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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

LAMENTATION OVER JERUSALEM


      "The Lord has purposed to destroy the wall of the
 daughter of Zion.  He has  stretched out a line.  He 
has not withdrawn His hand from destroying. There-
fore He  has caused the rampart and wall to lament.
They languish together.  

     Her gates have sunk into the ground.  He has des-
troyed and broken her  bars.  Her king and her prin-
ces are among the nations.  The law is no more, and
her prophets find no vision from the Lord."  


(The Scripture quoted in this post is from the NKJV)
     
     This passage of Scripture is from the "Lamenta-
tions of Jeremiah," chapter 2, vs. 8 and 9. To get a
more complete picture of the destruction of Israel's
prize city, Jerusalem, and  the purpose of  the Lord 
in that destruction, read the whole book of Lamen-
tations.  One might ask, "How is the destruction of 
Jerusalem relevant to our time and culture?" 

       The United States of America seems the most
        blessed of all nations. We will never replace
         Israel,  however;  as God's chosen people.
       Let us now pledge to pray for the nation and
         people of Israel as they go through the fire.

      In spite of the Lord's blessing upon the USA,
        we seem oblivious to His hand upon us and
    live as though we were responsible for our own
      success, independent of our Lord.  Israel suf-
    fered the penalty for that kind of thinking, and
     have never recovered from the Lord's dealing
    with  them because of it.  Scripture  offers the
   "secrets" pertaining to having a righteous and
    beneficial relationship with the Lord God.  
   Who among us is taking advantage of the Lord's 
   outstretched hand and offer of redemption as is
   stated in His Word?  

   From the Gospel recorded by the apostle Luke we
  see;  "And behold,  a certain lawyer stood up and
  tested Him,  saying, 'Teacher,  what  shall  I do to 
inherit eternal life?'  And  He said to him, 'What is
written in the law?  What is your reading of it?'  
So, he answered and said, 'You shall love the Lord 
your God with all you heart, with all your soul,with  
all your strength, and with all your mind, and your
 neighbor as yourself.(See Deuteronomy 6:5)" 
 "And He said to him.  'You have answered rightly; 
   Do this and you will live."   (Luke 10:25-28)

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not
  unto your own understanding.  In all your ways 
 acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.                                              
Two verses in this chapter 3 of Proverbs I had not noticed; "Do not envy the oppressor, and choose
  none of his ways.  For the perverse person is an 
  abomination to the Lord, But the secret counsel 
  is with the upright."   Proverbs 3: 31-32
 
  As we continue in this book, we find the answer to
a question posed above.  What is the "secret" to one
having a righteous and beneficial relationship with 
the Lord God?  This is answered to a large extent in
vs. 9-12 of Proverbs 3.  For good health and strong
bones, do not seek your own wisdom, but seek  wis-
dom from God, and fear the Lord. Honour the Lord
with your  possessions and  return to  him a part of 
that  with  which  He has  blessed.  Your storehouse
will be  filled and  your vats  will overflow.  Accept
the discipline of the Lord and gladly endure correc-
 tion.  You will be blessed of the Lord God. 

  "Honour the Lord with your possessions, and with
  the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns
  will be filled with plenty, and your vats will over-
   flow with new wine.  My son, do not despise the 
  chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction;
  For whom the Lord loves, He corrects.  Just as a
  father, the son in whom he delights." Prov. 3:9-12 
            
 Scripture quoted from NKJV donporter, sr.             
      Edited,7.25.17, 8.12.17...

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