Page 1091 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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OCTOBER 24
the former kings who were before you, so
they shall burn incense for you and lament for
you, saying, “Alas, lord!” For I have pro-
nounced the word, says the LORD.’ ” 34:18,21 cut the calf in two. God will give the
6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these guilty over to death before the conqueror, for
words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, they denied the covenant ratified by blood (v.
7 when the king of Babylon’s army fought 21). In this custom, as in Genesis 15:8–17, two
against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah parties laid out parts of a sacrifice on two
that were left, against Lachish and Azekah; for sides, then walked between the parts. By that
only these fortified cities remained of the symbolic action, each pledged to fulfill his
cities of Judah. promise, agreeing in effect,“May my life (rep-
8 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from resented by the blood) be poured out if I fail
the LORD, after King Zedekiah had made a to honor my part.”
covenant with all the people who were at Jeru-
9
salem to proclaim liberty to them: that every 19
man should set free his male and female parts of it— the princes of Judah, the princes
slave—a Hebrew man or woman—that no one of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all
should keep a Jewish brother in bondage. the people of the land who passed between the
20
10 Now when all the princes and all the people, parts of the calf— I will give them into the
who had entered into the covenant, heard that hand of their enemies and into the hand of
everyone should set free his male and female those who seek their life. Their dead bodies
slaves, that no one should keep them in shall be for meat for the birds of the heaven
21
bondage anymore, they obeyed and let them and the beasts of the earth. And I will give
11
go. But afterward they changed their minds Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes into
and made the male and female slaves return, the hand of their enemies, into the hand of
whom they had set free, and brought them those who seek their life, and into the hand of
into subjection as male and female slaves. the king of Babylon’s army which has gone
22
12 Therefore the word of the LORD came to back from you. Behold, I will command,’ says
Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, “Thus says the LORD, ‘and cause them to return to this
13
the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘I made a covenant city. They will fight against it and take it and
with your fathers in the day that I brought burn it with fire; and I will make the cities of
them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house Judah a desolation without inhabitant.’ ”
14
of bondage, saying, “At the end of seven years
let every man set free his Hebrew brother, who Psalm 119:57–64
has been sold to him; and when he has served HETH
I
you six years, you shall let him go free from 57 You are my portion, O LORD;
you.” But your fathers did not obey Me nor I have said that I would keep Your
15
incline their ear. Then you recently turned words.
and did what was right in My sight—every 58 I entreated Your favor with my whole
man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor; and heart;
you made a covenant before Me in the house Be merciful to me according to Your
16
which is called by My name. Then you word.
turned around and profaned My name, and
59 I thought about my ways,
every one of you brought back his male and
female slaves, whom you had set at liberty, at And turned my feet to Your
their pleasure, and brought them back into 60 testimonies.
subjection, to be your male and female slaves.’ I made haste, and did not delay
17 “Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘You have To keep Your commandments.
not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every 61 The cords of the wicked have bound
one to his brother and every one to his neigh- me,
bor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,’ says But I have not forgotten Your law.
62
the LORD—‘to the sword, to pestilence, and to At midnight I will rise to give thanks to
famine! And I will deliver you to trouble You,
among all the kingdoms of the earth. And I Because of Your righteous judgments.
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will give the men who have transgressed My 63 I am a companion of all who fear You,
covenant, who have not performed the words of And of those who keep Your precepts.
the covenant which they made before Me, when 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy;
they cut the calf in two and passed between the Teach me Your statutes.
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