Devotional -Plus Interesting Reads – 05/16/2023 – Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

Chapter CONTEXT from Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete) – We now return to Jerusalem, and must again hear what God has to say to her, I. By way of reproof and threatening, for the abundance of wickedness that was found in her, of which divers instances are given, with the aggravations of them (v. 1-7). II. By way of promise of mercy and grace, which God had yet in reserve for them. Two general heads of promises here are:— 1. That God would bring in a glorious work of reformation among them, cleanse them from their sins, and bring them home to himself; many promises of this kind here are (v. 8-13). 2. That he would bring about a glorious work of salvation for them, when he had thus prepared them for it (v. 14-20). Thus the “Redeemer shall come to Zion,” and to clear his own way, shall “turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” These promises were to have their full accomplishment in gospel-times and gospel-graces.

For Verse CONTEXT/COMMENTARY I highly recommend MacLaren Expositions Of Holy Scripture. He entitles his comments ZION’S JOY AND GOD’S by comparing verses 14 and 17.

What I find most incredible about today’s main text is if we look at most modern translations of the Bible the chapter begins with a heading something like: Woe to Jerusalem and the Nations, Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations, or Woe to Oppressive Jerusalem. Now anytime I read Woe or judgment I am thinking God’s wrath is about to rain down upon unrepentant man. Yet as McLaren points out by contrasting vs. 14 and 17, God’s anger is tempered by His Grace and Love for His chosen.

What an amazing promise that even when not if, we “mess up/sin” we serve a loving God willing to forgive His elect who come to Him with a contrite and repentant heart. Yet we must not fail to see the correlation or similarities between Israel and America. Both nations proposed to follow Godly principles, but both continually go astray. We (Christians) need to be daily in prayer for our country.

TOPICS:

Americana, Christian Life, Culture/Society, Informed Citizenship, Informed Patriotism, Pro-Life, Military/Veterans, You Can’t Make This Up, and more.

We hope you become informed readers and citizens based both Biblically and upon our founding fathers: Acts 17:10-12, 2 Tim 2:14-16, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine.