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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 61

"They have forgotten the LORD their God"

Text: Jeremiah 3:21

IN PERILOUS TIMES

The plight of the people in Judah was felt deeply. Times were tough, and the threat of war drew ever nearer. In times past, the children of Israel would have cried out to the Lord in humble supplications. The king, the priests, the prophets and the godly would have sought God’s mercy! But in the present context, the people did not turn to God in their dilemma!

“A voice was heard on the desolate heights,
Weeping and supplications of the children of Israel.
For they have perverted their way;
They have forgotten the LORD their God.”
Jeremiah 3:21

1. “A voice was heard on the desolate heights”

a) This voice was a plaintive cry.
b) It could be heard if one strains the ears to hear.
c) The voice drifted in from “the desolate heights”.

2. “The desolate heights”

a) These were forlorn places.
b) People would not be normally found there.
c) Those who were found there would often be “refugees”.
i) They have been displaced from their homes.
ii) They had to flee for their lives.
iii) In their desperation, they cried out in dark despair.

3. “Weeping and supplications of the children of Israel”

a) The “voice” was identified further.
b) They were the voices of people who were weeping.
c) They were offering supplications.
d) These were none other than “the children of Israel”.
e) Why were they in such deep despair shedding copious tears?

4. “For they have perverted their way”

a) They were a long way from home.
b) They were even longer away from their God.
c) The sad and solemn reality was that their ways had become perverted.
i) They had perverted their way of life.
ii) Their faith in God had also gone so wrong.
iii) Their understanding of God had become so mixed up!

5. “They have forgotten the LORD their God”

a) They had forgotten all that God had done for them.
i) Providing
ii) Protecting
b) They had forgotten the wonderful truths they had been taught.
i) They had forgotten how to seek God in prayer.
ii) All they could do now was to lament their fate.