The halfbaked Bard

Jer:19:8 I will reduce Jerusalem to ruins, making it a monument of stupidity Adamancy to not to flex your neck is stupidity. Stubborn not to acknowledge that I have been on the wrong side is foolishness. Though you know the way to return, you don't take it because of your pride. That is insensical, idiotic and irrational.  Isa:30:15 Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.  Oh! Even if you know that oh! Bard, why don't you take that road of return? Why do you keep your nose so high? Why don't you repent and return? Why be a monument of stupidity yourself? Don't be a Babel Image courtesy;    https://unsplash.com/s/photos/city-ruins

Jer:18:4 But the jar, he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.  This should bring in both fear and hope. Fear because, God is holy and He cannot tolerate any hamartos. His wrath , His judgement are both willing to crush.  Yet He is willing to start all over again, with me, giving me a second chance, gives me relief. Though I do not deserve it. He is merciful to me to not deal with me as I deserve.  All of us are jars which have not turned out to be as He hoped. Self seeking, rebellious, finding ways to rebel - both because of our nature and because of our choice. Both has led to disappointing God. I do not know whether we understand the gravity of the situation - of grieving the Almighty. And in His power He has the right to demolish and crush us back into that lump that we really are (disgusting as we are). Yet He decides to start all over again.  Oh! What love. Why should He? I cannot f...

Honour the Lord; honour the statutes of the Lord Consider it worthy to obey His commands That shows the depth of your love to Him If you love me, you will obey my commands, He said. Be serious about God, not as your pocket genie He is God Almighty, Holy is His name Not your favourite toy to carry around He abhors sin, but you play around with it.  He is El-kannah God, jealous He is Who doesn't want His glory to be taken by an idol There are lots and lots of it in your life Which replaces the love due for Him.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God.  And His righteousness And all these things shall be added unto you Is He the only one you seek; every moment of your life?  His standards do you endure?  His statutes do you keep?  His ways do you walk?  Oh! All have fallen short of the glory of God.  He desires that you be God oriented 24*7 To be a man after God's own heart To be the man He desired you to be To love the Lord with all your heart...

Hope is what holds me together Hope that the Lord; everloving Father Would forgive; would work in my favour Not because I deserve it.  But because He said so.  Hope is what sustains me.  In the midst of all hopelessness As children; as heirs; as co heirs Not because I've become good.  But because of His unchanging character.  Hope gives me hope Strength to hold on.  In the midst of all lost and bereft Not because I ought to have it.  But because of His willingness to bear all consequences.  Oh! What would I have done Without this entity called hope Life for me was destined to hell Both in this world and in the life to come Hope is because of His unending love.  Image courtesy:  https://www.google.com/amp/myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/mycity/amp/finding-hope

Jer:17:9 Oh! Bard your heart's wickedness. Deep down always finding ways to sin and rebel against your eternal Father.  "Give me my portion", it says always to have it's own way. To have it's own seat of recognition and individuality and me time and self seeking.  Always trying to replace itself into God's established throne. Always wanting to appease and satisfy it's own self. Always wanting to falsely believe that the world is rotating around the axis of its own self. Looking for appreciation, looking for likes and retweets and views and comments in order to proclaim to the world that the center of attraction of the world is here.  Have you ever thought, everyone is so fallen that every single heart thinks the same way. To project and highlight its own self. Every heart is deceitful. Every single soul is self seeking and self oriented. How pathetic to live in a self oriented society like this where everybody thinks of their own self, of their...

Jer:17:1 The sin of Jidah is inscribed with an iron chisel.  Engraved with a diamond point on their stony hearts.  Oh! Sin is a part of you. Inscribed into your nature. Engraved. Because of fallenness. In sin. I was conceived in my mother's womb. Your natural tendency is to sin. To rebel.  But lo! There is hope. You have been given the privilege not to sin. To think outside the box. To be outside the rut. Only if you want to. Only if you choose to.  From sin engraved in your stony heart, you move to being engraved in His wounded hands. This is the previous salvation given freely on the cross. To enable you to hear, son, your sins are forgiven. All your fallenness, your engraven nature is done and dusted with. Now it's upto you to deal with your everyday sins. To repent and renounce, one at a time, as the Spirit reveals. May the Lord enable.  Image courtesy:  https://lgoodov.xyz/product_details/33961772.html

Lord, Israel could just throw off their idols, demolish them and stop serving them.  Jeremiah could do that. And many others too at that time could choose to seek you alone and that is why you spoke through them.  But what am I supposed to do with my idol? How will I throw off my self? How do I deny my self again and again. It pops up again and again. May be it is my problem alone. But i realise I am helpless Lord. I do not know what to do?  I cry out to you. Help me Abba. Help me to cast away my self. Because you have spoken to me about my idol. And I realize how much it hurts you when I do things to appease my idol. But I, selfish as I am, am not able to cast away my idol. That much I love my idol. I wonder what love I have for you.  Help me to seek you alone. I am helpless. You have shown me mercy till date. You have not cast me away, just as you have dealt with everyone who practises idolatory. Show me grace so that I will be able to do this by your p...

Jer:16:13 And you are even worse than your ancestors! You stubbornly follow your own evil desires and you refuse to listen to me.  If idol worship is the sin of your ancestors, yours is not different.  Unseen idols rule your hearts. Intangible ones. Self is the worst of them all. To please this idol, you do all detestable practises that your ancestors committed to the idols of Baal, Asherah poles and others.  In your mind, in your heart you kill out of anger, you commit adultery out of lust, you are filled with greed and jealousy. You covet. You steal. You dishonour. You lie. You commit every single sin in order to please the idol that you have secretly placed (yet it is so obvious).  What do you expect God to do? The same God who did not constrain Himself from punishing the Israelites with exile and rejection, granting no favours. Even after so many chances that He gave these ancestors of ours, they did not turn away from their detestable practises. They...

Jer:15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them They are my joy and my heart's delight Where Oh! Bard is your passion for God's word like Jeremiah.  This is exactly what Jesus said. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  This is exactly what Ezekiel experienced as he opened the mouth, as He fed him the scroll and as he was asked to fill his stomach with this and as he ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in his mouth.  Where Oh! Bard is the craving for the one thing you need to survive. That which you restrict your time in the morning and that's it.  Should you not need to dwell on what you learnt in the morning. You need to devour every word that comes to you (with discernment). You need to seek Him every moment of your life.  You Oh! Bard have secluded your sacred life from your secular life. Oh! There is no such thing. There is no distinction. You are created for Him.  Unless you seek...

Jer:15 It is God who says......  You have abandoned me And turned your back on me Says the Lord Therefore, I will raise my fist to destroy you I am tired of always giving you another chance I will destroy my own people Because they refuse to change their evil ways.  This is God's own words. The same God Almighty in New Testament. If what He said in New Testament is true, what He said in Old Testament cannot be outdated. He is true and faithful always.  If He says sin is serious enough to sacrifice Himself to redeem us all, how much more we should run away from it. How much more we should repent and return everyday. We cannot take His sacrifice on the cross as granted, thinking everything has been done and dusted. Yes it is! Concerning our salvation. Now there is no condemnation. But that doesnt mean that I can do whatever I want and the Lord will forgive or the Lord has forgiven.  Rom:6:1 should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderfu...

Jer:14:11 Then the Lord said to me, 'Do not pray for these people anymore' That much disappointed God was regarding Israel's demeanor.  But still Jeremiah prays -  Jer:14:20-22 Lord we confess our wickedness And that of our ancestors btoo We all have sinned against you For the sake of your reputation, Lord Do not abandon us Do not diagrace your glorious throne Please remember us And do not break your covenant with us.......  ......  No! You are the One, O Lord our God Only you can do such things So we will wait for you to help us.  Repentance and seeking God's presence is the only thing that God desires from you and me.  Jer:3:13 Only acknowledge your guilt Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God.  The Lord's heart pains when you sin. When you choose other things than God. It aches His heart when you choose your way. When you rebel. He longs for you to come back. He longs for your to return to His bosom.  How long will you pr...

Jer:14:7, 9 Our wickedness has caught up with us Lord But help us for the sake of your own reputation We have turned away from you And sinned against you, again and again You are right here among us Lord We are known as your people.  Please do not abandon us now.  As we see things happening to us and around us, does it become a means of going back to God Almighty. Every triumph is a humbling experience. Every setback, an awakening. Towards God. Towards the Holy and Blemishless God.  Every prayer should be a thanksgiving and a cry of repentance. Knowing who we really are in God's eyes and how far we have fallen from these expectations. And a plea for restoration is not for our comforts but for His reputation. For His name's sake.  Even though He is angry, He is justified in doing so. For we have thrashed and crushed. We have demolished, the plans He has for us. All we can do is to thank and repent. Glorify Him and seek His mercy. In tears, in sackcloth alone we can ta...

