Drought in the land

 

 

 

 

 

What a heartsore story spoken in Jeremiah chapter 14. People and animals suffering from drought with no food or water. I cannot imagine what it was like to be in this situation of not having water to drink, it must have been very tough to survive.

Jeremiah 14:2 Judah mourns, and her gates droop. They put on mourning for the land, and the cry of Jerusalem has gone up.

 

Jeremiah 14:3-6 speaks of struggles the people and animals are going through because of no water.

With the water dried up with the grass, is showing that Yahuah's presence is not with the people any longer due to their sin and rebellion.

Jeremiah 14:7-9 O Yahuah, though our iniquities witness against us, act, for Your Name’s sake. For our apostasies have been many, we have sinned against You. O Expectation of Yisra’el, its Savior in time of distress, why should You be like a stranger in the land, or like a traveler who turns aside to lodge? Why should You be as one who is stunned, as a mighty man that is unable to save? Yet You, O Yahuah, are in our midst, and Your Name has been called on us. Do not leave us!

Some people realize their sins and plead for Yah to save them. They plead “YAH DO NOT LEAVE US!”

 

 

Jeremiah 14:10-12 So says Yahuah to this people: So, they have loved to wander; they have not restrained their feet; therefore, Yahuah does not accept them. He will now recall their iniquity and punish their sins. Then Yahuah said to me, do not pray for good for this people. I will not listen to their cry when they fast; and when they offer burnt offering and food offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, and by famine, and by the plague.

This sounds like an Almighty that does not have grace or mercy but you need to read all the books of the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel etc.) to understand how Yahuah came to this point that He would no longer be with this rebellious people.

 

 

 

 

A parent having a child that is rebellious would act in the same manner as Yahuah, after speaking and warning many times having no choice but to punish the child. Punish does not mean the parent did not love the child but a manner to help the child learn and turn away from been rebellious. The same thing happened to Israel, Yah’s punishment is done in love for His people.

Punishment is not nice but a true person will learn and turn away from sin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Jeremiah 14:13-16, the prophet says to Yahuah that there are so-called prophets that tell the people Yah will not punish them but they will prosper. Yahuah then warns these false prophets that they will be punished together with the people listening to their false lies.

Read Jeremiah 23:11-36  of these false prophets and their lies.

In Jeremiah 14:17-18,  Yahuah’s heart is full of sorrow.

People ask in Jeremiah 14:19 Have You completely rejected Judah? Or has Your soul hated Sion? Why have You stricken us and no healing is for us? We waited for peace, but nothing good came; and for a healing time, but, behold, terror!

People acknowledge their wickedness in Jeremiah 14:20.

People plead more in Jeremiah 14:21-22 Do not scorn us, for Your Name’s sake. Do not despise the throne of Your esteem. Remember, do not break Your covenant with us. Are there among the worthless idols of the nations any causing rain? And do the heavens give showers? Are You not He, O Yahuah our Elohim? And we wait for You, for You are the One who does all this.

 

 

 

 

 

Are we in this same stage of been rebellious and at a point where punishment is coming or will we turn away from sin before it happens?

Are we shouting out, “YAH DO NOT LEAVE US!”

 

 

Girdle gone to ruin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremiah was instructed to buy a gridle (belt or band) that you put around your waist. He had to bury this gridle in the ground and at a later stage dig the gridle up. The gridle was completely ruined when Jeremiah dug it up from the hole, where he buried it (Jeremiah 13:1-7).

Then Yahuah said to Jeremiah, “You see, I have ruined the pride of Yahudah (Judah) and Israel – Jeremiah 13:9.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a break down of what would occur to Yahudah and Israel because of their sin – read Jeremiah 13:10-14 for your own understanding.

1)      Yah says the evil people refuse to hear My Words, walking after their own heart (Israel/Judah).

2)      Yah compares the ruined gridle to the people’s sins, completely useless.

