Verse of the Day 9/8

Verse of the Day 9/8

Jeremiah 17:7-8  But I will bless those

    who trust me.
⁸ They will be like trees
    growing beside a stream—
trees with roots that reach
    down to the water,
and with leaves
    that are always green.
They bear fruit every year
and are never worried
    by a lack of rain.    Contemporary English Version (CEV)

We are now past the "dog days" of August and have moved into September and along with it the knowledge that it will soon be the time of harvest.  As that time approaches, much of the grass and gradually the crops still in the field will dry up and turn brown as well.

Reading today's verses are a reminder that spiritually, we never have to have those "dog days", we can remain close to the source of the water to keep us thriving and continue to bear fruit in all seasons of the calendar year.

But in reading the short passage below, we realize that the prophet Jeremiah didn't hesitate in calling things as he saw them or that God saw them and revealed to him.  I know that I have times (all  too often) when I many lose my temper.  It comes across here that Jeremiah may be losing his temper, but the difference is that he is concerned for the welfare of the people that he is proclaiming God's curses on.  He is grieved that they have turned away and he knows where the path that they are on leads to, a "parched places" and salt flats.  Not a pretty picture.

Jeremiah is not known as the most upbeat person but he writes some of the most comforting and encouraging words that we find in the Old Testament; here in today's passage and elsewhere in the book of Jeremiah and the book of Lamentations where in the middle of a long lament he writes.

Lamentations 3:21-23 But this I call to mind,

    and therefore I have hope:

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;^[a]
    his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.   English Standard Version (ESV)

May you also have hope in your season in life being daily refreshed and growing like the trees planted by the stream in today's verses.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Jeremiah 17:5-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ Thus says the Lord:
"Cursed is the man who trusts in man
    and makes flesh his strength,^[a]
    whose heart turns away from the Lord.
⁶ He is like a shrub in the desert,
    and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
    in an uninhabited salt land.

⁷ "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.
⁸ He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit."