Study Desk

As a young man takes a bride and she belongs to him, so your land will belong to your children. As a man is happy with his new wife, so your God will be happy with you.

Jerusalem, I put guards on your walls. They will not be silent. They will keep praying day and night. Guards, keep praying to the Lord . Remind him of his promise. Don't ever stop praying.

The Lord made a promise and guaranteed it by his own power. And he will use that power to keep his promise. The Lord said, "I promise that I will never again give your food to your enemies. I promise that they will never again take the wine you make.

His people will be called "The Holy People," "The Saved People of the Lord ." And you, Jerusalem, will be called "The City God Wants," "The City God Is With."

Who is this coming from Edom, from the city of Bozrah? His clothes are stained bright red. He is glorious in his clothes. He is walking tall with his great power. He says, "I have the power to save you, and I speak the truth."

The people had many troubles, but he was not against them. He loved them and felt sorry for them, so he saved them. He sent his special angel to save them. He picked them up and carried them, just as he did long ago.

But they turned against him and made his Holy Spirit very sad. So the Lord became their enemy and fought against them.

Then they remembered what happened long ago. They remembered Moses and those with him. So where is the one who brought them through the sea along with the shepherds who led his flock? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to live among them?

He was by Moses' side and led him with his wonderful hand. He divided the water, so that the people could walk through the sea. He made his name famous by doing those great things.

Your names will be like curses to my chosen servants." The Lord God will kill you, and then he will call his servants by a new name.

You who obey the Lord 's commands, listen to what he says: "Your brothers hated you. They turned against you because you followed me. Your brothers said, ‘When the Lord shows his glory, then we will rejoice with you.' But they will be punished."

Listen! There is a loud noise coming from the city and from the Temple. It is the Lord punishing his enemies. He is giving them the punishment they deserve.

When you see these things, you will be happy. You will be free and grow like grass. The Lord 's servants will see his power, but his enemies will see his anger.

Look, the Lord is coming with fire. His armies are coming with clouds of dust. He is angry, and he will punish his enemies with flames.

The Lord will judge the people and will punish them with fire and his sword. There will be many people killed by the Lord .

Then the Lord reached out with his hand and touched my mouth. He said to me, "Jeremiah, I am putting my words in your mouth.

"If a man divorces his wife and she goes and marries someone else, the first husband cannot take her back. If he did, it would make the land unclean. Judah, you and all your false gods are like a prostitute with many lovers! So why do you think you can come back to me?" This message is from the Lord .

You also said, ‘God will not always be angry with me. His anger will not continue forever.' "Judah, you say that, but you do as much evil as you can."

A lion has come out of his cave. A destroyer of nations has begun to march. He has left his home to destroy your land. Your towns will be destroyed. There will be no one left to live in them.

The Lord says, "When this happens, the king and his officers will lose their courage. The priests will be filled with fear, and the prophets will be shocked."