Jeremiah 15-17

Chapter 15:
" 'Those destined for death, to death;
those for the sword, to the sword;
those for starvation, to starvation;
those for captivity, to captivity.' (15:2)

God is saying how he is going to destroy Judah after Jeremiah (in the last chapter) had asked for mercy. God says, "no way!" These people are beyond help. He can no longer show compassion (15:6).

Jeremiah still wonders why he is mixed in with these people even though he hasn't done anything wrong. And God tells him he has a purpose but because of his people, he will still have to go against his enemies (15:14). And Jeremiah continues to beg, "do not take me away... for I bear your name"

And God then promises that if he repents with "worthy and not worthless words," that he will save Jeremiah and give him a purpose.

Chapter 16:
God finally punishes Judah. The land turns useless. He says do not even have children here because the land will never be worth anything.

10 "When you tell these people all this and they ask you, 'Why has the LORD decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the LORD our God?' 11 then say to them, 'It is because your fathers forsook me,' declares the LORD, 'and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook me and did not keep my law. 12 But you have behaved more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me.

And Jeremiah promises to teach them to know the Lord, because He is the only true God and will be the only one to save this land.

Chapter 17:
Cursed is the one who trusts in man and blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.

10 "I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."

And then he goes on to talk about the Sabbath. If you obey his laws, one being to keep the sabbath holy, you'll be blessed, and if not, you're skrewed.

OK SO...
Basically the people of Judah are too far gone for help. God has searched their hearts and he KNOWS that there is no hope for them. He even says that if they really repented, he would give them a second chance but he KNOWS they will not repent, because they do not even see that what they are doing is wrong. Where we fit in: we can be Jeremiah or the people of Judah. We can realize how much our God does not want to punish us and just wants our love, or we can be selfish do whatever sinful thing we want.


And an update on Becca's Life:
(haha I know this is a long post). So yesterday was Valentine's day. oh jeeze. I actually wasn't one of those newly single bitter girls, but I did get a little sad and I wasn't expecting that. The thought of Ryan actually sickens me, so I wasn't sad about him. In fact, the thought of being with anyone kind of grosses me out right now, so I don't even know what my problem was. I've lately been having a little bit of fun flirting with 3 boys in particular. One of them is the guy from home who told me he loves me, bla bla bla. But yesterday, I talked to him and he was having a great day and actually had a date. And we had a snow day, so I didn't get to see the other 2. It's weird. I can't really explain it, but I don't really want to be with any of these guys, (well, maybe the one from my spanish class, oh goodness), but just pretending that it would be a possibility is kind of fun. So on Valentine's day, that was all shot to the ground and I had to work, running around like a crazy woman to every couple and deliver their special valentine's day dessert. It was fun, but a little stressful. Anyways, I've been on a high for a long time now, and I was wondering when I was going to come down, and I guess yesterday did it for me. I'm really not as loved as I thought I was (I didn't even get a card from my mom), and I should be going to God for this love fill, and not waiting around for it from my dumb friends, or boys, or I guess even my family. haha. (I'm not trying to be sorry for myself, just venting a little.)

Love you girls!