Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows"
Text: Jeremiah 44:25
A STRONG WORD FROM JEREMIAH
Jeremiah knew that his words were falling on deaf ears. Nevertheless, he had to give them a very strong word of warning!
“Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people and to all the women,
‘Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt!
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying:
‘You and your wives have spoken with your mouths
and fulfilled with your hands, saying,
‘We will surely keep our vows that we have made,
to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.’
You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows!””
Jeremiah 44:24-25
1. “Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people and to all the women,
‘Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt'”
a) This word of Jeremiah was addressed to all who dwelt in Egypt.
b) The men and women who had taken up residence in the Egyptian cities
and all the people who had recently come from Judah.
2. “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying:
‘You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands,
saying, ‘We will surely keep our vows that we have made,
to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.’
You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows'”
a) This was a most solemn word of warning:
i) From the LORD of hosts.
ii) The God of Israel.
iii) These formal titles were used to emphasise the solemn word of warning.
b) The men and their wives had done what they had promised.
i) To worship the Queen of heaven.
ii) To burn incense to her.
iii) To pour out drink offerings to her.
3. “You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows”
a) These were not words of “approval”.
b) They were words of sad and resigned acceptance.
c) The Jews living in Egypt had given up their faith in the LORD.
i) They had chosen to be idolatrous.
ii) They preferred to worship the queen of heaven instead!