Land, Land! Jeremiah 22:29-30

Sisters & Brothers In Jesus,

This Newsletter explores the biblical significance of land in Jeremiah’s proclamation and its application in our modern life.

O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the LORD: ‘Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.’ Jeremiah 22:29-30

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.” —Charles Spurgeon

We are participants in a divine dialogue, a conversation that transcends time and space, a discourse that connects us to the heart of our Creator. Our focus is on a passage from the book of Jeremiah, a prophet who faithfully and fearlessly delivered God’s message to His people. Jeremiah’s words, though they were spoken millennia ago, still resonate with us today, still challenge us, still comfort us, still call us to a deeper relationship with our Lord. In Jeremiah 22:29-30, we read: “O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the LORD: ‘Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.'”                     This passage may seem distant, perhaps even irrelevant to our modern lives. Yet, within these verses lie profound truths about the biblical significance of land, the relevance of Jeremiah’s proclamation, and how we can apply these land principles in our modern life. Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, once said, “Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.” This is the wonder of the Word of God – it is timeless, it is alive, it is transformative. It speaks to us in our joy and in our sorrow, in our triumphs and in our trials, in our certainty and in our confusion. It is our guiding light, our source of truth, our wellspring of wisdom.  Let us now turn our hearts and minds to the Word of God as we seek to understand the biblical significance of land, the relevance of Jeremiah’s proclamation, and the application of these principles in our modern life. Biblical Significance of Land In the Bible, land is more than just a physical entity; it is a symbol of God’s promise and provision. When God called Abraham out of Ur, He promised him a land flowing with milk and honey. This land, Canaan, was not just a geographical location; it was a tangible representation of God’s covenant with His people. It was a place where they could live in peace and prosperity, where they could worship God freely, where they could grow and multiply. Land, in the biblical sense, is also a place of divine encounter. It was on Mount Moriah that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, demonstrating his unwavering faith and obedience. It was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments, a divine decree that would guide the Israelites in their relationship with God and with each other. It was on the land of Israel that Jesus performed miracles, preached the good news, and ultimately gave His life for our salvation. Moreover, land is a place of inheritance. The Promised Land was not just for Abraham; it was for his descendants as well. It was a legacy that was passed down from generation to generation, a heritage that was rooted in God’s promise. This inheritance was not just about the physical land; it was about the spiritual blessings that came with it – the presence of God, the provision of God, the protection of God. However, the land also had conditions. The Israelites were to obey God’s commandments and live according to His statutes. If they did, they would enjoy the blessings of the land. If they didn’t, they would face the consequences – exile, famine, defeat. This was not a punitive measure; it was a corrective one. God wanted His people to live in obedience and righteousness, not in rebellion and wickedness. In the context of Jeremiah’s proclamation, the land was under threat because of the disobedience of the king and his people. They had turned away from God, worshipped idols, and oppressed the poor. As a result, God declared that the king would be childless and that none of his descendants would sit on the throne. This was a severe judgment, one that would have far-reaching implications for the land and its people. In our modern life, we may not have a physical land like the Israelites did, but we do have a spiritual land – our relationship with God. This is our promised land, our place of divine encounter, our inheritance. And just like the Israelites, we are called to live in obedience and righteousness. If we do, we will enjoy the blessings of our spiritual land. If we don’t, we will face the consequences. So, as we reflect on the biblical significance of land, let us remember that it is more than just a physical entity; it is a symbol of God’s promise and provision, a place of divine encounter, a legacy of inheritance, and a call to obedience and righteousness. Let us also remember that our spiritual land – our relationship with God – is our most valuable possession, one that we should cherish, nurture, and protect.

Jeremiah’s proclamation in the scripture is a potent message. It’s a message that echoes through the corridors of time, reverberating with a resonance that is as relevant today as it was when first spoken. The prophet Jeremiah, a conduit of divine communication, was tasked with delivering this message to the people of Judah. The first aspect of Jeremiah’s proclamation that we must consider is the context in which it was delivered. Jeremiah was speaking to a people who were in a state of spiritual decline. They had turned away from God, forsaken His commandments, and were pursuing their own desires. Jeremiah’s words were a divine rebuke, a call to repentance. The proclamation was not just a prediction of doom, but a plea for change. In the midst of this spiritual decline, Jeremiah’s words were a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience. The declaration that the man would be written down as childless and that none of his offspring would succeed in sitting on the throne of David was a direct result of their disobedience. This was not a random punishment, but a direct consequence of their actions. The second aspect of Jeremiah’s proclamation that we must consider is its prophetic nature. Jeremiah was not merely a social commentator or a political analyst. He was a prophet, a mouthpiece of God. His words were not his own, but those of the Lord. This proclamation was not just a statement of fact, but a prophetic utterance. It was a glimpse into the future, a revelation of what was to come. This prophetic nature of Jeremiah’s proclamation underscores the sovereignty of God. It reminds us that God is in control, that He knows the end from the beginning, and that His plans and purposes will prevail. This is a comforting truth, especially in times of uncertainty and turmoil. The third aspect of Jeremiah’s proclamation that we must consider is its personal nature. Jeremiah’s words were not just a general announcement to the masses, but a personal message to the individual. The man who was to be written down as childless was not just a faceless figure, but a real person with real feelings and real fears. This personal nature of Jeremiah’s proclamation underscores the personal nature of our relationship with God. God is not a distant deity, but a personal God who knows us intimately and cares for us deeply. He speaks to us not just through grand proclamations, but through personal messages that touch our hearts and transform our lives.

