Jeremiah was a prophet whose ministry began during the reign of King Josiah and continued until the exile. God called Jeremiah to speak His words to the people of Judah, which mostly concerned the impending destruction that would come as a result of hundreds of years of turning away from God and pursuing other gods besides Him. It was certainly not an easy message to declare. But Jeremiah did not shy away from his calling. He loved and trusted God and boldly declared His truth to the nation of Judah.
In chapter 1 we get a glimpse into God commissioning Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations. I love that God very strongly affirms Jeremiah in his role as prophet before sending him out to say anything. Here are the verses of affirmation in chapter one...
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations....Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you....Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land... They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you." Jeremiah 1:5,7,8,17-19
This affirmation is critical. Knowing the intensity of Jeremiah's ministry and the difficult truths he would be asked to declare, God's repeated assurance undoubtedly gave him a confidence that rested solely on God's strength, sovereignty and rescue.
I imagine he clung tightly to that assurance as he proclaimed destruction and the coming invasion that would destroy the land of Judah and carry its people off into slavery. It wasn't supposed to be like this, though. Chapter 2 begins with God recalling the time when Israel loved Him and followed Him and remained devoted to Him. But, as we have read and continue to read, they forgot God and they forgot about everything He had done. They forgot about His love and His faithfulness. They forgot about His majesty and power. They forgot that life was found in Him alone and they pursued their own way instead. They traded the glory of God for the worship of false idols who could not save them and could not love them back
God, through Jeremiah, uses some very strong language to describe the Israelites' continued disobedience. He says that they followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves (2:5), they defiled His land (2:7), they rebelled (2:8), they exchanged their Glory for worthless idols (2:11), they forsook Him, the spring of living water and dug broken cisterns that cannot hold water (2:13), they were wicked and evil and bitter and had no awe of Him (2:19), they were like a prostitute (2:20), corrupt and wild (2:21), stained with guilt (2:22), loving foreign gods (2:25).
Then there is this verse, which is the perfect picture of how far they had wandered from the God who created them and loved them.
God, through Jeremiah, uses some very strong language to describe the Israelites' continued disobedience. He says that they followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves (2:5), they defiled His land (2:7), they rebelled (2:8), they exchanged their Glory for worthless idols (2:11), they forsook Him, the spring of living water and dug broken cisterns that cannot hold water (2:13), they were wicked and evil and bitter and had no awe of Him (2:19), they were like a prostitute (2:20), corrupt and wild (2:21), stained with guilt (2:22), loving foreign gods (2:25).
Then there is this verse, which is the perfect picture of how far they had wandered from the God who created them and loved them.
"They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth.' They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!' Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah." Jeremiah 2:27-28
They would indeed find themselves in trouble very soon. And their gods would most definitely not save them. And we are no different. We have turned our backs and not our faces to Him. Thankfully, destruction would not be the end of their story and it does not have to be the end of ours. The penalty for their sin and rebellion had to be paid but God's love and mercy would restore them and bring them back one day. And the penalty for our sin had to be paid, and was paid on the cross. God's love and mercy has restored us and has made a way for us to come us back to Him.
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment