JEREMIAH, LAMENTATIONS, & EZEKIEL

Today, I finished up Jeremiah, read Lamentations and got nine chapters into Ezekiel.  are just a few truths to share: 1) WE ARE NOT SELF SUFFICIENT- In Jer. 48:41, it says "the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs."  These "mighty men" are acting and shouting like a woman giving birth.  What is meant here is that even the mighty men break down under pressure and judgment from God.  We must not trust the flesh, but rest solidly on the spirit for strength and help.  God will provide and fight our battles, we are not strong enough, we are not self sufficient.  2) THE DOWNFALL OF JERUSALEM- Chapter 52 of Jerusalem is the last chapter of the book.  It tells of the downfall and destruction of Jerusalem and her kings.  Zedekiah was the king of Judah at the time and he was evil.  He was captured trying to escape Jerusalem at night during a long siege of the city.  They caught him and his sons, but his sons to death in front of his eyes and then put out his eyes, carried him to Babylon and kept him in prison all of his life.  He reigned eleven years as an evil king and paid for it the rest of his life.  Then they broke down the walls and burned the city.  They stripped the temple of any vessels and gold, silver, and brass were all taken before they burned the temple.  What destruction.... no wonder what we see in the next book, Lamentations is the "weeping of Jeremiah" for the city of Jerusalem. 3) AMAZED- Lamentations 1:1  "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!"  Lamentations 2:15  "All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?"   Lamentations 5:16  "The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!" Here we have three verses that show how destroyed Jerusalem was and all because they had sinned against God and prided themselves that God did not see and would do nothing about it.  BUT... they were wrong.  As so are we if we think we too can get away with sin.  I read a quote yesterday that said:  "If you are doing something, that you would be ashamed about if everyone knew about, you had better quit it right now."  The key is not cover up; the key is to shape up and live right!! 4) SOUL-WARNING-Ezekiel 3:17  "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me."  In Ezekiel chapter three, we are told to warn the wicked.  God made us as a watchman to warn people of their sin and coming judgment.  If we do not do so, their blood is upon our hands.  If we do, they their blood is not on our hands.  We do not have to win a world to Christ, but we have to warn them!  Keep warning enough souls and you will win some souls to Christ.  But rejoice when you have warned them! Have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler