Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 April 2020
Topic: Be Unwavering in Obeying the Lord
Opening Prayers: Dear Lord, grant me understanding and illumination as I ponder on your word in Jesus name.
Scripture: Jeremiah 34:1–22
Reflection
• Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
• Is there any warning for me to heed?
Message: Jeremiah must have been so daring for going to Zedekiah to deliver this dreadful message from the Lord amidst the drowning war that Judah was engulfed in with Babylon (vv.1–7)! Although Zedekiah would not die in the battle, for sweeping aside God’s warning, he would be captured and taken to exile never to return alive! Some of our national and church leaders could exhibit similar attitude today and need to be confronted with such hard truth of God’s judgment.
Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 April 2020
What could make obedience difficult or easier when God gives us such risky tasks to carry out? King Zedekiah probably was trying to bargain with the Lord by leading Israelite leaders into a covenant of obedience in freeing their Hebrew slaves (vv.8–10; cf. 21:2–11; Leviticus 25:10, 39–55). But they were inconsistent in this act of repentance and took their freed slaves back (v.11), attracting God’s fury (vv.12–22). How consistent are we in our commitment to the Lord? Repentance must be complete ─ confession backed up with forsaking the sinful act (Proverbs 28:13)!
⁂ Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Practice/Word Application
• So What? God frowns at hypocrisy and inconsistency! How consistent are you in keeping your promises to God?
Hymn – Blessed Assurance
1. Bless?d assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Prayer
• Lord, I want to be firm in obedience to you. Please help me to trust you always whatever it may cost me.
• Pray for the educational needs of the children of missionaries.
• Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalm 147:3
Read the Bible in one Year
Eccle. 4–6; Rev. 11