Jeremiah - Jeremiah 2 (b)

The book of Jeremiah - chapter by chapter and verse by verse
Jeremiah chapter 2:20-37 KJV

Jer 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

Christians are going to be here at the end time to speak out against the antichrist, not play the harlot with him.

Jer 2:21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

Christ is the vine, we are the branches, and God is the pruner.

Also, God gave us the parable of the tares – the strange seeds that Satan planted. (Matthew 13:24-30)

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The harvest time is coming and the tares, the bad seed that has grown along with the good seed - you - will be gathered and burned. Don't fall in with the tares!

Jer 2:22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

Nitre is a strong chemical, but we can't wash away our iniquity with it.

Jer 2:23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

You’re like a female camel in heat, chasing after any male that comes along. Nobody can stop these people from their sins.

Jer 2:24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

Talking about how a wild ass can’t be controlled when she is in heat. This is what men do by chasing after the traditions of men and not the word of God.

Our Father puts it very simply so he knows we understand.

Jer 2:25-26

25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

Stop craving those things. Don’t listen to the traditions of men!

Idolatry – don’t do it! Find out what God wants, read His word.

Jer 2:27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

Talking to a chunk of wood, or a stone, not to God. They will chase anything that comes along.

They will build a house of God and then worship the house more than they worship God. Then when trouble comes along, they will expect God to arise and save them…

Jer 2:28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

A false god on every corner, and man’s traditions abound. Not just then, but now! We can’t fall the wrong way.

Jer 2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

Why beg me to make things right?, God says. I’m not the one who has gone wrong. You’re worshipping the wrong things but then you beg Me to help?

Worship God.

Jer 2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Your sword is your tongue, you talk against people who try to reach you, to teach you, and so God can’t teach your children. You are their example but you're not listening! So your children can't learn and will be destroyed also. This is not necessary! Learn what God wants you to know!

Jer 2:31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

Look at the word of God! Or else become your own lord, and don’t turn to the one and only true God. It’s your choice, but as you see here, God isn’t happy about it.

Jer 2:32-33

32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

God is saying professional prostitutes could learn from you, because you leave Him out of the equation.

Jer 2:34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

It’s bad to kill a body, but to destroy a soul is worse.

Jer 2:35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

He is saying here, think what you want, but when I judge you according to your sins, whether you think they are sins or not – I will judge you for your sins. Period.

Jer 2:36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

God wants us to depend upon Him, not nations or mankind.

Jer 2:37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

This is a sign of shame.

Jeremiah - Jeremiah 2 (a)

The book of Jeremiah - chapter by chapter and verse by verse
Jeremiah 2:1-2 KJV

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

God is speaking, saying, “hey what about when you needed me? What happened?”

Jer 2:3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

If God says it, it will happen. However, in this age, if we are servants of the Lord we will have his protection.

Jer 2:4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

The book of Jeremiah is written to Judah, overall, but here God is bringing all the families into his statements.

Jer 2:5-6

5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

God is saying, “seems like they have forgotten all that, they aren’t calling on Me”.

Jer 2:7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

This is a really clear description of the present time situation.

Because people are empty-headed, they don’t know about God. He wishes to care for them but not when they are steeped in sin.

Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

This is such a description of now! “pastors also transgressed against me” – Pastors are NOT teaching God’s real word most of the time. They are often one-verse Charlies, and not feeding their flocks with the true word of God.

Jer 2:9-10

9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

He’s not giving up, he brings the Messiah, and will ask again and again that we listen to Him.

His book is where He speaks from.

Jer 2:11-12

11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

Ask God to be with you! Pay attention to Him! He doesn’t like it when we won’t even read His word, the one main way he communicates with us.

Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Christ is the Living Water, yet we go looking everywhere else for our water, in broken cisterns that will not quench our thirst.

This is saying that anytime man takes his own truths and traditions and dumps them into the cistern, then pretends that is the living water, it isn’t. The Living Water flows from the Holy Spirit, not from men pumping stuff in.

Those are traditions of man, and God hates them.

