The Lord sent Jeremiah out with a yoke around his neck. The Lord told Jeremiah to go to the envoys of the kings of Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon and to give them the word of the Lord to take back to their kings. The word was a forceful message that the Lord is the Creator God, creator of the heavens and all the earth. He can do with His creation what He wills. All these nations would soon be given into the hands of the King of Babylon. They would be subject to him for a time, until the time the Lord set for the Babylonians to be judged. Then, the Babylonians would be subjugated by others. If those nations refused to serve Babylon, the Lord would send the sword and plague to destroy them.

The same message was given to the nation of Judah. Jeremiah gave the word of the Lord to them, "Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people and you will live." The Lord had a time set for the judgment of his people Judah. They would serve the king of Babylon for seventy years, until the time the Lord set for bringing His people out and leading them back to their homes. The message was as hard for Jeremiah to give as it was for the people to hear! But this word had to be spoken.


Application: Father, you are God who is sovereign over all things and all people everywhere. Help people around the world to come to know and acknowledge your sovereignty.
One Word: God gives to anyone he pleases