RETURN TO GOD – A CALL TO RETURN TO GOD
Scripture quotes 9/5/2022 1,115 words
12/25/2022
God hears the cry of his people; He urges the nation, and them, to RETURN TO HIM in order to find rest for their souls and to live in peace
Jer 3:21-22 A cry is heard on the barren heights, the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel, because they have perverted their ways and have forgotten the LORD their God. 22 “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” NIV Jer 4:1-2 4 “If you will return, O Israel, return to me,” declares the LORD . “If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray,
2 and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ then the nations will be blessed by him and in him they will glory.” NIV
Lam 5:21-22 21 Restore us to yourself, O LORD , that we may return; renew our days as of old 22 unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure. NIV
Hos 6:1-3 “Come, let us return to the LORD . He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the LORD ; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” NIV
Hos 12:6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. NIV
Zech 1:2-4 2 “The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. 4 NIV
Jer 6:16-19 16 Thus says the LORD : “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ 18 Therefore hear, you nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people — The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words Nor My law, but rejected it. NKJV
…and these as a comparison in the AMPLIFIED VERSION and in THE MESSAGE versions for more clarity:
Jer 6:16-19 16 Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it! [Matt 11:29.] 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hear and obey the sound of the trumpet! But they said, We will not listen or obey.
18 Therefore hear, O [Gentile] nations, and know, O congregation [of believing ones], what [great things I will do] to them. 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts (their schemes and devices) because they have not listened and obeyed My words, and as for My law, they have rejected it. AMP
Matt 11:28-30 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
[Jer 6:16.] 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. AMP
Jer 6:16-19 “Go stand at the crossroads and look around. Ask for directions to the old road, The tried and true road. Then take it. Discover the right route for your souls. But they said, ‘Nothing doing. We aren’t going that way.’ 17 I even provided watchmen for them to warn them, to set off the alarm. But the people said, ‘It’s a false alarm. It doesn’t concern us.’ 18 And so I’m calling in the nations as witnesses: ‘Watch, witnesses, what happens to them!’ 19 And, ‘Pay attention, earth! Don’t miss these bulletins.’ I’m visiting catastrophe on this people, the end result of the games they’ve been playing with me. They’ve ignored everything I’ve said, had nothing but contempt for my teaching. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Jer 6:16-17 16 The LORD said to his people, “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk in it, and you will live in peace.”
But they said, “No, we will not!” 17 Then the LORD appointed watchmen to listen for the trumpet’s warning. But they said, “We will not listen.” TEV
Jer 6:16-19 16 Thus saith the LORD , Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. KJV (even the fruit of their thoughts…..interesting)
Jer 6:16 16 Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye on the ways, and see and ask for the old paths which is the good way, and walk ye in it: and you shall find refreshment for your souls. Douay-Rheims Jer 6:16-17 16 The LORD said to his people, “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk in it, and you will live in peace.” TEV
The promise if we , and our country, do this?
Refreshment for our souls, and living in peace.
– END –
Look, Listen & Think 