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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 167

"I have left My heritage"

Text: Jeremiah 12:7

THE FORSAKING OF JUDAH

This was a painful topic to preach. But this was a subject that could not be set aside easily.

“I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage;
I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.
My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest;
It cries out against Me;
Therefore I have hated it.
My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture;
The vultures all around are against her.
Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,
Bring them to devour!”
Jeremiah 12:7-9

1. Three significant statements from God

a) God’s House: “I have forsaken My house”.
i) The Temple would be forsaken.
ii) This was a hard truth to accept.
b) God’s heritage: “I have left My heritage”.
i) God had taken Israel/Judah as His heritage.
ii) But He has left them because of their gross sinfulness.
c) Dearly beloved: “I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies”.
i) Israel and Judah were dearly loved by God.
ii) Nevertheless, the enemies would conquer them.

2. More vital statements made.

“My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest;
It cries out against Me;
Therefore I have hated it.
My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture;
The vultures all around are against her.
Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,
Bring them to devour!”

a) God’s heritage: The first comparison
i) Judah was compared to a wild lion.
ii) Its roars were against God.
b) God’s heritage: The second comparison
i) Judah was now compared to a vulture.
ii) It is a carrion bird that feeds on carcasses.
iii) Judah had become perverted.
c) The Judgment of God
i) Other carrion birds (vultures) would feast on Judah.
ii) All beasts of the field would attack Judah and consume it.
iii) The Lord would call on Judah’s enemies to destroy the nation.