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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 8, 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
9 - JEREMIAH 43-44 - JUDGMENT ON THE REMNANT</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.
43:4 (43:1-4, ESV) JUDGMENT: BECAUSE OF REBELLION IN THE REMNANT.
<font size="3">“So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders
of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the LORD,
to remain in the land of Judah.” </font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
let us obey Your voice; we </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">will</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
obey Your voice. We hear Your voice in Jeremiah and John the Baptist!
</span></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.
43:7 (43:5-7) JUDGMENT: BECAUSE OF FLIGHT TO EGYPT. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“And
they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of
the LORD. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Your
will is done O Father, by obeying Your voice. We will not go back
down to Egypt! The love of the world and its lusts is not i</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">n</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
us. The power of Your redemptive blood cleanses our blood, and looses
us to walk in Your will. </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.
43:12 (43:8-13) JUDGMENT: SIGN OF THE HIDDEN STONES. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“I
shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he
shall burn them and carry them away captive. And he shall clean the
land of Egypt as a shepherd cleans his cloak of vermin, and he shall
go away from there in peace.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Israel
in Egypt and Egypt lost their bread. But we receive food Father, for
we obey Your voice! </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;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>4.
44:4 (44:1-10) JUDGMENT ON JUDAH: BECAUSE OF IDOLATRY. <font size="3">“</font><font size="3">Yet
I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying ‘Oh,
do not do this abomination that I hate!’” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
rip out of our hearts all spirits of idolatry and covetousness.
Forgive us all our sins in any such areas. Give us contrite hearts.
We repent of all such wickedness. Reconcile us to Yourself through
Jesus’ blood. </span><b><i>Our :daily :bread Give us this day!</i></b></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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>5.
44:16-17 (44:11-19) JUDGMENT: BECAUSE DEEPER IDOLATRY DETERMINED.
<font size="3">“As for the word that you have spoken to us in the
name of the LORD, we will not listen to you. </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">17
</font><font size="3">But we will do everything that we have vowed,
make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to
her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials,
in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we
had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">What
perverted thinking! </span><b><i>And forgive us our :debts, As we
also have forgiven our :debtors.</i></b></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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>6.
44:26 (44:20-28) JUDGMENT: BECAUSE OF WIVES’ PART IN IDOLATRY.
<font size="3">“Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah
who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great
name, says the LORD, that my name shall no more be invoked by the
mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, ‘As the
Lord GOD lives.’”</font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
Deliver us from the evil one Father, that we fall not into his
devices, and bring upon ourselves Your judgments. </span><b><i>And
bring us not into temptation.</i></b></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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>7.
44:29-30a (44:29-30) JUDGMENT: SIGN OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR OVER PHARAOH.
<font size="3">“This shall be the sign to you, declares the LORD,
that I will punish you in this place, in order that you may know that
my words will surely stand against you for harm: </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">30
</font><font size="3">Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will give Pharaoh
Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand
of those who seek his life.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">You
are a </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Sovereign God</span></u><span style="font-weight:normal">,
O Father! </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Nothing</span></u><span style="font-weight:normal">
is too difficult for You! </span><b><i>But deliver us from the evil
</i>one!</b></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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><u>NOTE</u>:
C.H. Spurgeon Quotes: </b><span style="font-weight:normal">We have
seen men with money, who were not happy; we have seen men with honor,
who were not happy; we have seen persons in power, with the command
of empires, who were not happy; but we never saw, and never shall
see, the individual who has Jesus with him, not happy.</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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>Our
Psalm for the day: 39:3-5 (39) WHAT IS THE MEANING OF MY DAYS? <font size="3">My
heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke
with my tongue: </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">4 </font><font size="3">“O
LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me
know ho</font><font size="3">w</font><font size="3"> fleeting I am! </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">5
</font><font size="3">Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands
as a mere breath!” </font></b><font size="3"><i><span style="font-weight:normal">Selah.
</span></i></font><span style="font-weight:normal">Father, when we
know ourselves as You see us, then we will be able more fully to
</span><b><i>hallow your :name! Such</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
truths as this keep us humble, poor and contrite in spirit, and
trembling at Your Word. So will we keep our eyes upon You! </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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">The
Psalmist, bowed down with sickness and sorrow, is burdened with
unbelieving thoughts he resolves to stifle, lest any evil should come
from their expression (39:1-2). But silence creates an insupportable
grief, which at last demands utterance and obtains it in the prayers
of 39:3-6, which is almost a complain</span><span style="font-weight:normal">t</span><span style="font-weight:normal">
and a sigh for death, or at least a very despondent picture of human
life. In 39:7-17 the tone is more submissive,, and the recognition of
the divine hand more distinct; the cloud has evidently passed, and
the mourner’s heart is relieved.</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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">37:1.
