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PROGRAM SUCCESS – JANUARY 2009
LEON BING
continued from page 27
11 Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for these people anymore.
12 When they fast in my presence, I will pay no attention. When they
present their burnt offerings and grain offerings to me, I will not accept
them. In return, I will give them only war, famine, and disease.”
What are the three main areas of concern today? The war in Iraq, and
Afghanistan. Hunger in most of the world. And the breakout of disease around the world including the U.S. with mad cow, bird flu, and
the resurgence of the mumps. And while there are many who are praying, why don’t we see relief? Look again at verse 12!
Now the rest of the story!
13 Then I said, “O Sovereign LORD, their prophets are telling
them, `All is well—no war or famine will come. The LORD will
surely send you peace.’ “
14 Then the LORD said, “These prophets are telling lies in my
name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them
any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have
never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own
lying hearts.
15 Therefore, says the LORD, I will punish these lying prophets,
for they have spoken in my name even though I never sent them.
They say that no war or famine will come, but they themselves will
die by war and famine!
16 As for the people to whom they prophesy—their bodies will be
thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and
war. There will be no one left to bury them. Husbands, wives, sons,
and daughters—all will be gone. For I will pour out their own
wickedness on them.
17 “Now, Jeremiah, say this to them: `Night and day my eyes overflow with tears. I cannot stop weeping, for my virgin
daughter—my precious people—has been run through with a
sword and lies mortally wounded on the ground.
18 If I go out into the fields, I see the bodies of people slaughtered
by the enemy. If I walk the city streets, there I see people who have
died of starvation. The prophets and priests continue with their
work, but they do not know what they are doing.’ “
19 LORD, have you completely rejected Judah? Do you really hate
Jerusalem? Why have you wounded us past all hope of healing?
We hoped for peace, but no peace came. We hoped for a time of
healing but found only terror.
20 LORD, we confess our wickedness and that of our ancestors,
too. We all have sinned against you.
21 For the sake of your own name, LORD, do not abandon us. Do
not disgrace yourself and the throne of your glory. Do not break
your covenant with us. Please don’t forget us!
22 Can any of the foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the
sky by itself? No, it comes from you, the LORD our God! Only you
See LEON BING page 32