Jeremiah 23-25
Scripture Focus

“But I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number. Then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one will be lost or missing. I, the Lord, have spoken! “For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬-‭6‬, ‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I will watch over and care for them, and I will bring them back here again. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭24‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Each time the message was this: ‘Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live in this land that the Lord gave to you and your ancestors forever.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭25‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Reflection
When we read through these chapters in Jeremiah, we see God, very detailed, and pointing out all the things that they were doing wrong, the evil and the sins they were committing, and we see God’s heart shining through. He says that your own wickedness, evil desires, and the path you’re on are actually leading you to destruction.
Now, if I heard a message from God that was that detailed — listing every little thing I’ve done and am doing wrong — I want to say that I would stop and turn to God and truly repent. It would put that healthy fear in my heart, but it would also break my heart knowing I had broken God’s heart.
In chapter 25, Jeremiah says for 23 years he’s been telling them this, but he’s actually going to be telling them this for 41 years — all the way into the captivity where they are exiled to Babylon.
I want to focus on God’s heart — how we see light beaming through the darkness — because He never changes. His heart stays the same for His people. He calls us His sheep. He is the Good Shepherd. He wanted them to be in their own sheepfold, safe and fruitful, to multiply.
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” “The Lord will be their righteousness” — Jehovah Tsidkenu — means He is our righteousness. He robed us in righteousness when He died on the cross, and because of His righteousness upon us, we can come boldly to the throne of grace to find mercy in our time of need.
So what did God want for them? He wanted them to feel safe, to not be afraid, to live for Him in light of who He is, to know Him, and to shine His light to the world. Those are the same things He wants for us — and that’s the light beaming through the darkness.
Living for Him means knowing Him enough to have Him live His life through us, because apart from Him, we can do nothing, but with God all things are possible.
After much reflection and meditation, I really believe this is the message for us today — for us women who are reading through the Bible, wanting to know God’s heart, wanting to know Him more so that we can glorify Him. We have to remember that “glorify” means to give a correct opinion of God’s character to the world through our choices and actions.
Who does the world see — me, or Jesus living His life through me? Which is tough, because too many times me shows up — when I’m frustrated, when I’m tired and hungry, when I forget to ask for help and allow the Holy Spirit to give me the strength I need.


Lesson to Learn
God’s heart for His people has not changed. He longs for His flock to be safe, unafraid, fruitful, and close to Him. Even His discipline is meant to restore and rebuild. Our purpose is to live in such a way that the world sees a true picture of His character — not by our own effort, but by letting Christ live through us.
Takeaway Truth

Glorifying God means letting my life give the world a true picture of who He is — not me trying harder, but Christ living through me.

What About Me – Application Questions

1. Where in my life is “me” showing up more than Jesus — in my words, reactions, or attitudes?
2. In what specific ways can I give the world a correct opinion of God’s character this week?
3. Am I living like a sheep who knows her shepherd — secure, obedient, and fruitful — or am I wandering toward my own path?
4. What would it look like today to let Jesus’ righteousness cover me and live His life through me?
5. Is there a warning God has been repeating to me that I’ve been slow to obey, like Judah ignoring Jeremiah’s words?

🙏 Prayer
Lord, You are my Righteousness. Thank You for being the Good Shepherd who gathers, protects, and restores His flock. Give me a heart that fully recognizes You as Lord, and teach me to glorify You in how I live, speak, and respond — even when I’m tired, frustrated, or stretched thin. Keep me close in Your sheepfold, safe under Your care, and fruitful for Your kingdom. Let the world see not me, but Christ in me. Amen.

John 19
scripture focus  - coming soon