April 19, 2024 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Jeremiah
Jeremiah 44:16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. 17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. 18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. 19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? 20 Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, 21 The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind? 22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23 Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.
Getting the cart before the horse is a common phrase used of those who have their priorities mixed up.
Judah was being punished for her idolatry and worship of false God’s leaving the one and true God who brought Israel out of Egypt into the promised land. They forsook the one who loved them and turned to idols.
When the punishment came they accused Jeremiah and God for bringing these problems upon them. They said things were better when they burned incense to the queen of heaven. They queen of heaven today is none other than Mary in the catholic church.
They got the cart before the horse thinking they were better off before the judgment of God, before they were besieged and destroyed and taken into captivity by the Babylonians, when it was because of their idolatry that they were being destroyed.
How silly can people be when it comes to understanding their sin?
By the way, the worship of the queen of heaven still occurs today, thousands and thousands of people all over there world still worship Mary thinking they can go through her to have access to Jesus to be saved.
Read the book of revelation and you will see that whole system of worship will be destroyed and those who practice it will be destroyed with it.
Don’t get the cart before the horse. Jesus is the only way for salvation, not Mary and certainly not the pope.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
