All the people disobeyed

Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, "Please hear our petition and pray to YHWH your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. Pray that YHWH your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do."

"I have heard you," replied Jeremiah the prophet. "I will certainly pray to YHWH your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything YHWH says and will keep nothing back from you."

Ten days later the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah. So he called together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people from the least to the greatest. He said to them, "This is what YHWH, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: 'If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you...

When Jeremiah finished telling the people all the words of YHWH their God—everything YHWH had sent him to tell them - Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, "You are lying! YHWH our God has not sent you to say, 'You must not go to Egypt to settle there.' But Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians, so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon."

So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed YHWH's command to stay in the land of Judah.


Jeremiah 42:1-4,7-10 43:1-4 NIV

[Yahweh, give us hearts that genuinely thirst after you and obey your commands.]

dungeon, courtyard, cistern, courtyard, capture

They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.

Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time. Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked him privately, "Is there any word from YHWH?"
"Yes," Jeremiah replied, "you will be handed over to the king of Babylon."

Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, "What crime have I committed against you or your officials or this people, that you have put me in prison? Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, 'The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land'? But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there."

King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Then the officials said to the king, "This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin."

"He is in your hands," King Zedekiah answered. "The king can do nothing to oppose you."

So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

But Ebed-Melech, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-Melech went out of the palace and said to him, "My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city."

Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, "Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."

And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured.

Jeremiah 37:15-21, 38:4-10, 28 NIV

[Yahweh, give our pastors, ministers, and priests the strength to deliver your words of truth and protect them from harm in this broken world.]

O great and powerful God

...[Jeremiah] prayed to YHWH:

"Ah, Sovereign YHWH, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is YHWH Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. You gave them this land you had sworn to give their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster upon them."

Jeremiah 32:16b-23 NIV

[Yahweh, may we discover anew how you desire good for us, each and every one. May we appreciate the ways you bless us.]

the delight of your eyes

The word of YHWH came to me: "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners ."

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

Then the people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these things have to do with us?"

So I said to them, "The word of YHWH came to me: Say to the house of Israel, 'This is what Sovereign YHWH says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary — the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword. And you will do as I have done. You will not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners. You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of your sins and groan among yourselves. Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am Sovereign YHWH.'

"And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart's desire, and their sons and daughters as well- on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news. At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am YHWH."


Ezekiel 24:15-27 NIV

[Yahweh, may the day come when your ministers, pastors, and priests and servants do not have to suffer in ministry and your people worldwide will listen and grow in mighty spiritual ways.]

In my house

"This is what Sovereign YHWH says:
"[Jerusalem] You will drink your sister's cup,
a cup large and deep;
it will bring scorn and derision,
for it holds so much.

You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
the cup of ruin and desolation,
the cup of your sister Samaria.

You will drink it and drain it dry;
you will dash it to pieces
and tear your breasts.
I have spoken, declares Sovereign YHWH.

"Therefore this is what Sovereign YHWH says: Since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution."

YHWH said to me: "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront them with their detestable practices, for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them. They have also done this to me: At that same time they defiled my sanctuary and desecrated my Sabbaths. On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecrated it. That is what they did in my house."


Ezekiel 23:32-39 NIV

[Yahweh, thanks for the gift of your holy spirit to give us transforming desire to purify our hearts, honour your sanctuary, and celebrate your Sabbaths. May we worship anew with thankfulness for how you wish to care for us.]

Wanted: one person

Again the word of YHWH came to me: "Son of man, say to the land, 'You are a land that has had no rain or showers in the day of wrath.' There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'This is what Sovereign YHWH says'-when YHWH has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.

I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.


Ezekiel 22:23-30 NIV

[Yahweh, protect our pastors, priests and ministers. Give them strength to share what you have spoken. My you discover in our land men and women to stand before you in the gap and heal our broken people.]

New Heart/New Spirit

The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.

But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares Sovereign YHWH. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.

Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of YHWH is not just.' Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares Sovereign YHWH. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares Sovereign YHWH. Repent and live!

Ezekiel 18:20-32

[Yahweh, let me acquire an new heart and a new spirit and grow daily]

recapture the hearts

The word of YHWH came to me "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people."

Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. Then the word of YHWH came to me: "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what Sovereign YHWH says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I YHWH will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.'

Ezekiel 12:1,2, 14:1-5

[Yahweh, let me hear and see your word. Strip idols from my heart. Keep stumbling blocks far from my face. Recapture my heart.]

Heart of Flesh

In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of Sovereign YHWH came upon me there. I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal. He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.

The word of YHWH came to me: "Son of man, your brothers—your brothers who are your blood relatives and the whole house of Israel—are those of whom the people of Jerusalem have said, 'They are far away from YHWH; this land was given to us as our possession.'

"Therefore say: 'This is what Sovereign YHWH says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.'

"Therefore say: 'This is what Sovereign YHWH says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.'

"They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares Sovereign YHWH."



Ezekiel 8:1-4, 11:14-20 NIV

[Yahweh, exchange my heart of stone for a heart of flesh.]

Do not be afraid

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin - the word of YHWH came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of YHWH was upon him.

... Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of YHWH. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you." As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign YHWH says.' And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.


Ezekiel 1:1-3,26-28, 2:1-10 NIV

[Yahweh, give all our ministers, priests and pastors the daily strength and courage they need to proclaim your righteous word.]

power & wisdom & understanding

[YHWH] made the earth by his power;
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.


Jeremiah 51:15,16 NIV


[Yahweh, I praise you for your power, wisdom & understanding.]

ask the way to Zion

"In those days, at that time,"
declares YHWH,
"the people of Israel and the people of Judah together
will go in tears to seek YHWH their God.

They will ask the way to Zion
and turn their faces toward it.
They will come and bind themselves to YHWH
in an everlasting covenant
that will not be forgotten.

In those days, at that time,"
declares YHWH,
"search will be made for Israel's guilt,
but there will be none,
and for the sins of Judah,
but none will be found,
for I will forgive the remnant I spare.


Jeremiah 50:4,5,20 NIV


[Yahweh, I praise you for your unlimited grace and mercy.]