Jeremiah 49, Song of Solomon 3, John 6:1-15, 1 Peter 2:18-25 Jeremiah 49: If this were all the Bible you ever read, you would leave with a very skewed picture of God. Here we read God, through his prophet Jeremiah, pronouncing judgment on all peoples, without favor or fear, and the litany of judgment on these nations is only tempered by the occasional “in the latter days I will restore” them. But this is not the only part of the Bible that was ever written, nor the only part of Jeremiah, and the phrase “in the latter days I will restore” them hints at, opens a window towards, an aperture into a world of grace and mercy. That said, this chapter is also in the Bible and cannot be breezed over as if it did not exist. It is essential we read this chapter in its context of the Bible, the Book of Jeremiah, and what we know from the Bible about the mercy of God expressed in his gospel to all nations. It is well to think of these nations—many of whom were proud in their own day, had their own dreams and desires, thought well of themselves, and thought they were unshakeable—and consider how little they appear to have amounted to from the perspective of our own day. And then think how little we will amount to (outside of Christ) from the perspective of eternity. Do not place your hope in nation, country, politics, empire, business, or human kingdom of any kind. These things come and go, and only one kingdom lasts for ever. It is that kingdom that we are to seek first (Matthew 6:33), to put first, to have as our myopic focus, and in particular, the person of Christ. When all else fails, he will not. When the rest of the world comes crashing down, he stands firm—and in him we too can stand firm. He is our rock and our salvation (Psalm 18:2). It is he we must seek. We must not put our hope in the shifting sands of human fortune or race, but instead in the God who calls all nations to himself, and the Christ before whom one day every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10). Let, then, this chapter do its work: think little of human achievements (outside of Christ). Invest then in eternity—with finances, with your time and expertise, too. Give your life for something (and Someone) that will last forever. To receive God Centered Bible devotionals directly in your inbox, sign up here.]]>