Day 381 - Jeremiah 7.1-8.17 & Psalm 9

 Michelle

This reading continues to share how God is angry with the people and gives reasons why.  It also goes into what he has said he is going to do to them and why.  There is a part titled "Valley of Slaughter".  Sounds extremely ominous.  But in reading this passage and thinking about all we have read about the past, this has a tone of God being fed up with the people as they continue to disobey him.  It speaks of how they have defiled his temple and worshipped other gods in it.  It talks of who and what they worship along with supposedly worshipping God.  Alot of what is said reminds me of things we know today.  There is a part that speaks of worshipping the stars, which made me think of the astrological charts and newspaper columns of today.  I never really thought about that but it does make some sense that it is something that is "worshipped".  It just never occurred to me before that it is a form of worship.  

This psalm talks about worshipping the Lord and goes on about how his enemies are treating him and how the Lord responds.  Verses 8-10 stand out to me today.  "He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.  The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."  This seems a reminder that if you trust in God, he will always be there, that he is where we should turn when in need.

Julie

I know that we have mentioned this before, but this seems to be a common theme throughout what we have read, where people remember God for a short time and then they return to their old ways. I think that we are living in a time like this right now where people have forgotten and there are so many things that they are worshipping instead of turning to God. Maybe we are in a moment like this where God is planning to purge again those that are sinning.

He will see those of us that are trying to remain trusting and faithful to the Lord regardless of what is happening in the world.