Jeremiah

Jeremiah Chapter 24

• Jeremiah 24:1 The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

We see here that the prophecies and warnings were coming to pass quickly. Yet as we read further we see, God always has a remnant. There are always those that remain faithful and believe God. I believe God has always had someone faithful throughout history.

Consider faithful Abraham who was called out of Ur and sent to the land of Canaan with the promise that His seed would inherit that land even though Abraham at that time had no children and his wife was barren and unable to bear children.

Consider Noah. Noah had faith in God and God saved him and his family from being destroyed with the rest of the world. Notice how God had mercy on his family because later we discover that one son did not have a heart that was right with God. This is my own observation and it may or may not reflect the truth but I see one son that had sin in his heart that was manifest later. Only 8 people out of the whole earth was saved so we see that God had a remnant. He always has a people.

We are never alone actually. Sometimes we think we are few in number and are alone in our faith but my dear departed Aunt Dola use to tell me that God would always give you one. She meant that when we are believers and are faithfully serving God, and it may seem everyone is against us at certain times of trial but God will always send at least one to be a helper or exhorter in that hard time. Even if we were alone though, we would really not be, God is with us at all times.

At any rate, God always has a few that are faithful even though the majority may be wrong. Don't be quick to follow a crowd because the majority is not always the right way. The bible says that narrow is the way.

• Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 
• 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Consider Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and many others who stood firm for God and fervently believed God when the majority departed and followed that which was popular in their time. This is why John warns us not to love the world. The world goes against God and always has been against God. It has always been a very few that stay faithful.

• Jeremiah 24:2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

The Lord shows an example here of two baskets of figs. One basket was ripe and good to eat. The other was what we would call past it. They were very rotten and could not be eaten.

• Jeremiah 24:3 Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
• 4 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
• 5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

Those that listened to God and believed the word sent by Jeremiah that the Babylonian siege was the will of God, would be taken care of and would not die prematurely by the invading armies. Those are the ones or their descendants that would return to their own place after 70 years.

Salvation by faith is a theme taught throughout the bible. The works they did after they believed put to action their faith. Noah believed God and built the ark. The faith came first then the action that showed he had faith. 

• Jeremiah 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.
• 7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

These people would follow God and return to Him and recognize He work, His judgment and His will. There are always those that seek the Lord with their whole heart. If you look for them, you will find them. This seems a little like a double prophecy. First taking placed after the 70 year captivity to Babylon and later in the end times just before or at the 2nd coming of Jesus.

• Jeremiah 24:8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:
  9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
  10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

Those that remained in the land and did not give themselves up to the Chaldeans were in direct rebellion against the Lord and did not acknowledge the words of Jeremiah. I realize that we can't just get up and follow every one that claims to be a spokesman for the Lord. There are too many weirdoes to do that. I do believe however, that deep in our hearts, if we acknowledge God sincerely and are willing to be obedient to Him, He will show us the true teachers and preachers. We must remember to check out everything they say by the word of God and see if they are bearing fruit.

• Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 
• 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 
• 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 
• 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 
• 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 
• 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 
• 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

I believe if these people would have watched Jeremiah's life and seen the anguish and burden of his heart, they would have known he was a true servant of the Lord.

There is also this fact. If you truly seek the Lord with all your heart, He would reveal and confirm any word a prophet would speak. We live in an exciting day and age though, where we don't have to depend on prophets or even preachers to tell us God's word. He has provided it in written form and He has provided us with the Holy Spirit to lead us in the right direction.

We can know God, we can talk to God and we can walk with God in this day and age. In times past people had to go to God through the prophets. Because of Jesus Christ that has changed. This is exciting. This came about because the Son of God left heaven to dwell on the earth over 2000 years ago.

He came to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind. He died to pay for our sins and God brought Him up from the dead. He has a new resurrected body and is now on the right hand of God awaiting His second coming. He did not leave us alone, however, He sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to be with each one of us who believe and obey Him.

That makes me shout with praise. We don't have to be deceived. We don't have to wait until we get to church on Sunday. We don't have to wait until Jesus comes back again. We can have the presence of God in our hearts right now. What a joy. We can be rich and full with the riches that come from God. I'm not speaking of material junk that passes away. I'm speaking of the deep true riches that abides in us forever. God is faithful, we must be faithful also. He wants to give us the kingdom. DC

Study of Jeremiah 25