Recognizing and reacting to the evil of the times

Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem — Rembrandt

The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month,”

Jeremiah 1:1-3.

Yesterday, after the morning service, I felt moved to write this article, based upon a sermon I preached some years ago.

Earlier in the morning, in my Bible reading, I read from Philippians 1:17 the words of Paul:  “I am set for the defence of the gospel.” It is a very long time ago I adopted those words as my own motto text.

I think I may correctly illustrate the word ’set’ by reminding you all that it is a word which was, and likely is still used, of plates and cups being ‘set’ on a table in preparation for a meal.

It is the same word as is used in Luke 2:16. “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” There it is translated by the English word ‘lying’. The Lord Jesus was ’set’ by the Father there in manger to begin His work as Redeemer and Deliverer of His elect.

Likewise Paul was appointed of the Lord to take up this defensive role as a preacher. I believe that it is the duty of all preachers to likewise see themselves as being ’set’ by the Lord in preparation for just such a function.

May you find the article beneficial and instructive.

Sincerely in Christ Jesus,

Ivan Foster.


I have heard it taught that the people of God can never know of the approach of Christ or the circumstances that will prevail at the end of this age. That is an unscriptural statement that flies in the face of God’s Word. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand,” Revelation 1:1-3.

Furthermore, it flies in the face of the Lord sharing information about future events with His people for their comfort. “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication,” Revelation 17:1-2.

Christ’s desire to keep His people informed may be seen in that well known portion in John’s gospel. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you,” John 14:1-2.

This informing of His people is not only necessary for our comfort and peace of mind but also in order that we may react to the events that we will encounter as the age draws to a close in accordance with God’s will.

“‭But‭ first‭ must‭‭ he‭ suffer‭‭ many things‭, and‭ be rejected‭‭ of‭ this‭ generation‭.‭ ‭And‭ as‭ it was‭‭ in‭ the days‭ of Noe‭, so‭ shall it be‭‭ also‭ in‭ the days‭ of the Son‭ of man‭.‭ ‭They did eat‭‭, they drank‭‭, they married wives‭‭, they were given in marriage‭‭, until‭ the day‭ that‭ Noe‭ entered‭‭ into‭ the ark‭, and‭ the flood‭ came‭‭, and‭ destroyed‭‭ them all‭.‭ ‭Likewise‭ also‭ as‭ it was‭‭ in‭ the days‭ of Lot‭; they did eat‭‭, they drank‭‭, they bought‭‭, they sold‭‭, they planted‭‭, they builded‭‭;‭ ‭But‭‭ the same day‭ that Lot‭ went‭‭ out of‭ Sodom‭ it rained‭‭ fire‭ and‭ brimstone‭ from‭ heaven‭, and‭ destroyed‭‭ ‭them‭ all‭.‭ ‭Even‭ thus‭ shall it be‭‭ in the day‭‭ when the Son‭ of man‭ is revealed‭‭,‭” Luke 17:25-30.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Now‭ learn‭‭ a parable‭ of‭ the fig tree‭; When‭ his‭ branch‭ is‭‭ yet‭ tender‭, and‭ putteth forth‭‭ leaves‭, ye know‭‭ that‭ summer‭ ‭is‭ nigh‭:‭ ‭So‭ likewise‭ ye‭, when‭ ye shall see‭‭ all‭ these things‭, know‭‭ that‭ it is‭‭ near‭, ‭even‭ at‭ the doors‭.‭ ‭Verily‭ I say‭‭ unto you‭, This‭ generation‭ shall not‭ pass‭‭, till‭‭ all‭ these things‭ be fulfilled‭‭,‭” Matthew 24:32-34.‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬This simple truth is illustrated for us in the life of Jeremiah. He saw a dramatic change in the spiritual atmosphere of his nation during his life time. To cope with these changes, he needed an understanding of the times through which he would pass and also what God’s will was for him and all who sought to live holy lives in those changing times.

Jeremiah lived in days similar to our own. The Kingdom of Judah was on a downward slope that would end in the judgment of God.

I. JEREMIAH’S MINISTRY BEGAN IN TIMES OF REFORMATION AND REVIVAL

Our text makes that clear. For information about the times referred to, turn to 2 Chronicles 34.

“‭Josiah‭ ‭was‭ eight‭ years‭ old‭ when he began to reign‭‭, and he reigned‭‭ in Jerusalem‭ one‭ and thirty‭ years‭.‭ ‭And he did‭‭ ‭that which was‭ right‭ in the sight‭ of the LORD‭, and walked‭‭ in the ways‭ of David‭ his father‭, and declined‭‭ ‭neither‭ to the right hand‭, nor to the left‭.‭ ‭For in the eighth‭ year‭ of his reign‭‭, while he was yet young‭, he began‭‭ to seek‭‭ after the God‭ of David‭ his father‭: and in the twelfth‭‭ year‭ he began‭‭ to purge‭‭ Judah‭ and Jerusalem‭ from the high places‭, and the groves‭, and the carved images‭, and the molten images‭.‭ ‭And they brake down‭‭ the altars‭ of Baalim‭ in his presence‭; and the images‭, that ‭were‭ on high above them‭, he cut down‭‭; and the groves‭, and the carved images‭, and the molten images‭, he brake in pieces‭‭, and made dust‭‭ ‭of them‭, and strowed‭‭ ‭it‭ upon‭ the graves‭ of them that had sacrificed‭‭ unto them.‭ ‭And he burnt‭‭ the bones‭ of the priests‭ upon their altars‭, and cleansed‭‭ Judah‭ and Jerusalem‭.‭ ‭And ‭so did he‭ in the cities‭ of Manasseh‭, and Ephraim‭, and Simeon‭, even unto Naphtali‭, with their mattocks‭ round about‭.‭ ‭And when he had broken down‭‭ the altars‭ and the groves‭, and had beaten‭‭ the graven images‭ into powder‭‭, and cut down‭‭ all the idols‭ throughout all the land‭ of Israel‭, he returned‭‭ to Jerusalem‭,‭” verses 1-7.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This purging began one year before Jeremiah’s call. “‭To whom the word‭ of the LORD‭ came in the days‭ of Josiah‭ the son‭ of Amon‭ king‭ of Judah‭, in the thirteenth‭‭ year‭ of his reign‭‭,‭” Jeremiah 1:2.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬He saw this work begin and develop. However, the Lord made it clear to Jeremiah that he would see very different times.

“‭Moreover the word‭ of the LORD‭ came unto me, saying‭‭, Jeremiah‭, what seest‭‭ thou? And I said‭‭, I see‭‭ a rod‭ of an almond tree‭.‭ ‭Then said‭‭ the LORD‭ unto me, Thou hast well‭‭ seen‭‭: for I will hasten‭‭ my word‭ to perform‭‭ it.‭ ‭And the word‭ of the LORD‭ came unto me the second time‭, saying‭‭, What seest‭‭ thou? And I said‭‭, I see‭‭ a seething‭‭ pot‭; and the face‭ thereof ‭is‭ toward‭ the north‭.‭ ‭Then the LORD‭ said‭‭ unto me, Out of the north‭ an evil‭ shall break forth‭‭ upon all the inhabitants‭‭ of the land‭.‭ ‭For, lo, I will call‭‭ all the families‭ of the kingdoms‭ of the north‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭; and they shall come‭‭, and they shall set‭‭ every one‭ his throne‭ at the entering‭ of the gates‭ of Jerusalem‭, and against all the walls‭ thereof round about‭, and against all the cities‭ of Judah‭.‭ ‭And I will utter‭‭ my judgments‭ against them touching‭ all their wickedness‭, who have forsaken‭‭ me, and have burned incense‭‭ unto other‭ gods‭, and worshipped‭‭ the works‭ of their own hands‭,‭” Jeremiah 1:11-16.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1. Even in times of blessing, God’s man faces opposition. Jeremiah feared the faces of men because of what he had to preach. “‭Then said‭‭ I, Ah‭, Lord‭ GOD‭! behold, I cannot‭‭ speak‭‭: for I ‭am‭ a child‭.‭ ‭But the LORD‭ said‭‭ unto me, Say‭‭ not, I ‭am‭ a child‭: for thou shalt go‭‭ to all that I shall send‭‭ thee, and whatsoever I command‭‭ thee thou shalt speak‭‭. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Be not afraid‭‭ of their faces‭: for I ‭am‭ with thee to deliver‭‭ thee, saith‭‭ the LORD‭,‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭” Jeremiah 1:6-8‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.

Revival does not silence the devil or put an end to his activities or change the direction of the nation As the devil was attracted to Job because of his holy life, so holiness still draws the devil’s displeasure.

2. Here is the answer to the fear of man. “‭Be not afraid‭‭ of their faces‭: for I ‭am‭ with thee to deliver‭‭ thee, saith‭‭ the LORD‭.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ . . . . ‭Thou therefore gird up‭‭ thy loins‭, and arise‭‭, and speak‭‭ unto them all that I command‭‭ thee: be not dismayed‭‭ at their faces‭, lest I confound‭‭ thee before‭ them.‭ ‭For, behold, I‭ have made‭‭ thee this day‭ a defenced‭ city‭, and an iron‭ pillar‭, and brasen‭ walls‭ against the whole land‭, against the kings‭ of Judah‭, against the princes‭ thereof, against the priests‭ thereof, and against the people‭ of the land‭.‭ ‭And they shall fight‭‭ against thee; but they shall not prevail‭‭ against thee; for I ‭am‭ with thee, saith‭‭ the LORD‭, to deliver‭‭ thee,‭” Jeremiah 1:8, 17-19‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.

That touch from God is what God’s servants need today!

3. The message that he proclaimed. “ . . . whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. . . . Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth,” verses 7, 9.

God’s man was informed of what was coming. He was not in the darkness that enveloped the rest of the nation! That set him apart from his fellow-citizens.

What a need there is for men who know and have the word of God for today and who are prepared to fearlessly and faithfully preach it.

II. JEREMIAH SAW THE SPIRIT OF REVIVAL RESISTED

“The word of the Lord . . . came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.” The reign of godly Josiah was followed by those of his ungodly sons. The place which saw the beginnings of a reformation and revival became the citadel of rebellion and apostasy.

It ever has been the delight of the devil to raise his standard where once the gospel standard was flown. We have seen that in Ulster. Names once linked with a call to reject apostasy and separate unto the gospel are today linked with the departure from truth and righteousness and the downward spiral in our land.

1. Even in the palace, God was resisted. “Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God,” 2 Chronicles 36:5. He lived through the greatest days of revival but was unchanged. Indeed, he became an instrument in the devil’s hand to undo the great work of his father, Josiah.

This has all the hallmarks of the devil!

2. It is clear that many remained unchanged in the nation. “‭The LORD‭ said‭‭ also unto me in the days‭ of Josiah‭ the king‭, Hast thou seen‭‭ ‭that‭ which backsliding‭ Israel‭ hath done‭‭? she is gone up‭‭ upon every high‭ mountain‭ and under‭ every green‭ tree‭, and there hath played the harlot‭‭.‭ ‭And I said‭‭ after‭ she had done‭‭ all these ‭things‭, Turn‭‭ thou unto me. But she returned‭‭ not. And her treacherous‭ sister‭ Judah‭ saw‭‭ ‭it‭.‭ ‭And I saw‭‭, when for all the causes‭ whereby backsliding‭ Israel‭ committed adultery‭‭ I had put her away‭‭, and given‭‭ her a bill‭ of divorce‭; yet her treacherous‭‭ sister‭ Judah‭ feared‭‭ not, but went‭‭ and played the harlot‭‭ also.‭ ‭And it came to pass through the lightness‭ of her whoredom‭, that she defiled‭‭ the land‭, and committed adultery‭‭ with stones‭ and with stocks‭.‭ ‭And yet for all this her treacherous‭ sister‭ Judah‭ hath not turned‭‭ unto me with her whole heart‭, but feignedly‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭.‭ ‭And the LORD‭ said‭‭ unto me, The backsliding‭ Israel‭ hath justified‭‭ herself‭ more than treacherous‭‭ Judah‭,‭” Jeremiah 3:6-11‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.

Note the words: “And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD,” verse 10. It was a false and deceitful turning.

Even in the midst of revival, hypocrisy and duplicity thrive! Judas is the prime example of this sad truth!

III. A LINE WAS CROSSED FINALLY AND MERCY WITHDRAWN

“‭And now, because ye have done‭‭ all these works‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭, and I spake‭‭ unto you, rising up early‭‭ and speaking‭‭, but ye heard‭‭ not; and I called‭‭ you, but ye answered‭‭ not;‭ ‭Therefore will I do‭‭ unto ‭this‭ house‭, which is called‭‭ by my name‭, wherein ye trust‭‭, and unto the place‭ which I gave‭‭ to you and to your fathers‭, as I have done‭‭ to Shiloh‭.‭ ‭And I will cast you out‭‭ of my sight‭, as I have cast out‭‭ all your brethren‭, ‭even‭ the whole seed‭ of Ephraim‭.‭ ‭Therefore pray‭‭ not thou for this people‭, neither lift up‭‭ cry‭ nor prayer‭ for them‭, neither make intercession‭‭ to me: for I will not hear‭‭ thee,‭” Jeremiah 7:13-16.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‭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.‭ ‭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.‭ ‭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.‭ ‭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,‭” Jeremiah 11:11-14.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Thus saith‭‭ the LORD‭ unto this people‭, Thus have they loved‭‭ to wander‭‭, they have not refrained‭‭ their feet‭, therefore the LORD‭ doth not accept‭‭ them; he will now remember‭‭ their iniquity‭, and visit‭‭ their sins‭.‭ ‭Then said‭‭ the LORD‭ unto me, Pray‭‭ not for this people‭ for ‭their‭ good‭.‭ ‭When they fast‭‭, I will not hear‭‭ their cry‭; and when they offer‭‭ burnt offering‭ and an oblation‭, I will not accept‭‭ them: but I will consume‭‭ them by the sword‭, and by the famine‭, and by the pestilence‭,‭” Jeremiah 14:10-12.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Note how the Lord, in mercy it must be said, repeated Himself. Here is a solemn warning to this land of Ulster which has played fast and loose with the truth of God, and to Christ-rejecting sinners everywhere!

IV. THE JUDGMENT THREATENED FELL IN ITS APPOINTED TIME

1. It came to pass as God had warned. “‭Thus saith‭‭ the LORD‭, Behold, I will bring‭‭ evil‭ upon this place‭, and upon the inhabitants‭‭ thereof, ‭even‭ all the curses‭ that are written‭‭ in the book‭ which they have read‭‭ before‭ the king‭ of Judah‭:‭ ‭Because they have forsaken‭‭ me, and have burned incense‭‭‭‭‭ unto other‭ gods‭, that they might provoke me to anger‭‭ with all the works‭ of their hands‭; therefore my wrath‭ shall be poured out‭‭ upon this place‭, and shall not be quenched‭‭.‭ ‭And as for‭ the king‭ of Judah‭, who sent‭‭ you to enquire‭‭ of the LORD‭, so shall ye say‭‭ unto him, Thus saith‭‭ the LORD‭ God‭ of Israel‭ ‭concerning‭ the words‭ which thou hast heard‭‭;‭ ‭Because thine heart‭ was tender‭‭, and thou didst humble‭‭ thyself before‭ God‭, when thou heardest‭‭ his words‭ against this place‭, and against the inhabitants‭‭ thereof, and humbledst‭‭ thyself before‭ me, and didst rend‭‭ thy clothes‭, and weep‭‭ before‭ me; I have even heard‭‭ ‭thee‭ also, saith‭‭ the LORD‭.‭ ‭Behold, I will gather‭‭ thee to thy fathers‭, and thou shalt be gathered‭‭ to thy grave‭ in peace‭, neither shall thine eyes‭ see‭‭ all the evil‭ that I will bring‭‭ upon this place‭, and upon the inhabitants‭‭ of the same. So they brought‭‭ the king‭ word‭ again‭‭,‭” 2 Chronicles 34:24-28,‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬“‭And the word‭ of the LORD‭ came unto me the second time‭, saying‭‭, What seest‭‭ thou? And I said‭‭, I see‭‭ a seething‭‭ pot‭; and the face‭ thereof ‭is‭ toward‭ the north‭.‭ ‭Then the LORD‭ said‭‭ unto me, Out of the north‭ an evil‭ shall break forth‭‭ upon all the inhabitants‭‭ of the land‭.‭ ‭For, lo, I will call‭‭ all the families‭ of the kingdoms‭ of the north‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭; and they shall come‭‭, and they shall set‭‭ every one‭ his throne‭ at the entering‭ of the gates‭ of Jerusalem‭, and against all the walls‭ thereof round about‭, and against all the cities‭ of Judah‭.‭ ‭And I will utter‭‭ my judgments‭ against them touching‭ all their wickedness‭, who have forsaken‭‭ me, and have burned incense‭‭ unto other‭ gods‭, and worshipped‭‭ the works‭ of their own hands‭,‭” Jeremiah 1:13-16.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬2. God keeps His word. In mercy and in judgment. Of this we can be sure!

