Jonah tried to run away from the task. Jeremiah was not happy either....but God told him...."Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 1:8, 17b) Ezekiel was also commanded in no uncertain terms to warn the people as their watchman. "The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, speak to your people..." If the people were warned and did not prepare then it was on them....but if the watchman failed to warn...."But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes away any of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from Me."
I thought that I would bring back this post from October of last year....the Preface....and Addendum being a little more recent....
Preface: It has been my advice many times in these posts for the Christian to incorporate the Old Testament prophets into their daily Bible reading. Throw the read the Bible in a year plans away. They were useful in the past.....but not today....when God is slowly but surely removing veils on His prophetic word in scripture. You might try this sometime....choose one color of highlighter....and as you read through the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 and Luke 21....and Paul's epistles....and John's letters....and Jude....and even Hebrews and James....highlight any and all verses that pertain in any way to end-times prophecy and waiting for the Lord's return. It will help to show you just how important it was and is to always be vigilant as to the nearness of the Lord's return. The Old Testament prophets are more challenging....and the reader generally needs help from a good Study Bible....but it is even more difficult with Jeremiah....which I want to emphasize here....for it was not compiled chronologically....so if in the past you have done nothing but read through all 52 chapters from your read the Bible in a year plan....and then said....'gee that was fun....I wasn't able to make any sense of that'....try this....to get a taste of Jeremiah....spend time on chapters 4-9....and concentrate on every verse....and try to discern how the warnings might apply to us today. These are just just some personal suggestions....nothing more. The following post is from October of last year:
Flee From The Wrath To Come
So where were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? Were they just north of the Dead Sea.....or in the southern part? Did the potash explode....or was it a cosmic fireball? Or were there two cataclysmic events over a period of time?
The news story reported today on Drudge is just the latest academic paper to come out....and they are all interesting as this search for Sodom continues. The research in this instance indicates that a fireball must have been similar to the Tunguska event in Russia on June 30 of 1908.
Well we know this for sure....the description of the event that is in Genesis is exactly correct. It doesn't include detailed metallurgical and mineralogical findings....but it totally gives God's message.....FLEE...which is the same message for today.....FLEE....flee the yoke of politics that replaces obedience to God....flee these talking heads on radio and television....flee the churches that forgot what the gospel is.
The problem is that we kind of like it here....as long as we don't live in the city with the Democrats....but Lot's wife was not in the city itself when she was turned into a pillar of salt. To put this into more palatable language....than fleeing....we have to 'come out from' in terms of not being a part of. We know that we cannot leave the world.....and we know that we have to be salt in the world....but if we are not at least peculiar....then the salt is worthless.
Right now people like Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin....not to mention the worst taskmaster of all Trump....they have us in bondage...keeping us from fleeing...and keeping us from Christ. Our entertainments have us in bondage....our sports....our kids sports....our diets....our money....they all tug at us....telling us to join their party....or even their ministry.
We need to be reading the Old Testament prophets on a regular basis right now....and the Olivet Discourse as relayed to us in Matthew and Mark and Luke....and Paul's many words on what to look for and what will happen....as well as Peter's and John's and Jude's and James....and the warnings....so clear and so emphatic....of Jesus....but we would be fortunate to hear one sermon a year that gives us anything close to this warning....for that in itself would indicate that we are indeed beginning to...."come out of her..."
Addendum: Well I've posted for the morning....and went out for a couple of hours of cutting grass before the leaves turn color....and as usual have my headphones on to listen to a sermon from a preacher of the past....or a preacher today who preaches like men of the past.....so I searched out and found a Spurgeon to listen to....for God's wrath is never ignored with Spurgeon....and you can listen to it also....by Googling.....Spurgeon.....Flee From The Coming Wrath.