Q. Why is all this happening to me?  A. It is because of your many sins. Jer:13:22 The bard has asked this question umpteen number of times. To The Almighty.  Why me Lord?  Why is it happening to me Lord?  I'm desperation he has asked. In agony and anguish. In helplessness.  The answer has come today. The plain and simple truth.  Therefore repent, my son. The Almighty says. Look at mine eyes and see for yourself, the tear stained eyes. Look and see how much I'm weeping over you.  Jer13:18 - Come down from your thrones and sit in the dust. 

I will weep alone Jer:13:17 Oh! Don't you see His weeping heart? Oh! Bard He is weeping because of your pride. He is weeping because of your rebellion.  When is He weeping?..... "And if you still refuse to listen" Oh! He is weeping because you refuse to listen. No matter how He has tried to reach out to you, oh! Bard, you evade. You justify. You do everything but repent. You do everything but acknowledge that you have wronged.  And now He can only weep over you. His eyes overflow with tears, because of the bard's pride. He has been trying to tell the bard of his pride, but he wouldn't listen and he would only brush it off.  See the red stained eyes of your Father who cries because of you. Repent and return. 

Jer:13:15 Do not be arrogant Arrogance is an outpouring of pride. Rude demeanor is a result of thinking, 'I'm someone significant' When the nose is high in the air and the head held high, we are in a pseudoworld. Where we think of ourselves in comparisons to the other. The reality is that we see the world in our own goggles alone. We think of ourselves as great, because we place ourselves in our shoees alone.  Phil:2:3 In humility, consider others better than yourselves.  How is it possible?  1. Realize my fallenness. Compare myself with God's standards, not the fallen world's standards. The word says, if you look lustfully at a woman, you have committed adultery. And if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgement. Such is the standard you have to compare with.  2. Secondly, seeing this standard, when we look at our inner man, I actually realize, like Paul, I'm the worst of the sinnerd. I realize my fallen nature. I literally am below th...

Jer:13:11 As a loincloth clings to a man's waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory, an honour to my name. But they would not listen to me.  Created to be the honour of His name. Expectations shattered and thrashed. Not that God did not see this coming. Still He chose to love.  Created to be His pride. Thwarted because of rebellion. Squandered because they wanted their own way. They wanted their own comforts. Chose to walk away.  Created to cling to Him. Holdfast to Him. Deliberately and forcefully released themselves from His grip and walked away. Destined to be in His bosom for eternity. Choosing alienation and separation instead.  They would not listen to God. Turning a deaf ear to Him. He has been repeatedly telling. Repeatedly calling out to them. Repeatedly and earnestly reaching out to them. But they wouldn't listen.  Why is it that I want my own ways? Why is it that, eve...

Oh! Everyone is good at something. There is some talent hidden somewhere. Some secret good qualities that you will discover along the way.  Somewhere your purpose will be fulfilled. What you are called for, you will find out and then the world will know you.  Jer:13:7 The loincloth was good for nothing.  Rotten and falling apart, it has become useless. When the world sees you, oh! there is huge potential and talent. Oh! You are doing something great which no one else is doing.  But God looks at you and says, you are good for nothing. The sin in mankind is so massive that all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. All our inner motives are marred with sin. Good for nothing.  But there is hope if you repent and return back to the Almighty. Only if you return, there is hope. You become the dress of honour if you will decide to return. 

The Lord loves Israel. He has given them umpteen chances. Pardon and forgiveness. Opportunities after opportunities.  Does God love Israel with partiality?  Why does not God love the other nations like Israel? Why doesn't He extend His arm of forgiveness to the nation's surrounding Israel? Why doesn't He give them an option to come to Him?  Jer:12:14-16 Now this is what the Lord says, "I will uproot from their land all the evil nations reaching out for the possession I gave my people Israel. And I will uproot Judah from among them. But afterward, I will return and have compassion on all of them. I will bring them home to their own lands again each nation to it's own possession. And if these nations truly learn the ways of my people and if they learn to swear by my name saying, As surely as the Lord lives (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people.  At the last moment. When the axe is abo...

