PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Jeremiah 13-14
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me.” (Jeremiah 13:11)
The belt that Jeremiah buries, that is ruined, represents God’s covenant bond.
God was bound to Israel, for better or worse, and it had gotten worse.
Using the marriage analogy, Israel proved unfaithful and uncommitted.
They welcomed the perks, but still pursued other love interests.
The consequence of leaving God is being without God in the world.
This does give a measure of freedom, but it also separates you from God’s help.
Israel was discovering that life without God was harder than they hoped.
God is not punishing them, so much as giving them what they wanted.
They wanted life without God’s interference, and that life is now haunting them.
“Remember your covenant with us and do not break it.” (Jeremiah 14:21)
Jeremiah admits the fault is theirs, but still pleads for God to hang on.
Jesus shows us that indeed God does not let go, even though that belt is ruined.
Jesus makes a new belt (covenant), one that is buried but not ruined.
God’s gracious love through Jesus is secure, but will we put it on?
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your patient, forgiving, enduring love. May your grip on me hold me tight when my grip on you weakens.
Admit it – I am a sinner! The prophet appeals to the Lord “Although our sins testify against us, do something, Lord, for the sake of your name.” And the Lord did! He punished his people – there were consequences for their deliberate neglect of the Lord – but there was also salvation made possible through Jesus. I admit it – as a sinner I don’t deserve God’s grace – but I get it it because of Jesus. Sure there are consequences that serve to remind me as it did to Israel and Judah – to turn from my own willful ways and find my way to Jesus!
God did make a covenant with His people saying, ‘I am your God and you are my people.’ The people however broke that covenant and went their own way. Once again they did what was right in their own eyes and the Lord God let them. The destruction then and today is the same – the focus is on themselves, doing what is right in their own eyes. I need always take hold of God and serve Him. Have Thine own way Lord.
Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me
after thy will,
while I am waiting,
yielded and still.