The deed is done. Judgment has fallen. God’s people have begun the Babylonian captivity. Seventy years of separation from the Promised Land, national identity, temple worship, and independence will bring drastic changes to the children of Israel. But for now, it is just starting. Jeremiah continues to preach, but his grief seems overwhelming. He documents the destruction of the temple and the continued rebellion of God’s people. As the Book of Jeremiah ends, there is a note of hope. God promises to redeem His people. Jeremiah follows his prophetic book with the Book of Lamentations, a closer look at the destruction of Jerusalem. It is another look at a terrible time in the history of Israel. But again, there is hope. Jeremiah writes in Lamentation 3:22-24, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” It is a beautiful reminder that God is steadfast in His love for us. No matter what may happen in this world, God brings mercy and sustenance with each new morning. Today, look for the steadfast love of the Lord as you walk through your day.
| Date | Reading |
| August 17 | Jeremiah 46-47 |
| August 18 | Jeremiah 48 |
| August 19 | Jeremiah 49 |
| August 20 | Jeremiah 50 |
| August 21 | Jeremiah 51 |
| August 22 | Jeremiah 52 |
| August 23 | Lamentations 1 |
| August 24 | Lamentations 2 |