</span><b><i>That I sin not with my tongue</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">.
Tongue sins are great sins; like sparks of fire, ill-words spread
and do great damage. If believers utter hard words of God in times of
depression, the ungodly will take them up and use them as a
justification for their sinful courses. If a man’s own children
rail at him, no wonder his enemies’ mouths are full of abuse.
</span><b><i>I will keep my mouth with a bridle,</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
or more accurately, with a muzzle. The original does not so much mean
a bridle to check the tongue as a muzzle to stop it altogether. David
was not quite so wise as our translation would make him; if he had
resolved to be very guarded in his speech, it would have been
altogether commendable; but when he went so far as to condemn himself
to entire silence, “even from good,” there must have been at
least a little sullenness in his soul. In trying to avoid one fault,
he fell into another. To use the tongue against God is a sin of
commission, but not to use it at all involves an evident sin of
omission. Commendable virtues may be followed so eagerly that we may
fall into vices; to avoid Scylla we run into Charybdis.
</span><b><i>While the wicked is before me. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">This
qualifies the silence and almost screens it from criticism, for bad
men are so sure to misuse even our holiest speech that it is as well
not to cast any of our pearls before such swine. The firmest
believers are exercised with unbelief, and it would be doing the
devil’s work with a vengeance if they were to publish abroad all
their questionings and suspicions. If I have the fever myself, there
is no reason why I should communicate it to my neighbors. If any on
board the vessel of my soul are diseased, I will put my heart in
quarantine and allow none to go on shore in the boat of speech till I
have a clean bill of health.</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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">39:4.
</span><b><i>Make me to know my end.</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
The Psalmist would know more of the shortness of life that he might
better bear its transient ills, and herein we may safely kneel with
him, uttering the same petition. That there is no end to its misery
is the hell of hell; that there is an end to life’s sorrow is the
hope of all who have a hope beyond the grave. God is the best teacher
of the divine philosophy, which looks for an expected end. They who
see death through the Lord’s glass see a fair sight, which makes
them forget the evil of life in foreseeing the end of life.
</span><b><i>That I may know how frail I am, or when I shall cease
to be.</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal"> Alas, poor human
nature, dear as life is, man quarrels with God at such a rate that he
would sooner cease to be than bear the Lord’s appointment. Such
pettiness in a saint! Let us wait till we are in a like position, and
we shall do no better. The ship on the stocks wonders that the barque
springs a leak, but when it has tried the high seas, it marvels that
its timbers hold together in such storms. David’s case is not
recorded for our imitation but for our learning.</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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">39:5.
</span><b><i>Verily every man at his best state is altogether
vanity. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">This is the surest
truth, that nothing about man is either sure or true. Take man at
his best, he is but a man, and man is a mere breath, unsubstantial as
the wind. Man is settled, as the margin has it, and by divine decree
i</span><span style="font-weight:normal">t</span><span style="font-weight:normal">
is settled that he shall not be settled. He is constant only in
inconstancy. His vanity is his only verity; his best, of which he is
vain, is but vain.</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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">39:8.
</span><b><i>Deliver me from all transgressions. </i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">How
fair a sign it is when the Psalmist no longer harps upon his sorrows
but begs freedom from his sins! What is sorrow when compared with
sin! Let but the poison of sin be gone from the cup, and we need not
fear its gall, for the bitter will act medicinally. None can deliver
a man from his transgression but the blessed One Who is called Jesus,
because He saves His people from their sins.</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;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:normal">39:12.
</span><b><i>Hold not Your peace at my tears.</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal">
Tears speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues; they act as
keys upon the wards of tender hearts, and mercy denies them nothing,
if through them the weeper looks to richer drops, even to the blood
of Jesus. </span><b><i>For I am a stranger with You, and a
sojourner.</i></b><span style="font-weight:normal"> Not </span><i><span style="font-weight:normal">to</span></i><span style="font-weight:normal">
You, but </span><i><span style="font-weight:normal">with</span></i><span style="font-weight:normal">
You. Like You, my Lord, a stranger among the sons of men, an alien
from y</span><span style="font-weight:normal">our</span><span style="font-weight:normal">
mother’s children. God made the world, sustains it, and owns it,
and yet men treat Him as though He were a foreign intruder; and as
they treat </span><span style="font-weight:normal">t</span><span style="font-weight:normal">he
Master, so do they deal with the servants. “’Tis no surprising
thing that we should be unknown.” These words may also mean, “I
share the hospitality of God,” like a stranger entertained by a
generous host. </span><b>(From “The Treasury of David” by C.H.
Spurgeon, abridged by D.O. Fuller)</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
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