“‭Know‭‭ therefore that the LORD‭ thy God‭, he ‭is‭ God‭, the faithful‭‭ God‭, which keepeth‭‭ covenant‭ and mercy‭ with them that love‭‭ him and keep‭‭ his commandments‭ to a thousand‭ generations‭;‭ ‭and repayeth‭‭ them that hate‭‭ him to their face‭, to destroy‭‭ them: he will not be slack‭‭ to him that hateth‭‭ him, he will repay‭‭ him to his face‭.‭ ‭Thou shalt therefore keep‭‭ the commandments‭, and the statutes‭, and the judgments‭, which I command‭‭ thee this day‭, to do‭‭ them,‭” Deuteronomy 7:9-11.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Thine hand‭ shall find out‭‭ all thine enemies‭‭: thy right hand‭ shall find out‭‭ those that hate‭‭ thee.‭ ‭Thou shalt make‭‭ them as a fiery‭ oven‭ in the time‭ of thine anger‭: the LORD‭ shall swallow them up‭‭ in his wrath‭, and the fire‭ shall devour‭‭ them.‭ ‭Their fruit‭ shalt thou destroy‭‭ from the earth‭, and their seed‭ from among the children‭ of men‭.‭ ‭For they intended‭‭ evil‭ against thee: they imagined‭‭ a mischievous device‭, ‭which‭ they are not able‭‭ ‭to perform‭.‭ ‭Therefore shalt thou make‭‭ them turn their back‭, ‭when‭ thou shalt make ready‭‭ ‭thine arrows‭ upon thy strings‭ against the face‭ of them,‭” Psalms 21:8-12.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

3. God’s servants must warn. That is their chief duty. People need to take steps to safeguard themselves from judgment. “‭But‭ when he saw‭‭ many‭ of the Pharisees‭ and‭ Sadducees‭ come‭‭ to‭ his‭ baptism‭, he said‭‭ unto them‭, O generation‭ of vipers‭, who‭ hath warned‭‭ you‭ to flee‭‭ from‭ the wrath‭ to come‭‭?‭ ‭Bring forth‭‭ therefore‭ fruits‭ meet‭ for repentance‭,‭” Matthew 3:7-8.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

So began the ministry of John the Baptist.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‭Now‭ after‭ that John‭ was put in prison‭‭, Jesus‭ came‭‭ into‭ Galilee‭, preaching‭‭ the gospel‭ of the kingdom‭ of God‭,‭ ‭And‭ saying‭‭,‭ The time‭ is fulfilled‭‭, and‭ the kingdom‭ of God‭ is at hand‭‭: repent ye‭‭, and‭ believe‭‭‭ the gospel‭,‭” Mark 1:14-15.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

So too began the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬. Nowhere did He set out the warning more clearly than in ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Matthew 7:24-28‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.

“‭Therefore‭ whosoever‭‭ heareth‭‭ these‭ sayings‭ of mine‭, and‭ doeth‭‭ them‭, I will liken‭‭ him‭ unto a wise‭ man‭, which‭ built‭‭ his‭ house‭ upon‭ a rock‭:‭ ‭And‭ the rain‭ descended‭‭, and‭ the floods‭ came‭‭, and‭ the winds‭ blew‭‭, and‭ beat upon‭‭ that‭ house‭; and‭ it fell‭‭ not‭: for‭ it was founded‭‭ upon‭ a rock‭.‭ ‭And‭ every one‭ that heareth‭‭ these‭ sayings‭ of mine‭, and‭ doeth‭‭ them‭ not‭, shall be likened‭‭ unto a foolish‭ man‭, which‭ built‭‭ his‭ house‭ upon‭ the sand‭:‭ ‭and‭ the rain‭ descended‭‭, and‭ the floods‭ came‭‭, and‭ the winds‭ blew‭‭, and‭ beat upon‭‭ that‭ house‭; and‭ it fell‭‭: and‭ great‭ was‭‭ the fall‭ of it‭.‭ ‭And‭ it came to pass‭‭, when‭ Jesus‭ had ended‭‭ these‭ sayings‭, the people‭ were astonished‭‭ at‭ his‭ doctrine‭.‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Dear Christian, the Lord will not be defied forever in Ulster. A day of retribution is coming and that soon if there is no repenting from the evil of this day of compromise.

We have seen Bible morality abandoned in the political realm, even by those professing faith in Christ.

We have seen Biblical separation rejected for the sake of self-advancement and aggrandisement.

We have seen old-fashioned Bible holiness cast overboard as old-fashioned and out of date.

There is a price to be paid for this folly

We need to speak to our family and friends and not leave it too late as did Lot. “‭And Lot‭ went out‭‭, and spake‭‭ unto his sons in law‭, which married‭‭ his daughters‭, and said‭‭, Up‭‭, get you out‭‭ of this place‭; for the LORD‭ will destroy‭‭ this city‭. But he seemed as one that mocked‭‭ unto‭ his sons in law‭,‭” Genesis 19:14.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Heed the warning today.