It seems so common that God’s people are far from Him, living in rebellion despite acknowledging Him with their lips. We experience this still today. God wants restoration. God wants to be in a relationship with His people. However, when the people choose to reject Him, there are consequences.
This is true as a nation but also as individuals. Consider the theme carefully as you read. Apply it to our nation and also to your life as an individual. If there are any areas where you need to submit to God, do so. Ask Him to show you. Surrender your life completely to Him.
Sometimes when God is addressing the mistakes of His people, it makes it look like the wicked are prospering with God’s favor, but it is really all about God’s relationship with His people. God is not blessing the wicked. God is disciplining His children in hopes they will return to Him.
As a side note, I greatly appreciate that God allows us to seek answers from Him, to be genuine and honest with Him, when we don’t understand things we see going on or things we are experiencing. Jeremiah was able to have a honest conversation with God without fear of condemnation for asking about what did not make sense to him.
Jeremiah’s Prayer
1Righteous are You, LORD, when I plead my case with You;
Nevertheless I would discuss matters of justice with You:
Why has the way of the wicked prospered?
Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
2You have planted them, they have also taken root;
They grow, they have also produced fruit.
You are near to their lips
But far from their mind.
3But You know me, LORD;
You see me
And examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter,
And set them apart for a day of slaughter!
4How long is the land to mourn,
And the vegetation of the countryside to dry up?
Due to the wickedness of those who live in it,
Animals and birds have been snatched away,
Because people have said, “He will not see our final end.”
5“If you have run with infantrymen and they have tired you out,
How can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace,
How will you do in the thicket by the Jordan?
6“For even your brothers and the household of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you,
Even they have called aloud after you.
Do not believe them, though they say nice things to you.”
God’s Answer
7“I have forsaken My house,
I have abandoned My inheritance;
I have handed the beloved of My soul
Over to her enemies.
8“My inheritance has become to Me
Like a lion in the forest;
She has roared against Me;
Therefore I have come to hate her.
9“Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me?
Are the birds of prey against her on every side?
Go, gather all the animals of the field,
Bring them to devour!
10“Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard,
They have trampled down My field;
They have made My pleasant field
A desolate wilderness.
11“It has been made a desolation;
Desolate, it mourns before Me;
The whole land has been made desolate,
Because no one takes it to heart.
12“On all the bare heights in the wilderness
Destroyers have come,
For the sword of the LORD is devouring
From one end of the land even to the other
There is no peace for anyone
13“They have sown wheat but have harvested thorns,
They have strained themselves [k]to no profit.
So be ashamed of your produce
Because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”
14This is what the LORD says concerning all My wicked neighbors who do harm to the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel: “Behold, I am going to drive them out of their land, and I will drive the house of Judah out from among them. 15And it will come about that after I have driven them out, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land. 16Then, if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ just as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people. 17But if they do not listen, then I will drive out that nation, drive it out and destroy it,” declares the LORD.
God wants to be in relationship to us, His people, as individuals and as a whole group. However, we get to choose. Will we pursue Him in holiness or live our own way? More to the point, what will you do as an individual? Pray that He would show you any areas where you need to make changes in your life and then do it.
Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ
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