Day 402 - Jeremiah 44 - 45 & Psalm 30

 Michelle

In chapter 44 it talks about the disaster the people will endure because of the idolatry they have been practicing.  They argued with Jeremiah saying how when they gave offerings to others, they prospered and when they stopped they witnessed their downfall.  So they felt like they should reinstate these offerings.  Jeremiah tries to explain to them that God was giving them a chance, grace, in order to refocus on God.  But they don't seem to be believing him.  I think I understand this way of thinking, I know it's not right, but I understand it.  I think we see people around us doing bad things and prospering and wonder why they are being allowed to continue and prosper even though they are not following God's commands.  It makes me think this is a lesson in minding our own business, or the grass is always greener, but really it's not that as green as we think.  It's just a facade as God will bring them to reckoning when the time is right.  As with all people, he allows us to make choices and calls us back to him, but it's our choice to turn to God.  That's the whole point.  God wants us to choose him and it's a choice to believe and follow.  As it is with anything, it's a choice.  And I choose God today and everyday.  I pray I continue to make this choice.

The psalm sounds like a song of praise from David for God sparing him and lifting him up and healing him after his enemies torn him down.  He says God turned his wailing into dancing, and clothed him with joy.  I don't think we always see our circumstances this way when God brings us out of our troubles or struggles.  But we should.  We need to recognize that we made it through whatever the issues are/were and that we can give thanks and praise for what we went through and that we have been brought out the other side of it.  Giving joy and praise to God.

Julie

I understand that too, because I always wonder why those that are doing evil or wrong seem to prosper. You are right we don't see the whole picture so maybe they aren't as successful or prosperous as we think. I also pray and continue to choose God over anything else.

This kind of reminds me of something that has shown up in things I have read for the last couple of years and that is that we need to find the joy in those moments of struggle or sadness. Maybe too this is saying that it's ok to be sad, but we should not wallow in it and to remember the joy in the difficult moments and see how God has worked.