Deus Misereatur

  It was disheartening. I'd read it a number of times before, but for some reason this morning it really struck a note with me. It was the situation and setting of Jeremiah 43-44.  God's people had been defeated and demoralized. Their own actions brought it on them, their own power-hungry, self-gratifying morals and their turning their backs to Yahweh and not their faces. And now that their country had been toppled by Babylon, most of the people had been hauled off into captivity. And the few that were left in their homeland had to live with the consequences of their actions. For those poor souls, impoverished and insubstantial, there was a glimmer of hope, but they didn't respond well.  First, there was the murder of the Babylonian-installed leader, a godly man, Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. Murdered at the hand of one of the royal family, a descendent of David. It was cold blooded, brutal, and senseless. After all the decimation they had faced, you woul

  “ Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders ” (Exodus 15:11 NKJV)? We draw near to you through Jesus Christ with a true heart in the full assurance of faith. O faithful Lord, we pray for your Church in all nations, our denomination, this congregation, and Village Baptist Church, Vision Community Church, Waterloo Rd. Church of Christ, and Wildewood Christian Church. Lead and guide your churches in sound doctrine, strengthen and fortify us in utmost loyalty, and supply all of our needs richly in Christ Jesus, so that we may learn to devote ourselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful (Titus 3:14). God of steadfast love, please call, convert, and save those who have never submitted to and relied on your Son, and please reclaim those who have “ wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs ” (1 Timothy 6:10). We implore you, merciful Father, to look compass