart in times of tribulations and trials is one of the greatest challenges of the people of God, especially those who are called into the fellowship for grace and glory. The contemptible detour into the avenue of despair and discouragement is always a common phenomenon. Even Prophet Jeremiah would easily relate with the unfortunate swing in the anticipated conviction about the righteous’ confidence in the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Whereas, the near-stumbling experience...