Honest Reflections on Jeremiah 11 For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal. (vs. 13) What frightning words of indictment, that the LORD pronounces against Judah, a people called by His Name, set apart to belong to Him, and yet they have played the whore and worshipped idols rather than purely worshipping Him! The LORD sends Jeremiah to propehtically remind them of the words of the covenant, that the Sovereign God graciously entered into with them (know that He didnt have to!): Cursed be the man who does not hear the words of this covenant that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to My voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be My people, and I will be your God, that I may confirm the oath that I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing wth milk and honey, as at this day. (vs 3- 5) The LORD again reinforces to Jeremiah, Do not pray for this people, or lift a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to Me in the time of their trouble (vs. 14). The LORD is not some Break Glass in Case of Emergency God, there at our dispense, when an emergency has come upon us, while the rest of the time we do not reverently acknowledge Him. A person should not expect to recieve help, if that is how they view God. Instead, the LORD tells them to go to their idols in their time of trouble, but even that will be vain, for they cannot save (vs. 12). But it is important for us to notice, that even though God is giving them over, fulfilling the punishment He promised would happen if they were unrepentant and unfaithful, there is still mention of His covenant love for them, as He calls them His beloved. What right has My beloved [Judah] in My house, when she [Judah] has done many vile deeds(vs. 15)? The LORD loves with a just and holy love, all other love is counterfeit, even as Judah has been expressing a counterfeit love toward Him, as they did not keep His Word! No doubt, for preaching these kind of messages that condemn Judah for their actions, Jeremiah was going to experience harsh treatment by them. Even God forewarned him about the kind of negative reception that Jeremiah was going to recieve. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you (Jer 1:19). Praise the LORD for that! Nevertheless, Jeremiah testifies to how he has become aware of a conspiracy that was against the LORD, and essentially against him as well, being that He was Gods messenger (vs. 18-19). Even in his home town, Anathoth, there were those who were seeking his life, commanding him Do not prophesy in the Name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand (vs. 21). But the LORD knows their threats, and He will punish them, even if they think they might get away with it (vs. 22-23). Thus, even Jeremiah can pray, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You have I committed my cause (vs. 20). What a beautiful demonstration of trust and reliance upon the sovereign LORD to take care of matters, rather than foolishly putting matters into our own hands! The times are getting tenser against the truth claims of Gods Word, and soon all who remain faithful and stand firm to every inerrant Word of God will feel the oppresive backlash of a culture that is turning further and further away from the Word of God and further and further onto self reliance and human progressivism. Just like Judah had become, filled with as much idols as they had cities, so has our culture become. And as there are more and more legal decisions that infringe on the rigtheous truths and commands of Gods Word, we must be ready to sacrificially trust in the One to whom we all will give an account, and who will vindicate His Name. We must decide today, who will we stand for, even as we rest in the knowledge that the Sovereign Lord over all, is for us and will not forsake us, as we remain faithful to Him. Might we take to heart what Peter and the author of Hebrews admonished the early church as they experienced persecution for their faith. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christs sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.(1 Pt 4:12-16) For they [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He [the LORD] disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Heb 12:10-11) Amen. Questions. How well am I guarding my heart from idols? How much do I take delight in studying and applying Gods Word to my life, so that I dont break covenant with God? Am I fearful of insult, injury, persecution, or anything else that those who oppose the Gospel may do to me? Or am I quieting my soul in the almighty arms of my Sovereign Lord and Savior, Jesus? Am I committing my trials and tribulations to the LORD, knowing no harm will befall me apart from His bidding for my good and His glory? Are we keeping the end goal in view as we suffer for our faith, rejoicing in the privelege to share in Christs sufferings, even as we eagerly anticipate that we will share in His glory? Prayer. Father, You reign over all creation, and Your dominion has no end. You are just, holy, good, faithful, and loving in all Your ways. How grateful I am for your compassion and tender mercies, that though my heart went astray, You came after to me and turned me around to Your Son, in whom now I have eternal life and forgiveness. Father forgive me and my nation for our many idols, and please do a great flushing of those idols, so that You and You alone, reign supremely over us. In Jesus Name, Amen
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:24:33 +0000
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