Ps:108:4 For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  God is love. That is His character.  God is a righteous judge. He abhors sin. That never changes. He cannot accomodate sin. He cannot adjust with your sin.  God is true. He is faithful. He doesn't change like shifting shadows. It is not His character to change. That is His unchanging attribute, not to change.  And the beauty is, His love never changes because of my sin. He did not stop loving me, because I'm sinful. While I was a rebel, He first loved me.  Rom:5:8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  1John:3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished upon us.  And He continued to do that. He continues to love. Despite my iniquities and infirmities, He continues to give me more opportunities. He continues to extend His arm of forgiveness. He gives me the option of forgiv...

Jer:12:2 Your name is on their lips But you are far from their hearts.  Empty are your praises. Empty are your acknowledgements. Empty are your accolades for God. Empty are your worships and sermons. Empty is your ministry. When you do so much on the outward, but your heart is far away from God's heart.  I remember hearing this long time back. God doesn't look at your hands, but your hearts. But we are so focussed on what we can do, how well we can perform, what great sacrifices we can make. But still be far away from God.  Yet you think you are close to God; but you are miles away from Him. God loves people like David, who was a man after God's own heart. Searching His heart always. He has fallen, but knowing the grief he has caused his Father, he runs back to His bosom, crying.  Like Enoch, continually walking with God. Like Abraham, always trusting. Like Noah, desiring to be righteous. Like Jesus, always, seeking the will of the Father. 

Is he mad? I believed he is a genuine person. I knew him, though from a distance. A brilliant guy. An academician - might not be as brilliant as I was. That is exactly why I could learn under Gamaliel and he under Sheltiel. I was hard working. He was too. He knew more things than an average Israelite.  Then somehow our paths diverted. I heard that he has become a follower of this blasphemer called Jesus. Now, my blood boils when I hear his name. He claims to be the Messiah himself. But we all know where he is from. He is basically a carpenter from a small town called Nazareth. Who might have learnt a little bit of magic, a little bit of sorcery. A little bit of fraudery too may be. May be he healed a few people. May be he did a few miracles. May be he did things out of divine power. May be he is a prophet from God. And his teachings were also acceptable. But the moment he calls us all sinners and him as God, a Jew cannot listen to it and not do anything. As if he is no ...

Jer:11:1-17 Remind (v:2) Remind yourself oh! Bard. Remind the people around you. Remind your kith and kin. Remind those who read. About the terms of my covenant with them. "This is what the Lord God of Israel says. CURSED is anyone who does not obey the terms of my covenant. For I said to your ancestors, when I brought them out of the fiery hell, from that miry clay, from that deepest dungeon, if you would obey me and do whatever I command you, then you will be my people and I will be your God. I said this so I could keep my promise to your ancestors to give you a promised haven" Oh! The ancestors have followed their own evil desires. Even after repeated warnings. They have committed adultery with the idols they have set up for themselves. They have stubbornly followed their own evil desires.  Conspiracy (v:9) Now they have returned to the sins of their forefathers. They have refused to listen to me and are worshipping other gods. Don't you dare point your fin...

Do not correct me in anger, for I would die Jer:10:24 Lord that is what is expectant.  That is what is the natural course.  The bard has evoked anger. The bard out of rebellion and pride has evoked your wrath.  But your wrath I will not be able to stand. I will be decimated. I will be exonerated. I will cease to exist.  Correct me with love. Humanly speaking it's improbable. But for you it is possible. Have mercy. I'm guilty. 

Jer:11:19-20 My wound is severe And my grief is great My sickness is terrible But I must bear it.  My home is gone And no one is left to help me rebuild it The cry of Jeremiah is not for himself to be precise. Though it seems so as we read it. It is for his nation. His own people. A cry seeing the plight of his nation. A wail as he sees his people's sinfulness. Their own wretchedness.  Why do you not cry, oh! Bard? What do you cry to God? Why do you cry for your needs alone oh! Bard? Why are you so selfish? Cry for the fallenness of your people. Cry for the wretchedness of your community. Cry for the sinfulness of the nation. Cry for mercy upon mankind. Not for blessing. Not for justice. Cry that the judgement won't come with its heavy arms upon us. Cry for repentance. Cry for mercy. 

