Category: Jeremiah

The Final Word

FRIDAY DEVOTION Jeremiah 51:24–64

(if you read that yesterday you could re-read it – and then also get a start on Jeremiah’s next book, Lamentations – Lamentations 1-2)

Devotion by Dustin Farr (South Carolina)

All week, we have seen God speak against nations. We have read about judgment on neighbors, warnings to the proud, and promises of restoration for His people. Again and again, the theme has been clear, God humbles the exalted and lifts up those who seek Him. Today’s passage brings that story to a close with the final word on Babylon.

Babylon was not just another nation on the list. It was the empire that crushed Jerusalem, burned the temple, and carried God’s people into exile. To Judah, Babylon’s power must have felt like an unmovable wall. Yet in today’s reading, that wall crumbles. God declares that Babylon’s destruction will be complete and final. “When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates. Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people will fall.” This is what will happen to the city that once seemed untouchable.

But this isn’t just about Babylon. It’s about the God who keeps His word. The God who, decades earlier, through the prophet Habakkuk, promised that Babylon’s reign would end. The same God who disciplined His people was also the one who defended and redeemed them. 

So when we are in the places where we feel stuck, powerless, or forgotten, we know that we can rest assured in the justice and redemption of God. There may be “Babylons” in our lives.  Health struggles that weigh us down, broken relationships that leave us hurting, financial pressures that keep us up at night, or just the struggles of life. Things that feel too strong to ever fall, and It can be easy to believe that nothing will change. But our God has the final word. His justice may take time, but it is certain. His restoration may not come when or how we want it, but it will come, and we can rest assured in that. 

If we can trust Him with the big stories of nations and empires, then surely we can trust Him with the smaller but deeply personal battles we face. The same God who threw down Babylon is the one who lifts up His people, heals what is broken, and keeps every promise He makes. Our call is to remain faithful, not letting what we see in the moment shake our confidence in the One who rules over it all.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Where have you experienced a “Babylon” in your life that God eventually brought down?
  2. Looking back over this week’s readings, what is the biggest truth about God’s character or His promises that you want to carry with you?
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The Creator Holds the Storm

Jeremiah 51-52

-Devotion by Dustin Farr (South Carolina)

When life feels unpredictable, it can be easy to forget that the One who spoke the universe into existence still reigns over every detail. The same God who set the stars in place and shaped the mountains is the One who sees you, knows you, and holds your future. If He can bring order out of chaos in creation, He can bring peace into your storms. Our confidence is not in the size of our own strength, but in the greatness of His power and the goodness of His heart.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How does remembering God as the Creator strengthen your trust in Him during uncertain times?
  2. What current “storm” in your life could you place more fully under His control?
  3. When was the last time you paused to notice the beauty and order of creation, and how did it remind you of God’s power and wisdom?
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Pride Falls, But the Humble are Restored

Jeremiah 49-50

–Devotion by Dustin Farr (South Carolina)

If you have been following along this week, today’s chapters may feel familiar. Once again, God speaks judgment over the nations. But this time there is a shift. In chapters 46–48, the focus was on nearby nations. In today’s reading, in chapter 50, the scope widens, and the spotlight turns to Babylon, the strongest empire of the day and the very nation God had used to discipline Judah.

Babylon’s fall was not just another victory in history. It was the fulfillment of what God had told Habakkuk earlier in our readings: the oppressor would not go unpunished. Their idols, walls, and armies would crumble, and their pride would be exposed. What made this moment unique was that the fall of Babylon also marked the beginning of Israel and Judah’s restoration. God promised they would return together, seeking Him with repentant hearts, and He would renew the covenant they had broken.

For us, the lesson is clear. Pride and worldly security can feel unshakable, but they cannot stand when God moves. True safety is found in humility before Him. As Jesus said, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). The same God who brought down Babylon can rebuild what is broken in our lives if we turn to Him in humility and trust.

