Prayer: Father, what would I do if a prophet took me to a location in my town and prophesied words of destruction? Would I listen and repent. Would I lead my city to repent? Or would I, in despair, collapse to the ground and say there is no hope. Give me the faith and confidence in You, to repent. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 19 key: 1-3 “Thus said Adonai: “Go, buy a potter’s clay jar, take some elders of the people, some elders of the kohanim, and go out to the Valley of Ben-Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words that I will tell you, and say, “Hear the word of Adonai, kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel: ‘I am about to bring such a catastrophe on this place that whoever hears about it, his ears will tingle.” TLV
Attention: What is the meaning of the name of a person or a town? Do you know what your name means? Jeremiah’s name means “may Yahweh lift up,” “throw,” or “establish (pg. 882 HIBD).” The town of Topheth, to which Jeremiah was sent by Adonai to declare His word, was the name for “a place in the Hinnom Valley outside Jerusalem derived from Aramaic or Hebrew meaning “fireplace.” Topheth’s meaning was later “altered by Hebrew scribes to mean “shameful thing” because of the illicit worship continued there. Child sacrifice was practiced at Topheth” which brought Adonai’s judgement. Adonai declares in this passage, ““Therefore behold, the days are coming”—it is a declaration of Adonai— “when this place will no longer be called Topheth or The Valley of Ben-Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter (vs. 6).”
Would you want your town to be remembered historically, as the “Valley of Slaughter?” Would you want to be remembered as a town which sacrificed their children in worship of other gods? Even Adonai’s warning declared through the mouth of Jeremiah did not shake Topheth’s elder’s or priests into action.
What would it take to shake you and your pastor or priest into action for your city, or for your nation? Our cities and our nation are guilty of the same offenses. Remember, Adonai’s closing words, “Even so I will shatter this people and this city, as one shatters a potter’s jar, which can never be made whole again (vs. 11b).”
Action: I choose to listen and heed the warning of Adonai through the mouth of Jeremiah.
Yield: I choose to yield to the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in warning our cities and nation.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedient, intimate relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, You have provided warnings to me and we too have not listened. Give us ears to hear and hearts to obey. In the name of Yeshua, amen.
Memory Verse: Psalms 85:9 “Let me hear what God Adonai will say. For He will speak shalom to His people, and to His kedoshim— but let them not turn back to folly.” TLV
Music Video: Chris McClarney—I’m Listening https://youtu.be/Ef52AmdVwYI?si=NUQr15jHCChfCtCx
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”