August 3-9, 2025

Heart Preparation:
Do you have a time or place that, when you are there, you feel at rest? Real, soul rest? If you are like me that place or time can seem to call to you, inviting you back. Where is that time or place for you? Try to imagine it. Put yourself there. How does that feel? What is it about this place or time that is restful for your soul? The reason for this heart work is that Jeremiah invites God’s people back into the way of soul rest while they are, more often than not, actively choosing ways of soul disruption.
 
Week’s Reading Plan:

• Sunday, August 3rd – 2 Chronicles 32-33
• Monday, August 4th – Nahum 1-3
• Tuesday, August 5th – 2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35
• Wednesday, August 6th  - Zephaniah 1-3
• Thursday, August 7th – Jeremiah 1-3
• Friday, August 8th – Jeremiah 4-6
• Saturday, August 9th – Jeremiah 7-9

 
What To Expect:
I want to start with that invitation from God through the prophet Jeremiah. You’ll find it in 6:16. It says there, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’” What is this way?


I think we get examples of soul disruption, and being led back into rest with God, in our readings this week. Let’s consider the 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles readings together. For years and years the people of God had been taught and led ways of soul disruption. God’s law and ways had been discarded and forgotten. Idols were put up in his place. Ways of worship that make your skin crawl have been committed by God’s people.


Why? I think the people of God were siding with the “gods” that allowed them to do what they want, and to chase after what they want. This is soul disruption. My desire is my god. How is this soul disruption? My desire is a god whose belly is always growling, always hungry for more. I am never at rest because I am never satisfied. More importantly, I am starving for the One that really satisfies my hunger. I am saying “no” to my kind provider who actually knows what I need and made me to be filled with himself.


However, God provides in a good king the way back to himself and to rest for their souls. Josiah goes on a fake god annihilation rampage. At the same time he helps lead people back into the way of worship and life from God that really feeds and nourishes them. The people hear God’s word again. They offer right sacrifice again. They keep the Sabbath again. And God is restoring them into the way of rest in himself.


The prophets Nahum and Zephaniah issue the call of God. Nahum lets Assyria know that for all their terror in bringing desolation and soul disruption on their neighbors, they are nothing compared to God. When God moves against them their ways of war will seem like a picnic. God will give soul disruptors their due.


Zephaniah warns the people of God in Judah and Jerusalem that for taking up and cultivating these same ways of disorder and disruption that judgment is coming. The Day of the Lord! Yet, at the end of his message, God speaks his mercy and restoration:
 
              The LORD your God is in your midst,
                             a mighty one who will save;
              he will rejoice over you with gladness;
                             he will quiet you by his love;
              he will exult over you with loud singing. – Zephaniah 3:17
 
What to Look For:
The invitation to the Ancient Path, the way made by God to life with him. Even in Nahum’s message to Assyria there is opportunity to realize God is God, not Assyria. You may be living in the desolation of throwing God away but God has not thrown you away! He sends kings, and prophets, and messengers. He invites and pleads with the goodness of life with himself. Not only that, if the people would take the old road, he’s the one who makes the road and plops you down on it. He is there for the taking. But he does not force. There is sadness at the end of Jeremiah’s invitation to the old road, the way of peace and soul-rest: “But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
 
Personal Insight:
If you’re like me, you hear Jesus’s own words in Jeremiah’s invitation: 


“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30
 
All the invitations, the calls, the messengers, they all point to Christ. Here is their fulfillment. He is our rest. He is our peace. He is the Road. Still, we are learning what that looks like in conflict with co-workers, date night with our spouse, or in the quiet with only our thoughts. Thankfully, we have a gracious master. Lord, how am I making my desire my god? What or who am I asking to fill and satisfy me? It could be something on the surface. But these things go way deep down. Those surface things are probably just the leaf of a root lodged in my heart. Only you can see that to root it out rightly at the right time. Help me to surrender to your confident hand.
 
Prayer:
Have mercy on me Jesus. Do your deep work in my heart today. Show me what I need to see. Turn me from my work of desolation and soul disruption. With your kind hand, place your yoke on my shoulders and lead me. I want to walk in the rest you provide my soul.


This weeks devotion was prepared by Justin Coberley