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Read: Jeremiah 1:1–19Saturday, September 1The Prophet’s CallPsychologists tell us that we can determine a lot about someone on our firstencounter—if we know how to readthe signs. Body language, facial expressions, and first words can communicatean abundance of information to thoselooking for it.disobedience. He was prepared for thismoment long before Jeremiah was born(v. 5).Out of this call, we discover twoimportant themes of the book. First, thereis the prominent theme of judgmentthat is coming upon JuThe first words of thedah. They have forsakenbook of Jeremiah arethe Lord and turned toI am watching torevealing as well. We areworship other gods. Likesee that my wordintroduced to the propheta boiling pot, destrucJeremiah, whose ministrytion will come from theis fulfilled.runs from “the thirteenthnorth. This is the messageJeremiah 1:12year of the reign ofJeremiah must deliver,Josiah . . . down to theand one of the recurring. . . eleventh year ofmotifs of the book.Zedekiah” (vv. 2–3). Why are wegiven this background reference? A Second, however, we see the promisequick look at 2 Chronicles 34 through of God to Jeremiah. Despite the harsh36 reveals the history of Judah’s down- message the prophet must deliver, Godward spiral from Josiah’s religious promises to give him the words to sayreforms to Judah’s exile at the hand of and His presence as protection. Not onlyBabylon. And it is precisely during the is God’s word against Judah trustworhistory of Judah’s fall into wickedness thy, but His promise to Jeremiah is surethat God proves His faithfulness by as well. The Lord is “watching to seecalling Jeremiah as prophet. God does that my word is fulfilled” (v. 12). This isnot give up on His people, even in their the character of our God.Apply the WordPray with UsAs you embark on your own encounter withthe book of Jeremiah, pray that God wouldopen your heart to see and receive what Hewants to teach you. Despite the unpopularthemes of destruction and judgment throughoutthe book, we can learn much about thecharacter of our God in this study. Pray for theSpirit’s guidance as you go forth.Join us in lifting up Moody’sBoard of Trustees. These 11 mengive of their time, expertise,and talents to support the workGod is doing through Moody’seducation and media ministries.Ask the Father to give thetrustees wisdom and unity asthey serve Him together.6 Moody Bible Institute

Read: Jeremiah 2:1–22Sunday, September 2Israel’s Betrayal[Optional longer reading: Jeremiah 2:1–4:4]holy, and defiled it (vv. 2–3). Althoughthere was no fault in God, Israel chose“worthless idols and became worthlessthemselves” (v. 5). Perhaps worst of all,the leaders of Israel (priests, rulers, andprophets), led the people into unfaithfulness (v. 8). Sin takes good and pervertsit into something else.Dale Carnegie, the author of How toWin Friends and Influence People, wouldlikely have given a failing grade to Jeremiah. His first message was harsh, accusing Judah of idolatry and unfaithfulness toward God. Verses14 through 22 summarizeThey havethe state of things: IsraelSecond, we see the inhas broken their yoke,gratitude of sin. Despiteforsaken me,torn off their bonds, andGod’s generous gifts of athe spring ofrejected serving the Lord.fertile land and abundantliving water.They are described with aprovisions, Israel repaidJeremiah 2:13variety of word pictures:such kindness with the deas prostitutes, an intracfilement of idolatry. Sintable vineyard, and dirtyso often stems from suchbathers unable to be cleansed. In the ingratitude toward God.face of inevitable consequences, Godreminds them “how evil and bitter it is” Finally, we are shown the sheer lunacyto forsake the Lord (v. 19).of sin. Astonishingly, Israel had takenits glorious God, who bestows livingAlong with the summary of Israel’s be- waters, and exchanged Him for worthtrayal, today’s reading also paints a less idols and “broken cisterns thatportrait of the characteristics of sin. cannot hold water” (v. 13). Who in theirFirst, sin is a perversion. Like a youthful right mind would choose stale, contamibride once devoted to her husband, Is- nated water over fresh springs? Yet thisrael has perverted all that was good and is precisely the lunacy of sin.Apply the WordPray with UsToday’s reading calls us to take a hard lookinto our own lives. How might we, too, beguilty of forsaking God? How is the perversion, ingratitude, and lunacy of sin taking rootand leading us to forsake the One who firstloved us? Ask God for the courage to makean honest examination of your life and seekrepentance where needed.Please pray for Dr. JuniasVenugopal, Provost and Deanof Education, as well as hisExecutive AdministrativeAssistant, Denise Kuypers.Praise God for their service tomore than 3,000 students whoreceive quality Christianministry training.Today in the Word 7

Read: Jeremiah 4:5–31Monday, September 3Judgment from the North[Optional longer reading: Jer. 4:5–6:30]God’s punishment. The battle cry warnsof “terrible destruction” (v. 6). Like a lion,Except for Egypt on its southern bor- the northern invader will wreak havocder, any nation wishing to attack Israel and leave Israel’s leaders appalled andwould have come from the north. Even terrified. In imagery suggestive of a renations in the east would have moved versal of the Genesis creation account,north to avoid the trek across the east- Jeremiah depicts a barren wasteland: “Ilooked at the earth and itern wilderness. It is nowas formless and empty”surprise that Jeremiah’s(v. 23). Verse 19 epitoword warns of the comJerusalem, washmizes the coming tormenting destruction from thethe evil fromas a voice cries out, “Oh,north. What do Jeremiyour heart andmy anguish, my anguish! Iah’s oracles tell us aboutbe saved.writhe in pain.”this impending disaster?Jeremiah 4:14Although there is a humanagent, the real sourceof the coming destruction is God. TheLord’s anger over Israel’s idolatry hadnot been turned away. Like a scorching desert wind, God was sending Hisjudgment against His rebellious people.The reason for such devastation is clear:Israel’s own wicked conduct had broughtthis punishment upon them (v. 18).The bulk of the chapter, however,details a vivid and horrific imagery ofThe scene in today’sreading is truly dreadful,something akin to nuclear fallout whereall life is decimated. And yet, even inthe horrific face of impending judgment,don’t miss the glimmers of hope offered.With the right response there may bemercy. God calls them to “wash the evilfrom your heart and be saved” (v. 14).Later, God declares His mercy again,saying, “I will not destroy it completely” (v. 27). Even here the mercy of Godpeeks through.Apply the WordPray with UsToday’s pictures of God’s wrath and mercyboth reflect His commitment to His people. Hiswrath demonstrates the seriousness of Hisrelationship with us and how sin severs it. Hismercy indicates His commitment to grace evenin the face of foolish disobedience. Givethanks today that God considers His relationship with us something worth taking seriously.More than 40,000 Moodyalumni are serving Christ inover 100 countries. Pray forMissions department faculty—Walter Cirafesi, Stephen Clark,and Clive Craigen—as theyequip the next generation atMoody’s undergraduate schoolin Chicago.8 Moody Bible Institute

Read: Jeremiah 7:1–29Tuesday, September 4Jeremiah’s Temple SermonNumerous polls and surveys indicate Lord” (v. 4). Jeremiah’s history lessonthat for the majority of people, public about Shiloh reminded Israel that thespeaking ranks as our greatest fear, place of God’s presence was no proteceven higher than death. If public speak- tion for those who remain in their sin.ing produces such anxiety, imaginebeing called to deliver a harsh spiri- Jeremiah likewise identified the sintual message to a crowd of people at of God’s people in specific terms.a religious center. ThatThey had failed to bringwas precisely the taskjustice to the alien andto which God calledinnocent and violated theAre they notJeremiah, to stand in theexplicit commandments ofrather harmingtemple and deliver a mesGod. Most central to theirthemselves, tosage about Israel’s sin.failings, however, wastheir own shame?their idolatry and lackOne aspect of Jeremiah’sof repentance. NoticeJeremiah 7:19temple sermon highlightsthat the sin of idolatry, inthe hypocrisy and selfparticular, does not justdelusion of Israel. Though engaged in provoke God, but harms themselves asall variety of sin, the people continued well. As God says, “They are harmingto return to the place of worship as if themselves, to their own shame” (v. 19).nothing was wrong. Indeed, they ran to Likewise, God had given His commands,the temple as a “den of robbers” (v. 11), “that it may go well with you” (v. 23).deluding themselves into thinking that Serving and obeying the Lord is not atGod would never destroy the very place all like serving a cruel tyrant. Rather,of His presence. As hypocrites and self- God’s commands are for our own good,deceived, they chanted their mantra, and our obedience brings blessing and“the temple of the Lord, the temple of the true satisfaction in our lives.Apply the WordPray with UsConsider today Scripture’s way of looking atsin. Our disobedience is a fundamental denialof God’s blessing intended for us. Without aproperly obedient relationship with Him, wemiss the best that God has for us. Identify onething in your life that is falling short of the bestGod intends for you; then do what Israel didnot—repent and seek God’s forgiveness.Continuing our prayers forfaculty serving in the Missionsdepartment at Moody’sChicago campus, please bringbefore the Lord ElizabethLightbody, Michael Rydelnik,and Timothy Sisk. Thank Godfor their commitment tocross-cultural ministry.Today in the Word 9