Jer 2:14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?

Who is Israel? We pretty much know where Judah (the Jews) are, but where are the rest of those who God promised Abraham would be like the stars of the sky and the sands of the sea?

They call themselves Gentiles now, because they don’t know who they are.

Jer 2:15-16

15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.

God is saying, “if you run down to Egypt, they will let you down”. We must lean on God only! We must listen to God. He told us how to go!

Jer 2:17-18

17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

Drink only of the waters of the Living God. Don’t go drinking of all the religions, saying they can all help you, they can’t.

Neither can other nations help us. We have God! Don’t go looking for help elsewhere.

Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

We will wise up someday…

It is a huge mistake for us to turn our backs on God in this generation.

We live in a country where we can broadcast God’s word to the whole world! Let us wise up and know and share God’s word!

To be continued...

I Encourage You

I want to encourage all who are studying the Bible. The Bible is an in-depth study. The more we study, the more that is revealed to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, I'm not wanting to "overload anybody's donkey" - if things aren't gelling for you, that's okay. Just put that thought on the shelf for now - but keep studying. When you come back to it later it will make perfect sense.

Each time we re-read a book of the Bible over again, God sees and reveals what He knows we need to know. But don't stop learning! It's so important for all of us to know what God's word says.**

He wrote us a letter - are we going to take time to read it? Yes, and with understanding!

So let's keep working at it. You'll be so glad you did.
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**Following are a few of the verses where Jesus said "Have you not read" or "Have you never read"? - we have to realize that Jesus expects us to know! He said it over and over again - please pay attention!

Matthew 12:3
Matthew 12:5
Matthew 19:4
Matthew 21:16
Matthew 21:42
Matthew 22:31
Mark 2:25
Mark 12:10
Mark 12:26

Please go read these nine verses to get a feeling about how important Jesus thinks it is that you read the Word of God.

Remember, Jesus is the Word Made Flesh - let's get to know Jesus!! He's our Saviour!

Jeremiah – Chapter 1 (b)

The book of Jeremiah - chapter by chapter and verse by verse
Continuing with the rest of Jeremiah chapter 1:

Jer 1:11-12

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

The almond tree represents the watchman, because it comes awake first of all the trees in the spring.

The rod is a rod of correction.

Jer 1:13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

A boiling pot. The enemy is coming from the north.

Ezekiel 38 & 39 (prophecy of end time) – the enemy comes from the north.

Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

God is so good that he even gives us the direction from where evil comes.

Jer 1:15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

We must watch for Jerusalem to be surrounded… have we been seeing any of that starting now?

Jer 1:16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

We must not worship the antichrist, no matter how good he looks.

Jer 1:17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

And what do we do when we see these things coming to pass? We gird ourselves up for battle…with the gospel armour. Ephesians 6:13: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”.

Not fly away! To STAND! God is with us!

Jer 1:18-19

18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

Notice the word “against” is used 7 times – means spiritual completeness.

And what does God say about it? They shall not prevail against us, because He will deliver us.

Jeremiah chapter 2 next.

Jeremiah – Chapter 1 (a)

Hey family and friends. I have been led by God to learn His word more deeply than ever before, so my time over the past 8 to 10 years has been in Bible learning, almost every single day without break. It’s a very wonderful pastime! I could sit and learn and study different Bible books over and over, and never get tired of it. So that is what I do.

However, without doubt, God keeps pushing on my thoughts – “You need to share what you’ve learned. Don’t worry about who sees it or reads it, leave all that up to Me”. Oh my.

“But, but, but… okay God, there’s not much more I can say about it then. I’ll work on it and let you do your part. I’ll just do a little front-end marketing to get things going, okay, God”? J

Jeremiah was a great prophet! Along with Ezekiel and Isaiah, Jeremiah prophesied God’s direct words to a large group of people, important historical people doing important historical things – both during his own time and again, in our time. Because invariably, almost all the prophecies in the Bible apply to the last generation (us), directly and clearly.

