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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">January 4, 2013</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>AUG
7 - JEREMIAH 39 - JERUSALEM BESIEGED: RIGHTEOUSNESS VINDICATED</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
39:1 (39:1-4, ESV) CAPTIVITY: JERUSALEM TAKEN. <font size="3">“In
the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month,
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against
Jerusalem and besieged it.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
You are the God Who calls the things that are not as though they
</span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">were</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
Three years before Jerusalem fell, You called it as </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">already
done</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
You are </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Sovereign</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
You are </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Omniscient</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
</span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed be
your :name!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">2.
39:5 (39:5-7) CAPTIVITYY: JUDGMENT ON ZEDEKIAH. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“But
the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the
plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up
to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath;
and he passed sentence on him.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">O
Father, You Who revealed Yourself in Christ, how powerful is Your
Word! How swiftly it runs! How accurately does it come to pass! How
fearful and awesome are Your ways! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">3.
39:8 CAPTIVITY: JERUSALEM DESTROYED. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“The
Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the house of the people, and
broke down the walls of Jerusalem.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">On
with mighty irresistible power progresses the fulfillment of Your
Word, Father. All Your promises to Your people are certain! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
39:9 CAPTIVITY: FINAL DEPORTATION. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Then
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon
the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had
deserted to him, and the people who remained.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">How
stern are Your ways, O Father! How just Your punishments! How fearful
Your Name, Jehovah Father, our Elohim, our Sovereign Lord! O may Your
fear always be ours as it was for Isaac. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
39:10 CAPTIVITY: A REMNANT LEFT. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">Nebuzaradan,
the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poor
people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields as the
same time.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Again,
what mercy and grace do we see in You Father, toward the poor! Build
in us this same attitude. Live out Your Covenant Love (CHEsed)
through us! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
39:11-12 (</span><span style="text-decoration:none">3</span><span style="text-decoration:none">9:11-14)
CAPTIVITY: JEREMIAH SPARED. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan,
the captain of the guard, saying, </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">12
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Take
him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he
tells you.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Imagine
Your faithfulness O Father, on our behalf! We marvel how You can
incline the heart of the heathen for good toward Your people! You
also spare us! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
39:18 (39:15-18) CAPTIVITY: PROMISE TO EBED-MELECH. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“For
I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you
shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your
trust in me, declares the LORD.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
You spoke Your word of comfort and strength to one of Your servants
through Your prophet! How gracious! Indeed You do see the sparrow
fall! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
C.H. Spurgeon Quotes: </b></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">I
would to God that saints would cling to Christ half as earnestly as
sinners cling to the devil. If we were as willing to suffer for God
as some are to suffer for their lusts, what perseverance and zeal
would be seen on all sides!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
Psalm for the day: 37:4-5; (37) </span></span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Delight
yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
</span></span></font></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">5
</font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Commit
your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” </span></span></font></font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
Yes, these are faithful and true words from You, O Father! </span></span></span></font></font><b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">23-24</span></span></font></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">
</span></span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">“The
steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his
way; </span></span></font></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">24
</span></span></font></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">though
he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his
hand.” </span></span></font></font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Faithfulness!
Faithfulness is Your Name, O Jehovah Father. Hallelujah! For </span></span></span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u></span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
are worthy!</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Subject:
The great riddle of the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction
of the righteous, which has perplexed so many, is here dealt with in
the light of the future; and fretfulness and repining are most
impressively forbidden. It is a Psalm in which the Lord
hushes most sweetly the too common repinings of His people and calms
their minds as to His present dealings with His own chosen flock and
the wolves by whom they are surrounded. It contains eight great
precepts, is twice illustrated by autobiographical statements, and
abound in remarkable contrasts.</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">37:1.
</span></span></span></font><b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Neither
be You envious against the workers of iniquity. </span></i></font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Who
envies the fat bullock the ribbons and garlands which decorate him as
he is led to the shambles? Yet the case is a parallel one; for
ungodly rich men are but as beasts fattened for the slaughter.</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">37:2.
</span></span></span></font><b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
wither as the green herb. </span></i></font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">How
complete an end is made of the man whose boasts had no end! Is it
worth while to waste ourselves in fretting about the insect of an
hour, an ephemera which in the same day is born and dies? Whining
believers there is a living and incorruptible seed which lives and
abides forever; why should they envy mere flesh, and the glory of it,
which are but as grass, and its flower?</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">37:4.
</span></span></span></font><b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Delight
yourself also in the Lord. </span></i></font></b><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">In
a certain sense, imitate the wicked; they delight in their portion -
take care to delight in yours, and so far from envying you will pity
them. There is no room for fretting if we remember that God is ours.</span></span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">37:6.
</span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>And
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light. </b></span></i></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">The
more we fret in this case, the worse for us. Our strength is to sit
still. The Lord will clear the slandered. If we look to His honor, He
will see to ours. It is wonderful how, when faith learns to endure
calumny with composure, the filth does not defile her, but falls off
like snowballs from a wall of granite.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">37:9.
</span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>But
those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
</b></span></i></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">Passion,
according to Bunyan’s parable, has his good things first, and they
are soon over; Patience has his good things last, and they last
forever.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">37:10.
</span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>For
yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be. </b></span></i></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">O
wherefore, tried believer, do you envy one who i</span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">n</span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">
a little while will lie lower than the dust? </span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Yes,
you shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. </b></span></i></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">His
house shall be empty, his chair of office vacant, his estate without
an owner; he shall be utterly blotted out, perhaps cut off by his own
debauchery, or brought to a deathbed of penury by his own
extravagance. Gone like a passing cloud - forgotten as a dream -
where are his boastings and hectorings, and where the pomp which made
poor mortals think the sinner blest?</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">37:16.
</span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>A
little that the righteous man has is better than the riches of many
wicked. </b></span></i></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">We
would sooner hunger with John than feast with Herod; better to feed
on scant fare with the prophets in Obadiah’s cave than riot with
the priests of Baal. A man’s happiness consists not in the heaps of
gold which he has in store. Content finds </span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">multum
in parvo, </span></i></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">while
for a wicked heart the whole world is too little.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">37:36.
</span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Yes,
I sought him, but he could not be found. </b></span></i></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">Moved
by curiosity, if we inquire for the ungodly, they have left no trace;
like birds of ill omen, none desire to remember them. Some of the
humblest of the godly are immortalized, their names are imperishably
fragrant in the church, while of the ablest of infidels and
blasphemers hardly their names are remembered beyond a few years. Men
who were in everybody’s mouths but yesterday are forgotten
tomorrow, for only virtue is immortal.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">37:40.
</span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>And
save them, because they trust in Him. </b></span></i></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none">Faith
shall insure the safety of the elect. It is the mark of the sheep by
which they shall be separated from the goats. Not their merit, but
their believing, shall distinguish them. </span></font><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>(From
“The Treasury of David” by C.H. Spurgeon, abridged by D.O.
Fuller)</b></span></font></font></p>
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