Day 237

Keeping Promises

Read: Jeremiah 33-35

The siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians has begun. Through Jeremiah, God predicts the downfall of the city but also future restoration. He assures them that the promise of a king always sitting on the throne of David and an everlasting priest will be fulfilled. Jesus is the eternal king and priest ever ruling over and interceding for his people. The promise of eternal burnt offerings is not kept literally but in a more wonderful way through the everlasting results of Christ offering himself. If a father promises a boy a bicycle and instead gives him an automobile, the promise has been kept, only at a higher level. The promises made to God’s people of the Old Testament are fulfilled in a more wonderful way through Christ.

People often do not keep their promises. The Jews under siege promised to set free fellow Jewish slaves that they held as was to be done every seven years. But having set them free, they reneged and again made them slaves. Here was one more sin assuring the fall of Jerusalem.

There was a clan in Judah which had promised their father that they would never drink alcoholic beverages. They faithfully kept that promise. Therefore the Lord pointed out to Judah that while the Recabites kept their promise to their father, Judah did not keep its promises to God. Keep the vows you made at marriage and when you confessed your faith.

PRAYER
Father, assured that you keep your promises to us, give us grace to keep our promises to you and to each other. Amen.