Read: Jeremiah 8:4–17; 10:1–16Wednesday, September 5Impenitence and Idolatry[Optional longer reading: Jer. 8:4–10:25]wisdom means knowing God’s wordand following it.Our key verse today speaks of the follyof refusing correction. The first part The second part of today’s readingof today’s reading echoes this same focuses on the sin of idolatry. The conidea as God described the stiff-necked trast between idols and God is clear. Inbehavior of Israel. They “refuse to a very real sense, there is an absurdityreturn” (8:5) and “noneabout idolatry. Idols areof them repent of theirinanimate objects, carvedwickedness” (8:6). In fact,from wood or stone,Whoever remainsthey show no remorseadorned by craftsmen,stiff-necked afteror hesitation about sin atand carried about. Notmany rebukesall. Even the birds haveonly can they not speakwill suddenlyenough sense to knowor walk, they are utterlywhen to migrate, but theuseless: “they can do nobe destroyed.people of Judah lack allharm, nor can they do anyProverbs 29:1knowledge of God.good” (10:5).The scribes of the law andthe leaders of Israel claimed wisdom,but God revealed their folly. Wherethings were serious, Israel’s leaderstreated the matter lightly. Where therewas coming judgment, their false prophets proclaimed peace. God’s opinionwas clear: “Since they have rejectedthe word of the Lord, what kind ofwisdom do they have?” (8:9). TrueThe Lord, on the otherhand, as the only true God, is uniquely superior. No one is like Him. He is“mighty in power” (10:6), the “livingGod, the eternal King” (10:10). Andunlike the worthless idols, He is thecreator and Lord of all things. Theworship of idols, then, is not only sinful,but absurd. And yet, Israel persisted intheir sin.Apply the WordPray with UsWe might laugh at Jeremiah’s depiction ofidols until we recognize that modern-dayidolatry is alive and well. Our idols mayinclude Hollywood’s ideas about beauty, timewasted on the Internet, our job, or anythingthat turns us from God. What things in yourlife might be idols? Confess, and ask God tobecome the center of your attention again.Your prayers will be anencouragement to ElizabethBrown, Vice President andGeneral Counsel. Ask the Lordto grant Elizabeth discernmentand insight as she provideslegal counsel to Moody’sministries throughout the year.10 Moody Bible Institute

Read: Jeremiah 11:1–23Thursday, September 6Broken Covenant[Optional longer reading: Jer. 11:1–12:17]the stubbornness of their evil hearts” (v.8). The people worshiped other gods;the covenant had been broken.In the ancient Near East, powerful kingswould often form treaties with theirsubjects by making covenants with them. As a result God reminded them of theBoth king and vassal would swear an curses specified in the original covenant.oath whereby the king promised his pro- The people’s sin was so egregious thattection and blessing andGod gave them over tothe vassal promised histheir false gods. Whenservice and obedience.disaster would come, IsObey me . . . andBreaking the covenantrael could turn to themyou will be myoath was a serious viofor help—help that wouldpeople, and I willlation resulting in cursesnever arrive. The Lordbe your God.specified in the treaty.even instructed Jeremiahnot to pray for the peoJeremiah 11:4The theme of God’s covple, underscoring God’senantal relationship withjudgment on their covIsrael, and Israel’s violation of their end enantal violation.of the covenant, lies at the heart of thebook of Jeremiah. God had graciously One might think that in response to direscued Israel from the oppression of vine rebuke and warning, the peopleEgyptian slavery and formed a binding would turn to God in repentance. Incovenant. The terms were simple: “Obey stead, the men of Anathoth, Jeremiah’sme . . . and you will be my people, and I hometown, plotted to kill the prophetwill be your God” (v. 4). Unfortunately, who delivered God’s message. In theGod’s people refused to uphold their end, God’s last word highlights theend of the covenant: “they did not listen hardness of their hearts and seals theiror pay attention; instead, they followed judgment for covenant unfaithfulness.Apply the WordPray with UsWhen someone points out our failings anddisobedience, we often become angry insteadof heeding the admonition that can restore ourrelationship with God. Think of someone inyour life who, perhaps like Jeremiah, helpedyou see your own sin. Thank God for Hisgrace in sending that person to you. Then taketime also to thank the person whom God used.Give thanks to God for theLegal department: Emmy Koh,Cassandrea Blakely, NatalieHarper, and Hannah Roos. Thisteam helps Moody’s ministrypartners in establishing willsand trusts and also provideslegal assistance to Moody’sministries.Today in the Word 11

