SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
This is what the LORD says: “As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them. [Jeremiah 12:14]
Jeremiah is wondering why God is allowing the godless nations to punish His people for their sin, and letting them off the hook?
God’s response is that they too will be punished.
But even more, they, along with the Jews, will have a chance to repent.
But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. [Jeremiah 12:15-16]
God promises to come to all people with compassion and offer them hope.
But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,” declares the LORD. [Jeremiah 12:17]
As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. [John 12:47-48]
Jesus comes as God’s agent of compassion, not as God’s judge.
He comes to bring them back to God, and to restored life with Him… if they will listen or accept His words.
But if people reject God’s offer of grace and hope, then they will miss out on His life and His blessing.
One day all people will stand before God just as they are, and He will judge with fairness and truth.
In answer to Jeremiah’s complaint, even those ‘wicked’ who seem to prosper in this world will have to stand before the Judge.
If they… and we… repent, come clean before God and honestly admit the selfishness of our hearts, we will find grace and hope and restoration.
The hard part for many is that they do not feel so bad; so many of us minimize our shame and guilt and figure that we’re pretty good people.
To see sin for what it is, in God’s eyes, and not in our own flawed estimation, is our greatest need.
To see that one day we will all have our hearts and lives exposed before God, and will have to give an account for every selfish, cruel thought, word or deed.
There is a judge, and if we will not listen, He will uproot us.
But right now, Jesus is not speaking to us as Judge, but as compassionate Saviour – now is the time to come to Him for mercy and help!
PRAYER:
Lord, help me not to struggle just with evil out there, but to see it in myself, and how I must repent and listen, just like the rest. You have come to save all people of all nations, and all of them (us) must repent to be saved!
God is always right.
God is God and man is but man. Therefore is is difficult for man to understand God’s ways. We raise questions such as why the wicked prosper.
But even the people of God did not walk in His ways. The were not true, but saw only the faults of others and not of themselves – the speckled bird. Even the shepherds ruined His vineyards. And so no one is safe from the hand of the Lord. Not one.
But afterwards, after the uprooting, the visitation of God’s hand upon the people, the Lord will have compassion and bring restoration upon the people and give them their inheritance – for both His own family and outside the family – for all who have the Word of God on their lips – – – as surely as God lives.
Lord, help me this day to live in Your presence showing that I have learned my lessons well. Today, God Is First in all I do and say. Help me on my walk in Your SonShine.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Refrain
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.