What a beautiful picture of God bringing peace, joy and blessing to the people who have just experienced discipline. His intention with trials/discipline is not to destroy but rather to transform and draw us near. Lord help me to always be looking toward Your ultimate plan rather than being so focused on the suffering of today.
God wants his people close and does everything with the intention of drawing His people to Himself. Even discipline is designed to bring us closer to Him. Lord, help me to make the decision to draw near to You so that discipline is not needed!
This passage is so clear that the intention behind the discipline of God to to restore relationship. He desires that we know Him, spend time with Him and follow Him intentionally. Lord align my heart to you in every way!
The false prophet is telling the people what they want to hear is removed by God to protect the people from the lies. God cares about truth and wants His people to deal with truth rather than lies that make us feel better.
We have thousands of voices that are constantly telling us what to do, what is right or wrong, what is good or bad, what is best for us. This was no different for the people of Israel, the voices were dominated by false prophets, dreamers, sorcerers and soothsayers…and we have the same: social media, news, commercials etc.
Lord, help me to elevate Your voice above all others, let me hear You, strengthen me to obey it, and reject all of the other influences that pull my attention. Let me live in absolute surrender!
God is so patient with us…He is looking for us to turn to Him, reject our own selfishness and listen. It seems so simple, yet actually doing it takes being surrendered. That of course is the last thing we ever want to do, because surrender requires a continual putting to death our own desires empowered by the Spirit of God. It is literally impossible without the Spirit…Lord strengthen me to follow You rather than my own desires…
God’s patience is on display in this passage even though we are breaking in at the point where He to the final straw. His people’s rejection of His warnings and instruction has been ignored and rejected for decades and He cares so much for their ultimate good, that He will send consequences that will be painful and traumatic.
Lord, help me to listen right away and not need decades of your patience. Allow me to follow You at the first instruction.
