Jeremiah 17-18
Chapter 17: Keep the Sabbath Day
Judah is fatally inclined to idolatry.
The happiness of the man that trusts in the Lord is contrasted with the man
that trusteth in man.
“…Cursed be the man that trusteth
in man… and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:5) God
alone knows the deceit and wretchedness of the heart of man. A comparison is
made between a bird's hatching the eggs of another species, which will soon
forsake her, and the vanity of them is ill-acquired riches. Jeremiah talks of
his sincerity, and prays that the evil intended him by his enemies may revert
on their own heads. “Let them be confounded that persecute me…” (Jeremiah 17:18)
God will always fight our battles
for us, if we follow His commandments. Therefore if someone is persecuting you,
for what you believe… the Lord will protect you, by confounding them!
Jeremiah tells us that the people “…say
unto me, Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come now.” (Jeremiah 17:15)
Those who believe in the Word of God and know when something is from God,
because they can feel His spirit, will know and accept the Book of Mormon as
Word of God. The “Word” of God is not limited to the “Bible”, the Bible is
indeed part of the Word of God, but is not His complete record or Word.
“…hallow the sabbath day, to do no work
therein.” (Jeremiah 17:24)
In
Jeremiah 17:22-27 we read about the importance of the keeping the Sabbath Day
holy. The Lord speaks to us through the writings of Jeremiah saying that we
must not do any work on the Sabbath Day. This means that we should not be
working to make money or make others work. We can however serve or do things
that relax us and put us closer to God.
Chapter 18: Repent and God will Repent
The house of
Israel is like clay in the hands of a potter. The inhabitants of Judah and
Jerusalem are invited to repent; their refusal is as unnatural as someone
preferring the snowy Lebanon or barren rock to a fruitful plain, or other
waters to the cool stream of the fountain. Those who continue to do in evil in
the sight of the Lord will be punished, and those who repent will have the
anger and wrath of God withheld from them. A conspiracy is formed against
Jeremiah, who appeals to God, and curses his enemies. The Jews will be
scattered.
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