Now, let’s take a closer look at a key term from our main scripture passage. The term “succeed” in the original Hebrew is “tsalach.” This word carries the connotations of advancing, prospering, making progress. It’s used in various other passages in the Bible, such as in Joshua 1:8, where it’s said that meditating on God’s law day and night will make one’s way prosperous (tsalach). In Psalm 1:3, the righteous person is likened to a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers (tsalach). The fourth aspect of Jeremiah’s proclamation that we must consider is its universal application. Jeremiah’s words were not just relevant to the people of Judah, but to all people in all times. The principles contained in this proclamation are universal in nature. They apply to us today just as much as they did to the people of Judah. This universal application of Jeremiah’s proclamation underscores the timeless nature of God’s Word. The Bible is not just a historical document, but a living and active word that speaks to us today. It is relevant to our lives, applicable to our situations, and transformative in its power. The fifth and final aspect of Jeremiah’s proclamation that we must consider is its transformative potential. Jeremiah’s words were not just informative, but transformative. They were not just meant to be heard, but to be heeded. They were not just meant to inform, but to transform. This transformative potential of Jeremiah’s proclamation underscores the transformative power of God’s Word. The Bible is not just a book to be read, but a message to be lived. It is not just a source of information, but a catalyst for transformation. It has the power to change our lives, to shape our character, and to mold us into the image of Christ.

As we move into the heart of our discussion, let us consider the relevance of ‘land’ in the Bible. The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is replete with references to land. Land, in the biblical sense, is more than just a geographical location or a piece of property. It is a place of promise, a place of provision, a place of presence. It is where God’s covenant with His people is actualized, where His blessings are manifested, and where His presence is experienced. The first man, Adam, was placed in the Garden of Eden, a land flowing with everything he needed. Abraham was called out of his homeland to a land that God would show him, a land that would become the inheritance of his descendants. The Israelites, after years of bondage in Egypt, were led to a land flowing with milk and honey. The land, in these instances, was not just a physical place but a spiritual reality, a tangible expression of God’s faithfulness to His promises. In the modern context, we may not be called to physically move to a new land like Abraham or the Israelites. But we are called to live in the land of God’s promises, to dwell in the land of His provision, to inhabit the land of His presence. This is not a land that can be located on a map or owned as a property. It is a spiritual land, a land that we enter through faith in Christ, a land that we inhabit as we walk in obedience to His Word. As we live in this land, we experience God’s promises in our lives. We see His provision in our needs. We feel His presence in our journey. We become living testimonies of His faithfulness, His goodness, His love. The renowned Christian author, C.S. Lewis, once said, “The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life—the life God is sending one day by day.” This quote beautifully encapsulates the idea of living in the land of God’s promises, provision, and presence. The challenges, the interruptions, the unexpected turns in our journey are not detours from the land but part of the land itself. They are the terrain that shapes us, the soil that nurtures us, the landscape that reveals the depth of God’s love for us. As we navigate this land, we are not alone. We have the Word of God as our map, the Holy Spirit as our guide, and the community of believers as our companions. We learn to trust in God’s promises, to rely on His provision, to rest in His presence. We learn to see every circumstance, every situation, every moment as an opportunity to experience God, to grow in faith, to shine His light. So, let us live in the land of God’s promises, provision, and presence. Let us walk in faith, in obedience, in love. Let us be the people of the land, the people of God. Let us be the living testimonies of His faithfulness, His goodness, His love. Let us be the bearers of His promises, the recipients of His provision, the dwellers of His presence. Let us be the inhabitants of the land, the land that is more than just a geographical location or a piece of property, the land that is a spiritual reality, a tangible expression of God’s faithfulness to His promises.

Let’s remember that the Word of God is not just a historical document or a religious text. It’s a living, breathing message from our Creator, a love letter from the heart of God. It’s as relevant today as it was when Jeremiah walked the earth. Our God is not a distant deity, but a close and personal Father who cares about every detail of our lives. He knows our struggles, our fears, our dreams, and our desires. He’s with us in every season, in every circumstance, in every moment. The land principles are not just about physical territories; they’re about the territory of our hearts. God wants to rule and reign in our hearts. He wants to plant seeds of faith, hope, and love in the soil of our souls. He wants to cultivate a harvest of righteousness, peace, and joy in our lives. He wants to establish His kingdom within us, a kingdom not of this world, but of His heavenly realm. So, let’s open our hearts to Him. Let’s surrender our lives to Him. Let’s allow His Word to shape us, to guide us, to transform us. Let’s trust in His goodness, in His love, in His grace. Let’s remember that we are His beloved children, heirs to His eternal kingdom, recipients of His divine promises.  Let’s pray for us to decrease and for Him to increase in our hearts and minds, for His Kingdom to come and His Will to be done on Earth, as It Is In HEAVEN.  Don’t forget October 2-4 is Rosh Ha’Shanah (Jewish New Year), the National Prayer Assembly is the tenth & eleventh in Washington, October 11-12 is Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the 12th is a ‘Million Women’ at The Mall in DC & Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) is October 16-23! If you or someone you know would like to have a prayer gathering in or around New Mexico, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thanks & Blessings with Shalom,

Mark Tross

NM Prayer Connect Coordinator

http://nmprayerconnect.weebly.com

Mark Tross

Listen to Mark Tross on Spotify. Audiobooks & MORE read by Mark Tross, Author, Conference Speaker, Radio & Television personally, blogger, newspaper and internet writer, Bishop with The Church Of God, Cleveland, TN and Coordinator for New Mexico Prayer Connect . Cover art photo provided by Janine Joles on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@joyful_janine

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