Israel became a bona-fide world nation in 1948. That was 70 years ago. The Bible tells us that once Israel becomes a nation, then that is the beginning of the last generation. The fig tree generation – that’s us, all of us. Everybody who is reading this is part of that generation – it’s so exciting!

We are seeing and will see the most amazing change. And if we keep our heads clear and strong and filled with God’s word, we will not be affected by the confusion that we see all around us. We will not be in peril of falling in with Satan when he arrives on earth as antichrist and fools as many people as he can in the time he’s been given (5 months, cut down from 3.5 years, because “if the time had not been shortened, even the elect would be fooled”.) Satan will be pretending to be Jesus, and many will fall for it! But if you are still in a flesh body, if you can pinch yourself, then you can know that it’s not Jesus who you are hearing and seeing.

Satan comes to earth before Jesus at the 6^th trump, and then Jesus arrives at the 7^th trump. Even a child can count to seven! So stay strong in God’s word, because that’s where our total strength is going to be. Gotta put some skin in the game, and when you get going and realize how amazing it is – well, you will be so happy and peaceful. Truly. That’s a promise.

The point is, when we read the book of Jeremiah, we find out that God is speaking directly to us in a very important time in history - our time. So let’s start listening. It’s really more simple than you might think.

The book of Jeremiah - chapter by chapter and verse by verse
Jeremiah 1 –

“Jeremiah” – “who God raises up” in the Hebrew tongue.

There are 51 prophecies in this book.

This prophet brought forth exactly how things are going to go down. Many things that are happening today are discussed.

Jeremiah is a book written concerning the tribe of Judah (which includes the tribe of Benjamin). To compare, Isaiah wrote to the 10 tribes of Israel. There are 12 tribes of Israel, but God scattered the 10 northern tribes, and supposedly nobody knows who they are. But God has not lost them, their descendants are alive and well today, with every hair on their heads counted by Him.

Josiah took over the kingship from his father, who had made a mess of things, at age 16. We are 11 years into the reign of Josiah here. Jeremiah is about 21 years old when this begins.

Jer 1:1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:  (KJV)

We hear right off that Jeremiah is from the priest line.

Jer 1:2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Josiah means “who God heals”, and this is about the healing of Judah the nation, which includes the tribes of Judah and of Benjamin. We must understand they were healed because of their captivity to the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, who treated them very well for the 70-year captivity out of Jerusalem. (Although some of them were left in Jerusalem to keep things going there, as well.)

Jer 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

Josiah was a good king. His son and grandson were not.

The tribe of Judah (including the tribe of Benjamin) was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon during Jeremiah’s time, which is 200 years after the 10 northern tribes of Israel had been taken captive by the Assyrian. Jeremiah’s time is (roughly) 400 BC, whereas the 10 northern tribes of Israel had been taken captive around 600 BC.

Josiah’s 3 granddaughters by Zedekiah (the bad king at the time of the captivity of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar) survived although Zedekiah’s 10 sons did not, and Jeremiah escorted the girls away when the captivity began, took them through Egypt – one of those girls was named “Scota” and it is believed that’s how Scotland came to be.

These girls were of the king line.

Josiah’s son Jehoiakim and grandson Zedekiah were terrible kings.

Jer 1:4-5

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

This is the first of 51 prophecies in this book.

God made Jeremiah a prophet unto ALL the nations, Judah, Israel, Gentiles and otherwise.

How could God have known Jeremiah before he’d been born on earth? Answer: first earth age, we were all there in spiritual bodies, Satan’s Fall happened, and God said this is how we’ll do it (born via the womb of woman into a physical body), and it’s your final chance to choose between me or Satan. Applies to everyone.

Jeremiah had been set aside, a tool, sent by God to the nations as a prophet.

Jer 1:6-8

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Just as at end times, when we allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us. Whatsoever He commands us, we shall speak. But we have to know what to expect, how to understand! God sent us a letter explaining it all.

Jer 1:9-10

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

God is giving Jeremiah the job of restoring His house.

