Jeremiah 17:19-27 ~ Take care for the sake of your lives

Court of the Gentiles to the far right. The gate was open to all people. The People's Gate.

Jeremiah 17:19-27

19 Thus said the LORD to me: "Go and stand in the People's Gate, by which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, 20 and say: 

'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates.

21 Thus says the LORD: 
Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 

22 And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction. 

24 "'But if you listen to me, declares the LORD,
 and bring in no burden by the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but keep the Sabbath day holy and do no work on it,  25 then there shall enter by the gates of this city kings and princes who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their officials, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 

And this city shall be inhabited forever. 26 And people shall come from the cities of Judah and the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephelah, from the hill country, and from the Negeb, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD. 

27 But if you do not listen to me, to keep the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched.'"



When you look at the photos of Sabbath rest, the pictures generally look like misty death.

The concept of rest is foreign to us. After all, Jesus said the Sabbath is made for mankind.

We have all encountered being tired and unable to sleep. The other day I wanted to rest and knew I needed rest. No sleep was occurring.  I pictured a huge umbrella covering me and I thought of His Word lining the umbrella, "And on the 7th Day, God Rested." Suddenly I felt I had permission to rest. As if I had walked all day with Jesus ministering and we all decided to camp out and rest in the beauty of God's Creation. Suddenly I felt very peaceful.

I remembered the Garden of Eden. And slept beautifully.


Is this a Topic for Holy Week? Yes, actually this is the Common Lectionary Plan for The Two Year Bible Completion. And why would Father God put rest in front of us as we gear up for Celebrating Easter? Easter is more than a family meal.









Burdens used to be carrying trade. Making a living. Burdens are still about our living. It's difficult to fuss and worry and not relax. If we are in constant 'go' mode, we are not taking advantage of the Rest God tells us of. The difficulty is we embrace Forging into the Great Upward Sweep of God's Adventure and Doing our Best. Like Abraham. Abraham and Sarah were determined to 'help' bring forth 'God's Plan." God did not ask them for their 'assistance.'







































Jesus says His burden is easy, come to Him and rest. To believe God is God and we will do what we need to do, letting God worry out all the details. In this capacity, we can do our needed requirements for life's work, but also do this in a relaxed manner. Believing in Jesus - problems will arrive and then go.

Evil wants us to be upset and believe God's Word isn't the People's Gate. We hold on to Jesus and we will Rest. Evil will insist that we do not deserve God's Grace. We are a special 'case.' All people fall short. Believers know we hold on to Jesus. God is God.

We believe God's Grace is for us. We are God's Beloved.

We sing songs of Praise.

We tell Father God and we have had Renewal
We have Nourished our Eternal Soul.
A Filled Soul has Joy. The Holy Spirit.
We have Rest and feel Rested - a vacation. Better - Renewal.

A Time to tell God - Thank You.
To Let us Love Father God.
To Appreciate our Jesus as God.

Psalm 95:1
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Psalm 104:33
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 100:1-2
A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Ephesians 5:19
Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart

Psalm 150:1-6
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! .





Abba, Our Father,

We ask Jesus to always pray with us, increasing the Holy Spirit within us.

And we remember Your Word in our Prayer.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Father with Your Help we ask to do this daily and in Your Church,
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Finding Your Mercies Renew each day. Not just the morning.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

In Christ, we are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

With Your Willing Word, Father, we shall renew our strength; mount up with wings like eagles; run and not be weary; we will walk and not faint.

With Jesus Christ's help, we will see Your Willingness does more than we ask or imagine, for our loved ones, the people You give us, our Churches and ministers, the Beloved of God. New believers. Nations who trust in You.

We will be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Amen to be covered in the Name of Jesus and blessed. Amen.