Friday · 2026-10-23

Here is your daily Come Follow Me devotional for Ammon Hasson:

Jeremiah 16–17: Desolation and Divine Restoration

Today's assigned reading invites us to consider Jeremiah's powerful prophecies concerning the consequences of wickedness and the enduring hope found in trusting God.

• Jeremiah 16: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/jer/16?lang=eng
• Jeremiah 17: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/jer/17?lang=eng

Jeremiah delivered these messages during the reign of King Jehoiakim, a time of profound political and spiritual decay in Judah. The nation was mired in idolatry and had turned away from the covenant God, leading to impending judgment from the rising Babylonian empire. Within this context of prophesied desolation and scattering, Jeremiah also conveys the Lord's promise of future gathering and the blessings reserved for those who place their hope and trust in Him.

As you reflect on these chapters, consider the following questions:

1. Jeremiah 17:5-8 starkly contrasts the fate of those who trust in man with those who trust in the Lord. How have you personally witnessed the fleeting nature of worldly assurances versus the steadfast strength that comes from placing your hope entirely in the Lord?
2. In Jeremiah 16:16, the Lord speaks of sending "fishers and hunters" to gather scattered Israel in the latter days. How can you, in your daily life and interactions, actively embody the role of a "fisher" or "hunter" in helping to gather God's children back to His covenant path?

The prophecies in Jeremiah 16–17 powerfully illustrate the stark consequences of forsaking the Lord, yet they are equally rich with His unwavering promises of eventual restoration and profound blessings for those who turn to Him. Amidst the foretold desolation, Jeremiah reveals that true security and lasting fruitfulness spring not from relying on human strength, but from trusting in the Lord, the "fountain of living waters". By actively participating in His work of gathering Israel today, we demonstrate our profound trust in Him and become willing instruments in fulfilling His eternal purposes.