Notice it is not done gently. You’ve got to throw out the false teaching and deception. You may become unpopular, but it doesn’t matter. We tear down whatever is contrary to God’s word, and there is a lot of that going around just now.

To be continued...

Time Periods in the Bible (ages)

What many don’t see is that throughout the Bible, there are three time periods being spoken of, profoundly significant and very important to understanding of God’s plan. Since some Bible versions purposely mistranslate things, if people aren’t also using a good version of the Strong’s Concordance with their study, they will simply not understand as well as they could. (More recent versions of Strong’s Concordance have been re-done and are no longer correct, sorry to say… Satan is always at work).

I unhesitatingly recommend the King James Version of the Bible for all study – it is the one English version best translated from the Hebrew and Greek. It’s not perfect, but much better than most English versions, and the Strong’s Concordance, a wonderful reference for what Bible words really mean from the English to the Hebrew or Greek, was written from the KJV translation.

Most pastors and preachers don’t even touch this subject of ages/time periods – too hard for them. Easier to be a one-verse Charlie every week from the pulpit that to actually teach the truth. (God will deal with them later – the “false prophets” that he rails at constantly throughout His word.)

So, to touch upon understanding of this subject, I will bring up Gen 1:1, “In the beginning”. “In the beginning” was millions of years ago for the earth, as science has proven over and over. That is the time to which all fossils and remains belong.

What then, about the idea of the earth being only 13 or 14 thousand years old as far as the Bible teaches? The thing that is not being taught or understood very often is that there are three “earth ages” being spoken of throughout the Bible. The first one is only touched upon in Scripture, as the bulk of the Word of God is directed to the fleshly existence of humans on this earth during the second time period. But the first and third periods are definitely discussed, we just have to open our eyes and ears to God’s wisdom to see them.

Genesis 1:2 – here is the root of the problem. The KJV says “the earth was without form, and void;” but when you research the original Hebrew manuscripts, you learn that the word “was” is actually “became” in the English, or see Strong’s Hebrew #1961 – the primitive root is “hayah” in Hebrew, which means, among other things, “become” or “come to pass”.

So, to get it right, the earth became without form; and void;… How important is this? Well, let’s talk about wisdom. The reasons for the book of Proverbs is just that – wisdom. Read Prov. 1:1-6 to get the idea of what the book is there for, then read Proverbs 1:7 to find out that we must LISTEN to wisdom, because “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Of course, the word “fear” throughout the Bible generally means “revere” when applied to “the Lord”, so don’t be afraid, be reverent. (Be afraid if you aren’t listening to the Lord… because bad things WILL happen, but in general, the Bible is telling us to revere Him.)

Okay, now head to Proverbs 8:22 forward to read more about the creation. The “I” there is “wisdom” – wisdom was with the Lord always, from the beginning, before his works of old.

Back to the time periods – a very misunderstood subject is one that Peter talks about in 2Peter 3:8 – please read 2Peter chapter 3 in full, but I will mention first 2Pet 3:5 – Peter says “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (underlines mine)

In verse 6, Peter is not speaking of Noah’s flood. He is speaking of the previous earth “that then was” (when the heavens were of old). He is speaking of the earth “that became without form, and void” as mentioned in Gen. 1:2. That is the world that “then was”, as opposed to the heavens and earth “that are now”.

We have defined two time periods, the age that was before and the age that is now. The before age is the time where we have dinosaur remains and fossils of all kinds, but then God made the earth void, he cleared it of everything. Why? Because of Satan’s fall, because one-third of the spirits God created that inhabited the earth before it “became void” (tohu in Hebrew) went with Satan in the Fall, and God wants to reclaim as many of them as He can.

So, God made the heavens and the earth “which are now”, to give his creations one chance, and one chance only, a physical lifetime on earth, to choose between Him or Satan.

Jesus makes mention of the previous age also in his beautiful prayer in John 17 – when he says in John 17:24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me; be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou has lovest me before the foundation of the world.”