3)      For as this girdle holds fast to the loins of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me, to be My people.

4)      But they WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME.

5)      Yah says, because you have not listened, I will bring drunkenness on all of Jerusalem, including the priests and prophets.

6)      Yah will not have pity or compassion on them because they would not listen.

7)      Although in the people's complacency they looked for prosperity (illustrated by the wine), in reality they would behave in the coming crisis as a drunkard unable to distinguish ally from enemy.

Jeremiah then pleads to the people to repent and turn away from their sin (Jeremiah 13:15-17).

Jeremiah says to the people “Listen to Yah’s word, do not be proud, before He brings punishment on us.

Jeremiah warns the people of the punishment to come, and pleads that they humble themselves (Jeremiah 13:18-21)

 

 

 

 

 

Then when the people are punished for their sins, they ask why has this happened to me but it would be for your sin that you would not turn away from (Jeremiah 13:22-23).

The next word is an eye opener for me.

Jeremiah 13:23 Does a Kushite change his skin and a leopard its spots? You who are taught to do evil are also unable to do good!

Can those who are taught to do evil be able to do good. Is sin like second nature. Leopard is a leopard, cannot change its spots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People still did not listen after Jeremiah spoke to them and then the punishment came upon the people – read Jeremiah 13:24-27.

This Yahuah did to the people He chose to be His, because they did not listen to His voice but went after the world’s idols.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now the question? Are we listening to His voice and following His words?

Do you think the same thing will happen to us who do not listen to His voice as what happen to Israel and Judah in those times?

You have the choice to listen or not to listen.

 

 

My vineyard destroyed

 

 

 

 

What is the vineyard that is destroyed and who are the shepherds that did the destroying?

The assemble of people and shepherds are the leaders (pastors, elder etc.) 1 Peter 5:1-3I (Peter), a fellow elder, exhort the elders among you, I being also witness of the sufferings of Messiah, and being sharer of the glory about to be revealed: Feed the flock of Elohim which is entrusted to your care, and shepherd them spiritually, not by compulsion, but willingly; not for money sake, but with all your heart; nor as exercising dominion over the ones allotted to you, but becoming examples of the flock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hear what Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Timothy and Peter say about the shepherds.

Jeremiah 12:10 “Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard, they have trodden My portion under foot, they have made My pleasant portion become a deserted wilderness.

Jeremiah 10:21 For the shepherds have become brutish (stupid), and they have not sought Yahuah. Therefore they did not understand, and all their flock scattered.”

Jeremiah 2:8 The shepherds have transgressed (rebelled) against Me, ……..

 

Jeremiah 50:6-7 “My people have been wandering (lost) sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. “All who found them have devoured them. And their adversaries have said, ‘We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Yahuah, the Home of righteousness, and the Expectation of their fathers: Yahuah.’

Ezekiel 34:1-23 And the word of Yahuah came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Yisra’el, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus said the Master Yahuah to the shepherds, “Woe to the shepherds of Yisra’el who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? “You eat the fat and you put on the wool. You slaughter the fatlings – you do not feed the flock. “You have not strengthened the weak, nor have you healed the sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back the straying, nor sought what was lost; but you have ruled them with might and harshness. “And they were scattered because there was no shepherd. And they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill. And My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahuah: “As I live,” declares the Master Yahuah, “because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, from not having a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock,” therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of Yahuah! ‘Thus said the Master Yahuah, “See, I am against the shepherds, and shall require My flock at their hand, and shall make them cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more. And I shall deliver My flock from their mouths, and they shall no longer be food for them.” ‘For thus said the Master Yahuah, “See, I Myself shall search for My sheep and seek them out. “As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so I shall seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered in a day of cloud and thick darkness. “And I shall bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the lands, and shall bring them to their own land. And I shall feed them on the mountains of Yisra’el, in the valleys, and in all the dwellings of the land. “In good pasture I shall feed them, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Yisra’el. They shall lie there in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Yisra’el. “I shall feed My flock and make them lie down,” declares the Master Yahuah. “I shall seek out the lost and bring back the strayed. And I shall bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick, but the fatand the strong I shall destroy. I shall feed them with right-ruling.” ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus said the Master Yahuah, “See, I am judging between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. “Is it not enough for you to have eaten up the good pasture, and the rest of your pasture you trample with your feet. Or that you should drink of the clear waters, and the rest you muddy with your feet? “And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have muddied with your feet.” ‘Therefore thus said the Master Yahuah to them, “See, I Myself shall judge between fat and lean sheep. “Because you have pushed with flank and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, therefore I shall save My flock, and let them no longer be a prey. And I shall judge between sheep and sheep. “And I shall raise up over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he shall feed them. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.