Reflection Questions:

  1. When God promised the fall of Babylon, it seemed impossible to those living under its power. How does this challenge your view of what is “too big” for God to change today?
  2. Israel and Judah’s restoration was tied to turning back to God with weeping and seeking. What would it look like for you to return to Him in a season where you feel far away?
  3. Babylon’s downfall shows that no one is beyond God’s reach. How can this truth shape the way you pray for people or situations that seem unchangeable?
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No Strength Can Stand Against the LORD

Jeremiah 46-48

Devotion by Dustin Farr (South Carolina)

In Jeremiah 46–48 the focus is shifted outward, showing that God’s rule is not limited to Israel alone. He is sovereign over every nation, and His justice reaches far beyond Judah’s borders. In these chapters, God speaks to Egypt, Philistia, and Moab, nations confident in their own strength, secure in their own plans, and certain of their own futures. Yet in each case, the LORD declares that their confidence is an illusion. Egypt’s pride was in its armies and alliances. To human eyes, they seemed unstoppable. But God declares that they will be defeated at Carchemish, their power lost and their strategies useless before Him. Next Philistia’s fate is pictured in chapter 47 as an unstoppable flood, with the Babylonian forces sweeping across the land, leaving cities silenced and grief in their wake. Finally, In chapter 48, God addresses Moab, whose downfall comes not from a lack of defenses, but from a heart of pride. They trusted in their wealth, their fortified cities, and their false gods, but even they could not stand against the living God. However, God ends with a promise that in the latter days, Moab will be restored. This spoke to me as proof that despite his justice being sure, God is always capable of restoration.

What also stood out to me is how easily pride can blind us to the truth. Egypt, Philistia, and Moab all felt secure in what they had built, yet none of it could stand when the LORD came with judgement. Strength apart from God is only just an illusion. I think this calls us to examine what we’re leaning on. Is it our abilities, relationships, resources, or position? If it’s not God Himself, it will eventually fail us. The God who brought nations low is the same God who offers Himself as a stronghold to those who take refuge in Him. Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Reflection Questions:

  1. Which false securities do you most see most in our world today?
  2. Where might pride or misplaced confidence be keeping you from full dependence on God?
  3. How does God’s promise of restoration to His people encourage you in a season of uncertainty?
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Hearing God’s Word is Not the Same as Following It

Jeremiah 41-45

Devotion by Dustin Farr (South Carolina)

After Jerusalem fell to Babylon, a small remnant remained in Judah under the leadership of a man named Gedaliah, who was appointed governor by Babylon. During this time there was stability but it was short-lived due to a man named Ishmael. Ishmael was a royal descendant of the line of David and desiring power created a plot to assassinate Gedaliah and his council. He didn’t stop there but then also killed the Babylonian guards, and even murdered Judeans who were with him. His violence went further when seventy men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria came to bring grain and incense to the temple. Ishmael lured them in and slaughtered them, sparing only ten who bribed him with hidden supplies. These were not acts of justice. They were fueled by pride, ambition, and a willingness to kill the innocent to secure power.

In the aftermath, fear spread through the remnant of the Judean people. Johanan and the other leaders gathered and the survivors approached Jeremiah the prophet, asking him to pray to the LORD for direction. They promised to obey whatever God revealed. For ten days, Jeremiah waited for God’s answer while the people appeared willing to hear it. In reality, they had already decided on their course…fleeing to Egypt for safety.

When God’s answer came, it was direct. Stay in the land, and He would protect them; go to Egypt, and judgment would follow. The message was a test of trust. Would they believe God could preserve them under Babylon’s rule, or would they seek security on their own terms? Their response revealed their hearts. They accused Jeremiah of lying and acting under Babylonian influence, then forced him and Baruch to go with them to Egypt.

Once in Egypt, they returned to idol worship. They knew God’s commands and yet chose to break them. But their disobedience would have consequences. They knew God’s commands and yet chose to break them. Their disobedience would not go unanswered. God made it clear that the very place they sought for safety would be the place of their destruction. The sword, famine, and plague they feared in Judah would meet them in Egypt.

