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Topic: Compromised Foundation
[DCLM Daily Manna 26 September 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Jeremiah 11:1-14 (KJV)
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
6 Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
Key Verse: “They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refuse to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers” (Jeremiah 11:10).
MESSAGE:
Foundations are critical to the structural integrity and longevity of any building. A compromised foundation portends grave danger and calamity. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). The most critical foundation one should build his life upon is the word of God. Its reliability is sure and it helps the believer to constantly maintain stability in his walk with God.
Our passage reveals the controversy God had with the men of Judah and Jerusalem. This stems from the fact that the children of Judah wanted the fulfilment of God’s promises but lacked the will to do what He commanded them. He instructed the prophet not to pray for them because He would not hear. This is quite similar to the situation in our contemporary society where there is an upsurge of religious activities, prayer houses, proliferation of “so called prophets” dishing out “visions” for the people in the midst of their terrible decadence and moral turpitude. Our society is filled with men and women who speak so much about God, pray so much to God but their hearts are far from Him. God is not interested in sacrifices without obedience.
As parents and leaders, we must strive to show good examples and leave worthy legacies for the younger generations. The undoing of Judah was the compromised foundation of disobedience left by “their forefathers” which they also followed.
The key to revival and positive change in our land therefore is not so much on how frequent we are at praying mountains, visits to prophets or holding of vigils but in simply obeying the word of God.
Thought For The Day: Obedience brings the blessings.
The Bible In One Year: Proverbs 30–31
