The prophet Baruch wrote hundreds of years after the
Babylonian exile. Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah had attempted
to restore the temple, walls, and people of Jerusalem. But the renewal
needed renewal. The message is: "Back to the basics"—confessing our
sins, living God's word, prophesying to the dry bones (Ez 37), and not
compromising with the idols of the world.
Key word |
THE BASICS |
Key verse |
"They wept and fasted and prayed before the Lord, and collected such funds as each could furnish." —1:5-6 |
Command verse |
"As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God, turn now
ten times the more to seek Him: for He Who has brought disaster upon you
will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy." —4:28-29 |
Promise verse |
"I have trusted in the Eternal God for your welfare, and joy has
come to me from the Holy One because of the mercy that will swiftly
reach you from your eternal Savior." —4:22 |
Difficult verse |
"I will make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the
streets of Jerusalem the sounds of joy and the sounds of gladness, the
voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; and all the land
shall be deserted, without inhabitants." —2:23 |
Surprise verse |
"In it were born the giants, renowned at the first, stalwarts, skilled in war." —3:26 |
Prayer: Father, when my world is falling apart, may I not try novelties but get back to the basics of my relationship with You. |