Read: Jeremiah 13:1–27Friday, September 7Prospect of ExileWe’ve all heard the adage that actionsspeak louder than words, or a pictureis worth a thousand words. Sometimeswords alone do not convince as well asactions. In the case of Jeremiah, Godchose a similar course by having Jeremiah enact a kind of living parable.has the effect of ruining our relationshipwith God.Even so, Jeremiah offered yet againa call to do what was right—to payattention to the word of the Lord, and togive Him the glory due His name. Timewas running out, and iftheir pride and arrogancecontinued to prevent their“‘Why hasrepentance, captivity andthis happenedexile were the comingto me?’—it isjudgment. Royalty wouldbecause of yourlose their thrones andcrowns, supposed alliesmany sins.”would betray them, andJeremiah 13:22“all Judah will be carriedinto exile” (v. 19).God instructed Jeremiahto buy a new linen cloth,a kind of undergarmentworn close to the skin,waist to knees. Over along period of unspecified days, Jeremiah wasto wear it without washing, then hide it in a rockycrevice, and then dig itup again. By the end, thelinen cloth had become dirty, ruined,and useless. All of this was to symbolize God’s intimate relationship withJudah that over time had become sulliedand ruined. As a result, the Lord evokedanother image, this time of wineskinsand drunkenness, to depict the ruin anddestruction coming upon His people. SinIn the face of such coming disaster, anatural question might be: why is thishappening? The answer is clear: it wasbecause of Judah’s stubbornness in sin.So accustomed were they to their sinfulhabits that they were as likely to repentand do good as an Ethiopian or a leopard would be able to change their skin.This is the dark danger of habitual sin.Apply the WordPray with UsSo much in the early chapters in Jeremiahrevolves around God’s call to repentanceover sin. Is there someone in your life whoneeds a firm, but gentle, exhortation to turnfrom sin before an intractable habit sets in?Ask God today for the wisdom and courageto speak in love to this person that they mightturn to God and live.We have the privilege ofpraying for Moody’sundergraduate and seminarystudents studying at ourcampuses in Chicago, Illinois;Spokane, Washington; andPlymouth, Michigan. May Godgive them thirst for His Word,and passion for their studies.12 Moody Bible Institute

Read: Jeremiah 14:1–12; 16:10–21Saturday, September 8Drought, Famine, Disaster[Optional longer reading: Jer. 14:1–17:4]Most teachers would agree with theold Latin saying, Repetitio est mater studiorum, which means, “Repetition is themother of learning.” It usually takes repetition before a lesson will stick.false gods all day long, this time in aforeign land. It would seem that Judah’ssin had reached a climactic point of noreturn. God’s mercy was exhausted.Or was it? Just when it seemed all hopewas gone, we find within this dark message a new theme: grace.God did the same for HisBriefly, but clearly, GodDo not lose heartpeople through Jeremiah.hinted that after thewhen he rebukesOnce again in today’simminentpunishment,passages, we are metthere would be a day ofyou, because thewith the familiar themerestoration to their landLord disciplinesof rebuke over sin and(16:14–15). Just as Godthe one he loves.warning of judgment. Likeonce brought Israel out ofHebrews 12:5–6their forefathers, JudahEgypt, so again He wouldhad forsaken God, folbring them out of thelowed other gods, and remained in stub- hands of the northern oppressors.born disobedience. Even the prophet’splea for God’s mercy fell on deaf ears God’s grace is even bigger than that.(14:7–9). Jeremiah recognized Israel’s Not just would Israel be restored, butcovenant faithlessness, but nevertheless all nations “from the ends of the earth”turned to God, the “hope of Israel, its (16:19) would one day stream to the Lord,Savior in times of distress” (14:8). Yet in confess their idolatry, and be taught toresponse, God reminded them of their know the living God. How marvelousunrestrained sin and their coming judg- that such dark warnings of coming judgment. In chapter 16, God handed them ment could also contain such glimmeringover to what they wanted: to worship promises of abundant grace!Apply the WordPray with UsPraise God that we worship One who, even inHis discipline, does not abandon His grace tous! The author of Hebrews also reminds us ofthis lesson: “Do not lose heart when Herebukes you, because the Lord disciplines theone he loves” (12:5–6). Try committing theseverses to memory or write them down, to beremi

President of Moody Bible Institute Imagine that the Lord was to visit your town today in search of men . obedience and God’s promise of future resto-ration (Jer. 30:3), the book of Jeremiah is a . [online]. May