Study Desk

I was so angry that for a while I did not want to see you. But now I want to comfort you with kindness forever." The Lord your Savior said this.

They say, "We fast to show honor to you. Why don't you see us? We starve our bodies to show honor to you. Why don't you notice us?" But God says, "You do things to please yourselves on those special days of fasting. And you punish your servants, not your own bodies.

Do you think I want to see people punish their bodies on those days of fasting? Do you think I want people to look sad and bow their heads like dead plants? Do you think I want people to wear mourning clothes and sit in ashes to show their sadness? That is what you do on your days of fasting. Do you think that is what the Lord wants?

I want you to share your food with the hungry. I want you to find the poor who don't have homes and bring them into your own homes. When you see people who have no clothes, give them your clothes! Don't hide from your relatives when they need help."

We are like people without eyes. We walk into walls like blind people. We stumble and fall as if it was night. Even in the daylight, we cannot see. At noontime, we fall like dead men.

He did not see anyone speak up for the people. He was shocked to see that no one stood up for them. So with his own power he saved them. His desire to do what is right gave him strength.

Look around you! See all the people gathering around. Those are your sons coming from far away, and your daughters are there beside them.

"At that time you will see your people, and your faces will shine with happiness. First, you will be afraid, but then you will be excited. All the riches from across the seas will be set before you. The riches of the nations will come to you.

Then all nations will see your goodness. All kings will see your honor. Then you will have a new name that the Lord himself will give you.

Please, look down from the heavens. See what is happening now. Look down at us from your great and holy home in heaven. Where is your strong love for us? Where is your compassion? Why are you hiding your kind love from me?

The mountains would burst into flames like burning bushes. The mountains would boil like water on the fire. Then your enemies would learn about you. And all nations would shake with fear when they see you.

"A woman does not give birth before she feels the pain. A woman must feel the pain of childbirth before she can see the boy she gives birth to. Who ever heard of such a thing? In the same way, no one ever saw a new world begin in one day. No one has ever heard of a new nation that began in one day. But when Zion feels the pain, she will give birth to her children.

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.

"They have evil thoughts and do evil things, so I am coming to punish them. I will gather all nations and all people. Everyone will be gathered together to see my Glory.

"Whoever goes out of the city will see the dead bodies of those who sinned against me. The worms eating those bodies will never die, and the fires burning them will never go out. It will be horrible to anyone who sees it."

The Lord 's message came to me: "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I answered, "I see a stick made from almond wood."

The Lord 's message came to me again: "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I answered, "I see a pot of boiling water. That pot is tipping over from the north."

Go across the sea to the Islands of Kittim. Send someone to the land of Kedar. Look very carefully. See if anyone has ever done anything like this.

Even if you wash yourself with lye, even if you use much soap, I can still see your guilt." This message is from the Lord God .

But where are the idols you made for yourselves? Let's see if they come and save you when you are in trouble! People of Judah, you have as many idols as you have cities!