Jer:10:16 But the God of Israel is no idol He is the creator of everything that exists.  There is stark contrasting between handmade idols and the everlasting Almighty God in Jeremiah Chapter 10. Idols do not deserve to even exist in the presence of the creator, sustainer, All powerful God.  Israel is but guilty of comparing (or even replacing) these carved worthless ridiculous scarecrows against the name who is great and full of power. According to their own whims and fancies, they decide how to carve their idols - whether to coat it with gold or silver, what wood to use, how long it's tail or its snout should be. It is all the craftsman's idea. And then they make it their God. How ridiculous?  Jer:10:8 People who worship idols are stupid and foolish.  Jer:10:15 Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies.  Oh! Israel you are guilty.  Oh! Bard you are guilty. You have made your own idols, of your own intellect, your own money, your own blood,...

Jer:9:23 Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom Or the powerful boast in their power Or the rich boast in their riches But those who wish to boast Should boast in this alone That they truly know me and understand  That I am the Lord Who demonstrates unfailing love And who brings justice and righteousness to the earth And that I delight in these things.  Oh! Why do you boast in your heart. Oh! Bard why is the inherent nature to highlight what you are good at. What is there to boast. Your very attitude grieves God. Your self love and your pride prompts you to boast. It elates you. It desires a word of appreciation from others.  Instead weep. Wail. Fot sin is what takes you further away from God. He is the only good that is in you. Boast that His presence reveals more of your wretchedness and fallenness. And then weep. Let tears flow from your eyes (v:18) 

Jer:9:9 Should I not punish them for this? Says the Lord Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?  For sin, there is punishment. That is God's way of things.  For every rebellion, there is judgement.  For every disobedience there is casting out.  You think you would escape, Oh! Bard, because of the cross? Because God bore it all? You think all your punishments are taken care of at Golgotha. And you can escape it all? Do you think there is no condemnation.  And then you can revel in sin with no absolute repentance.  Oh! The cross is there.  Cross is the solution for all sin of mankind. Cross is the judgement man had to face, but God bore it all on Himself. At the cross, the casting out has already happened. Agreed.  But with sin being satiated in your belly and pampered in your lap and indulged in your heart, how can you go to His holiness. The pure and brilliant white God? With sin that He so abhors. Will he even look at you? With no repe...

Is there no medicine in Gilead?  Is there no physician there?  Why is there no healing For the wounds of my people?  Jer:8:22 The weeping prophet, cries. He wails. He griefs beyond healing. For his people in Jerusalem. He weeps for God. He cries for the hurt they caused God. He yearns for a balm from Gilead. He yearns for a physician to touch and heal the sinfulness of his people in Jerusalem.  Who will weep for the people today? Who will weep for God today?  The balm of Gilead is here.  The Great Physician now is near.  The sympathising Jesus.  To heal you of all your wounds. To deal with the root cause. To give you the pardon which you so undeserved. He paid the penalty.  Sweetest note in Seraph's song Sweetest note on mortal tongue Sweetest Carol ever sung.  Jesus, blessed Jesus.  Yes the beautiful name of Jesus, that is all I need. Him alone would I seek. His heart alone would I desire. For it is He who saved me from...

Jer:8:8-12. What do you have to offer Oh! Bard. A message of comfort? That everything will be alright?  That God is going to bless?  That an everforgiving God is going to keep aside all your wrongdoings. Forgetting all your sins just with the snap of a finger and now on you will be blessed with riches and joy and enjoyments and anything you name under the sun will be granted to you?  Yes in a way it is true. He will do it. For His word says that He is a God of blessing. It is His character to bless. His attribute to forgive.  But do you have an iota of idea that you are someone who gives superficial treatment for mortal wounds? Are you Oh! Bard assuring peace when there is no peace? To  a sinful and wretched generation who do not know even how to blush?  From the least to the greatest in this generation, their lives are filled with greed. I want more.  They are filled with pride. I am important I deserve much more. Why should I?  They ...

Sometimes the Word has to speak. And the bard has to keep quiet. ( I think that should be the norm always)  Jer:8:4-7 "Jeremiah, say to the people, 'This is what the Lord says: ”When people fall down, don't they get up again?  When they discover they're on the wrong road, don't they turn back?  They cling tightly to their lies.  And will not turn around.  I listen to their conversations And don't hear a word of truth.  Is anyone sorry for doing wrong?  Does anyone say, "What a terrible thing I have done?" No! All are running down the path of sin As swiftly as a horse galloping into battle Even the stork that flies across the sky Knows the time of her migration As do the turtledove, the swallow and the crane They all return at the proper time each year But not my people They do not know the Lord's laws."