 

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear, and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.

 

2 Peter 2:1-3 But there also came to be false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, and deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. And many shall follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, and in greed, with fabricated words, they shall use you for gain. From of old their judgment does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber. Read further verse 4-22.

Yahuah’s shepherds does not have a price tag on the good news. Today it is commercial and a money making message. Just think about Messiah as the Chief Shepherd, did He have a price on the good news.

May the shepherds hear His word.

 

 

Pluck up

 

 

 

Yahuah would have compassion on Israel (Judah/Israel) after He scattered them out of the land due to continues sin.

Jeremiah 12:15 “And it shall be, after My plucking them out, I shall return, and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his inheritance and everyone to his land.

Yahuah has compassion on those who repent (turn back), to follow His ways. Yahuah forgives and accepts them back to Him after they realize their wrong (sin).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now hear what Yahuah says to the other nations, the neighbors of Israel where Israel is scattered too. Read Jeremiah 12:14 about these nations.

Jeremiah 12:16 “And it shall be, if they learn well the ways of My people, to swear by My Name, ‘As Yahuah lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal (Lord), then they shall be established in the midst of My people.

Yahuah is speaking about other nations other than Israel.

If they follow His ways like His people does, then they will be part of His people.

This is the love of Yahuah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My question is what are these people in the midst of Israel known as? Some will say they are grafted in, which is true but what are they called is what I want to know. Is it Israel, is it Judah or as they say in modern times Jewish or is it still gentile?

If you read Jeremiah 11:9-15 and Jeremiah 12:7-13 as it shows how Israel and Judah are punished due to not hearing the voice of Yahuah. Jeremiah 11:4 and 7 says “Obey My voice,” which many did not. Those who did not obey was destroyed just like Yahuah says below to the other nations.

 

Jeremiah 12:17 “But if they do not obey, I shall pluckup, pluck up (tear out) and destroy that nation,” declares Yahuah.

If they decide not to follow in His ways then He will destroy that nation.

What does gentile mean? It means a nation other then the Israel nation. A nation that does not believe in the Almighty of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a gentile nation.

Example the Swedish people are a nation and Israel is a nation.

What is the Swedish nation that believes in the Almighty of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and obeys the voice of Yahuah?

Who are His people according to scripture? Is it not those who obey His voice?

Is a Judean or an Israelite that does not obey Yahuah’s voice, still His people. If that Judean/Israelite are atheist (do not believe in Yah), are they, His people. A gentile (nation) is not His people but if that gentle (nation) becomes a believer (obey His voice), what is that person now?

 

 

 

 

 

What are some people within the Swedish nation known once they become believers?

What are some people within the Israel nation known when they are atheist (don’t believe in the Almighty of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)?

Both are still from the nation of Israel and Sweden, but a group of people within the nation hears and obey and the other group of people within the nation does not hear and obey.

The scripture is very clear: The one who obeys the voice of Yahuah is His people/nation.

The people within Israel that did not obey His voice was and will be destroyed, likewise will the same happen to the Swedish that does not obey His voice.

“Obey My voice” says the Almighty of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.