I would like to mention a bad translation in most English versions of the Bible except the KJV, the NKJV and the ASV. It is in Hebrews 1:2 and is important. The other versions use the word “world” and that is very incorrect. The word is “worlds” and is speaking of the three earth ages, in the Greek the word is “aions” 165 in Strong’s, and means “an age” and “perpetuity”, not “kosmos” (2889 in Strong’s, which means “the world”. God and his Son created the ages is what Hebrews 1:1-2 is alluding to:

Heb 1:1-2

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;    (underline mine)

KJV

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Now the third earth age – the future for everyone who lived or lives in flesh bodies on this earth. Notice 2Peter 3:8 – 10. In verse 8, Peter explains that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years to man. Then in verse 10 Peter is telling us about the Lord’s Day, the one-thousand year period that begins immediately after Jesus returns, also known as the millenium. Peter tells us in verse 9 that the Lord is long-suffering toward us, not willing for any to perish, but that all should come to repentance. Nevertheless, the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, unexpectedly. Notice that the heavens pass away, the elements will melt, the earth will melt along with the works that are therein – they shall all be burned up. But also please notice that spirits are not mentioned as being destroyed, just the heavens and the earth and the works therein.

However, that does not mean that all are saved, see verse 16 where Peter explains that those who are unlearned and unstable wrest with the scriptures, “unto their own destruction”.

We MUST not remain unlearned! Instead see verse 18 – “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (underline mine) We live in a world where very few people are too ignorant to learn the precepts of the Bible. But many choose not to learn. It is their choice, but “unto their own destruction”. Not God’s choice, for sure, yet God will honor their choice, “unto their own destruction”.

In the USA and throughout the world, Christians are suger-coating God’s word badly. We really must become aware of what God REALLY says, or our eternal lives could be toast! There are important things to know and understand, and if you can read this, you can understand what God’s word says, with just a little bit of study and work. Please do it! I pray that you will. I’m here to help!

(Let me suggest that you may have a purpose right now in this world, for God’s Kingdom, as He calls us to do certain jobs at different times of life. Please don’t think God can’t use you – He can and He wants to! All you have to do is the groundwork – and that is to love Him, believe in Him with all your heart and soul, and study the letter that He so kindly sent you that outlines the plan and you will see your part in it when you’ve spent some time learning that very plan. It’s not hard. It’s fun.)

 

Psalm 32 - Selah

The word “Selah” in the Book of Psalms means a musical notation, and when it says “Selah” at the end of a paragraph, in the Hebrew it means to “pause” and “weigh”. You need to stop and meditate on what was just said, and also, get ready for what is about to be said.

In Psalm 32, we get a really beautiful lesson. In the first four verses, we learn that if we don’t confess our sin (when we keep silence), then we don’t get what the first two verses describe: we don’t get our sins forgiven; and we can’t be blessed by the Lord not ascribing iniquity unto us. We must confess our sins to God to attain repentance of them. When we are silent about our sins, our spirits dry up and become crumbly, they don’t stay moist and beautiful.

And then, Selah. Stop and think about that is what it means. Weigh that part – then check out the next part, verse 5.

Psalm 32

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

The next verse, verse 5, pretty much seals the way to go. Acknowledge your sins to God, confess them, and He forgives the iniquity of your sins. Voila! What a deal! And again, Selah. Think about that!

5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Verses 6 and 7 tell us what we do when we have been forgiven – we pray, verse 6; and we sing songs of deliverance, verse 7. Pray and praise, because what He gives us in that forgiveness, well, it’s above and beyond anything we could ever imagine while we are in these flesh bodies. We will not be able to be misled by the "floods of great waters", which are the floods of lies during the end times, we will be preserved from trouble.

Selah.

6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

And now, the last four verses of the Psalm, God tells us what He will do for us – instruct us, teach us the way we should go, and “guide thee with mine eye”. He tells us not to be stubborn or short on understanding, He really WILL teach us, and we won’t need a bit or bridle to be led around on. We will know and understand. In addition, verse 10, mercy will encompass us! Wow.

And so we rejoice and are glad in the Lord.

8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

KJV