In the middle of this message of judgment, God also spoke to Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe. While others were seizing power or chasing their own plans, Baruch was called to remain faithful in the work God had given him. God told him not to pursue “great things” for himself during this time, and in return promised to preserve his life. It was a reminder that in seasons of uncertainty, real security comes from God’s hand, not from self-promotion or human strategy. This passage highlights how meaningless it is to ask the LORD for guidance, if you don’t plan on adhering to it. True obedience means submitting to His direction even when it opposes our plans. Faithfulness matters more than personal ambition, and security apart from God is an illusion.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Have you ever sought God’s direction but deep down hoped it would match what you already wanted?
  2. How does this account challenge you to submit to God’s will even when it conflicts with your plans?
  3. What would faithfulness look like for you in your current situation?
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“An Object of Extreme Devotion”

Jeremiah 35-37

The Israelites were still heading in the wrong direction. Jeremiah 35:15 reads, “Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.’ But you have not paid attention or listened to me.”

Is there an area of our lives where we need to pay closer attention and listen to God more? Sometimes the sins of the Israelites can seem so unrelatable at first glance. They engaged in idol worship? We might safely conclude,  “None of that going on here, but how foolish of the Israelites!” Then I think about modern day idol worship. Does it look like overconsumption of social media, doom scrolling, adoring celebrities, etc.? Sometimes our idol can be right in the palm of our hands. Do we have a fit of panic when we are getting ready to go somewhere and we can’t find our phones? Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines an idol as “an object of extreme devotion.” Do we have idols we need to clear out of our lives so that God becomes our number one priority? God makes it very clear we are to have no other gods before Him. 

I worked at a Catholic school for a number of years and the faculty and staff worked hard to come up with a school motto that embodied the school’s mission. One of the teachers exclaimed, “God calls, we answer!” and everyone unanimously agreed. That simple, succinct, yet oh so powerful statement really resonated with me and it dovetails nicely with the last sentence in 35:17:

“Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’”

When God calls, we want to be sure to answer, but first we must make sure we are truly listening and not letting the superficial cares or distractions of life drown out His voice. Perhaps it’s time to put Psalm 46:10 into practice:

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.”

-Kristy Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. Do we have idols (“objects of extreme devotion”) we need to clear out of our lives so that God becomes our number one priority?
  2. What distractions keep you from listening to God’s voice? How can you tune in better to the voice of God?
  3. When you hear God calling – how will you answer?
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A Time to Uproot – THEN – A Time to Plant

Jeremiah 32-34

In today’s reading in Jeremiah 32-34, God is furious with His people and promises to punish them. It won’t be pretty for a while, but eventually God’s love and mercy makes it back on the scene. We learned in yesterday’s reading how important God’s discipline is for shaping our character and turning us back to Him. I hope whoever is reading this realizes that you are never too far gone from God’s love and mercy. Yes, He might teach you a lesson to help you learn from it, but true repentance will lead to restoration. God will not stay mad at you if you choose to turn from your sinful ways. Maybe you’re holding back because you feel so embarrassed and humiliated at your poor choices and feel completely unworthy of God’s love. Maybe you feel like the prodigal son sheepishly returning home and expecting your father’s wrath, but you’re so desperate you will work as a servant in order to survive. Maybe you’re afraid you’ll receive a cold and resentful reception like the older brother gave the prodigal son. Don’t let fear of others’ judgment of you stand in the way of restoring your relationship with your Heavenly Father. His opinion of you is the only one that truly matters.

We can take comfort in God’s character revealed in 33:26 “…For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.” God will meet your repentance with compassion and restoration, but you first have to face the reality of your sin and the damage it has done to your life and your relationship with God. 

-Kristy Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some of the consequences of sin in your life? Have you experienced a time when your own personal true repentance has led to restoration? What might that look like – both today and in the future?
  2. How does God’s justice and mercy work together?
  3. Realizing there are still consequences for sin, how might God expect us to mirror His mercy to the repentant? How can your justice and mercy work together?
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He Hears. He Disciplines. Because He Loves.

Jeremiah 30-31

I was especially struck by several verses in today’s reading. In chapter 31 verse 18 we read,

“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:

    ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf,

    and I have been disciplined.

Restore me, and I will return,

    because you are the Lord my God.

God heard their moaning. I find great comfort in that the creator of the universe cares enough about us to hear our moaning. He also cares enough about us to discipline us for our own good. Hebrews 12:7-11, 

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. iGod is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, jin which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to kthe Father of spirits land live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, mthat we may share his holiness. 11 nFor the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields othe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

We all fall short of the glory of God and we will struggle many times to do what is right. When we recognize that we have strayed, we must repent and turn away from that sin. Jeremiah 31:19 gives a great example of what repentance looks like in action:

19 

After I strayed,

    I repented;

after I came to understand,

    I beat my breast.

I was ashamed and humiliated

    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

Verse 20 is perhaps the most poignant of all:

20 

Is not Ephraim my dear son,

    the child in whom I delight?

Though I often speak against him,

    I still remember him.

Therefore my heart yearns for him;

    I have great compassion for him,”

declares the Lord.

I don’t know about you, but my eyes fill with tears and I get goosebumps on my arms at the thought of God’s heart yearning for His people and Him having great compassion for us. Though he must discipline us at times, He does so out of His great love for us!

-Kristy Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you view God’s discipline? Is there a time(s) you feel God disciplined you? Why do you think He disciplines – in that case, and in general? Or – asked a different way – Does a Good God discipline? Explain.
  2. What role does repentance play? What feelings come with repentance in Jeremiah 31:19?
  3. What do you love about God’s love? How would you try to explain it to somehow completely new to the concept of a loving God (who disciplines)?
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Death Threats

Jeremiah 26-29

“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22).

In chapter 26, Jeremiah experienced hate on account of obedience to God. He was obedient to telling the people God’s message and they wanted to kill him for it. In our current day, the world is trying very hard to normalize certain sins and they spew a lot of vitriol toward Christians for not supporting it and promoting it. We see in certain areas of the world where Christians are even being killed for their beliefs. 

Did Jeremiah crumble under the threat of death? He absolutely did not. In the face of the threat of death, he stood his ground and continued to be obedient to God’s call to warn the people. God wants us to not have a spirit of fear and timidity but to be bold—even in the face of danger. Thankfully, we don’t need to rely on our own limited power, because we have a far greater source of strength. 2 Timothy 1:7 says,  “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

If we are practicing obedience to God’s word, we can be sure that we will receive push back from the world. We need to be resolute like Jeremiah and not conform to the wickedness of the world, but instead call it out so that we can help bring as many people as possible into God’s kingdom.

-Kristy Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. What might you be thinking and feeling and doing if you were in Jeremiah’s shoes? Is there anything you find particularly admirable about Jeremiah?
  2. What is the purpose behind speaking up (not omitting a word) even when it is not positively received?
  3. Have you ever faced a potentially fearful situation because of your faith? How do you think you (with help from the Spirit of God) might handle it today if you ran into persecution for believing in and speaking for God?
  4. What might you be able to do today to strengthen your faith in order to speak every word from God AND perhaps handle persecution better in the future?
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Running with Their Message

Jeremiah 23-25

Jeremiah’s heart was broken over the ungodliness and wickedness he witnessed among God’s people. As noted in 23:11, the priests and prophets were particularly godless. Their wickedness was so immense that God compared them to Sodom and Gomorrah. The prophets were not speaking inspired words, but rather what came to their own minds. I can’t help but wonder if these prophets told the people simply what they wanted to hear. In other words, they were good old fashioned con artists. My mind immediately went to the concept of today’s prosperity gospel and how preachers like Joel Osteen tickle the ears of the people with assurances that God wants you to be wealthy. Or there are even pastors who justify, minimize or normalize sins that are clearly spoken against in God’s word. God issues a clear warning in Jeremiah 23:16-17 about not listening to those who are sharing their own ideas as opposed to God’s inspired word.

16 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
    they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
    not from the mouth of the Lord.

Someone who is truly sharing the word of God will compel people to repent of their sins and turn toward God. Be wary of anyone who always tells you just what you want to hear.

22 

But if they had stood in my council,

    they would have proclaimed my words to my people

and would have turned them from their evil ways

    and from their evil deeds.

To whom are you listening? If those people are making you feel complacent with your sin, encouraging you to follow after ungodly things or not make the kingdom of God a priority, then you know that they are leading you astray and that will have dire consequences if continued. 

32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. 

“They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord.

– Kristy Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you discern what is a godly message and what did not come from Him?
  2. When have you seen people chasing after a message that did not come from God?
  3. To whom are you listening?
  4. How can your words better align with God’s message? What would God have you say, and to whom?
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