Category: Jeremiah25-

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Jeremiah25-

Great and unsearchable things

Jeremiah

I love verse 3 in this chapter.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Honestly, I need to do a lot more seeking of God in my life. It seems like I say that a lot lately.

Somehow, however, I find myself getting wrapped up in my life, and not just the important things. (I’m wondering if I should say “important” rather than important).

I think of Jesus and his lifestyle. Every morning he spent time with his Father.

How much power and insight did he receive from those times? How much more power and insight would I have if I did the same.

I do spend time in the Word, but I do need to spend a lot more time in prayer, and in simply listening to him. And the thing is, God promises that if we seek him, we will find him, and he will speak.

Of course, we all need insight into our lives and for our future. But there is one great and unsearchable thing that I think we would all do well to remember: God’s grace.

And that’s what this chapter is about. It starts, though, with the judgment of God. That because of Israel’s sin, judgment was coming. Not exactly a great and unsearchable thing anyone wants to hear.

But then, he says,

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security…

I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth… (Jeremiah 33:6, 8–9)

While speaking to the Israelites, much of this applies to us.

Though we have been broken by sin, God brings spiritual health and healing to us. He cleanses us from our sins and forgives our rebellion against him.

He gives us abundant peace and security. And we will be a people for his renown, joy, and praise, and honor among the nations.

How much would our lives be different if we would reflect on these things each day. How grateful would we be to him? And having received God’s grace, how would it shape our attitudes towards others and our lives?

But there’s one more great and unsearchable thing to remember: The day is coming when Jesus will return.

In verses 14–16, Jeremiah writes,

‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

“‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch (that is, Jesus) sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.

In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’”

So often we focus on things that are temporary. But if we would reflect on the fact that Jesus is coming soon, do we really have time to waste on things that are temporary?

How much would our priorities change if we would remember that?

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Jeremiah25-

For our good

Jeremiah

In this passage, Jerusalem is still under siege, and for that matter, Jeremiah is still in prison.

Still, God told him, “When your cousin comes here to tell you about an opportunity to buy land from him, buy it.”

Under normal circumstances, it might seem like a good thing to do.

But with the land under siege and no guarantee that Jeremiah would actually be able to keep the land for any length of time, it seemed like a foolish purchase. Yet God told him to buy it, saying,

Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land. (Jeremiah 32:15)

In other words, Jeremiah’s purchase was to be a sign to the people of Israel’s future restoration.

It’s hard to tell whether Jeremiah’s response to God in verses 16–25 were a prayer of faith or one of questioning whether God would really restore Israel or not. Maybe it was both.

How often are we like the man who came to Jesus asking him to heal his son, and who, when Jesus challenged his faith, said, “I believe… Lord help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

That’s what Jeremiah seems to be doing here.

“Lord, all things are possible with you. Nothing is impossible for you. Look! You said that the Babylonians would come and lay siege to this city, and here they are. It’s just as you said. I believe!

“But now you’re saying that I should buy land because Jerusalem will be restored. Really? Is this really a wise investment? Will it really be restored?”

Perhaps Jeremiah was not questioning God’s power to do so as much as he was questioning the people’s willingness to repent and turn back to him.

They certainly had shown no such willingness when hearing Jeremiah’s warnings.

God answered by basically repeating back to Jeremiah what he had prayed. But after proclaiming judgment on the people, he added,

I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them.

I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. (Jeremiah 32:37–41)

In short, God once again promised to bring the people back.

But just as he promised in chapter 31, the restoration of the people’s hearts would be by his work, not their own. He would be the one that would turn their hearts back to him. And as they did, he promised blessing in their lives.

What can we get from all of this?

First, remember in our times of doubt, that God is looking out for our good.

He wants to do good in our lives. He rejoices in doing good in our lives. If only we could remember that and believe that, it would be so much easier to trust him and obey him.

Second, God is constantly working within us to change us and make us the people he wants us to be. A people he can bless.

All we have to do is cooperate with him. To say yes to him. And as we do, we’ll find blessing.

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Jeremiah25-

A new covenant

Jeremiah

This is another one of my favorite passages. As with Ezekiel, Jeremiah quotes a proverb that had become quite common among the Israelites,

The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. (Jeremiah 31:29)

The idea again being that “We poor Israelites really didn’t do anything wrong. We’re just suffering for our fathers’ sins.”

But God makes clear that people wouldn’t suffer for their parents’ sins, but for their own.

Yet the purpose of this passage is not so much to bring judgment, but to show God’s mercy. He told the people,

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals.

Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:27–28)

Then God talked about a new covenant he would establish with the people. He said,

“The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.

“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.

“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31–34)

This covenant was of course fulfilled in Christ.

What was the difference between the old and new covenant? The main difference between the two was that the first was a bilateral agreement, and the second a unilateral one.

In the first, God promised blessings if the people would obey him, and curses if they disobeyed him.

Unfortunately, the people broke his covenant time and again, ultimately incurring the curses of the law.

But the second covenant’s purely a unilateral agreement. There were no conditions the people had to follow. Rather it was God that would do the work.

Instead of relying on people to change their own hearts, God promised to change them from the inside out. That he would put his laws in their hearts and minds and that they would desire to obey him.

Another big difference was the access people would have to God.

No longer would the people need priests or mediators to communicate to God for them, exhorting them to know the Lord. Rather, everyone would have direct access to God.

All of their sins would be paid for, and thus forgiven and forgotten.

That’s the new covenant. More than that, it’s the good news that we proclaim.

We don’t have to work to earn God’s favor anymore. Rather, we have received his favor by his grace. Now we can relax in our relationship with him, knowing he has already accepted us.

Let us never take that for granted, however. Rather, every day, let us show our love and gratitude for this great gift.

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Jeremiah25-

The heart of a Father

Jeremiah

This passage has one of my all-time favorite verses in it. I like it because it really shows the heart of our Father.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)

In this chapter, Jeremiah continues to talk about Israel’s future restoration, and you see God’s heart toward his people throughout it.

In verses 8–9, God promises to bring his people back. Some would be weeping perhaps in mourning for their past sins, while others would be weeping at the mercy God was showing his people in restoring them.

And God said that as they prayed,

I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son. (9)

Time and again, you see this heart, that despite his children’s rebellion, God continued to love them with an everlasting love.

“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:

‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him.

Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the Lord. (18–20)

Then God said to his people,

Return, O Virgin Israel, return to your towns.

How long will you wander, O unfaithful daughter? (21–22)

What can we get from all of this? The heart of the Father is such that he never stops loving us. And even if we walk away from him, he never stops waiting for our return.

There’s an old song that I love that expresses that sentiment so beautifully.

Almighty God.
The great I AM.
Immovable rock.
Omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord.
Victorious warrior.
Commanding King of kings.
Mighty conqueror.

And the only time, the only time I ever saw him run

Was when he ran to me, took me in his arms,
Held my head to His chest,
Said “My son’s come home again!”

Lifted my face,
Wiped the tears from my eyes,
With forgiveness in His voice He said
“Son, do you know I still love You?”

He caught me by surprise,
When God ran…

Lord, I thank you that though I fall, though I fail, though I sometimes run from you, you’re always waiting for me to return. I thank you that your love for me never stops. That it’s an everlasting love.

Thank you that you not only wait for me to return, but you run to greet me when I come. I love you Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Jeremiah25-

One who would dare approach the Father

Jeremiah

In the midst of all the prophecies of Jerusalem’s fall, Jeremiah does not leave the people without hope.

God assures his people here that though he will discipline them, and not let them go entirely unpunished, yet he would not completely destroy them. (Jeremiah 30:10–11)

Still, Jeremiah doesn’t sugarcoat their situation, saying,

Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you….

Because of your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you. (Jeremiah 30:12–13, 15)

But then he promises to send someone to save them.

Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the Lord.

“‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’”

See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart.

In days to come you will understand this. (21–24)

This passage is of course talking about Jesus. I like verse 21 where God says, “For who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?”

In the NASB, it says, “Who would dare to risk his life to approach Me?”

In Jeremiah’s time, there was no one who could approach the Father. Only the high priest might dare to do so, and he could do so only once a year.

But by this time, the priesthood was compromised, and the ones who were supposed to be serving God were serving false gods.

But as God’s own Son, Jesus could approach the Father and intercede for us. He stood in the gap for us, and in doing so, he took upon himself the fierce wrath of the Father, dying on the cross for our sins. And because of that, God’s anger has been turned back.

Now, those of us who believe in him can also approach the Father, without fear.

So as the writer of Hebrews said,

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19–23)

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Jeremiah25-

Testing the prophets

Jeremiah

With Zedekiah, the final king of Judah, now on the throne, Judah was on its last legs.

And Jeremiah had a very unpopular message to give them and the surrounding nations: Submit to Babylon. If you will submit to Babylon, you will live. If you don’t, you will die.

There were a lot of prophets in Judah and in the other nations telling their kings, “Don’t worry about Babylon. You won’t serve them.”

But Jeremiah said of them,

They prophesy lies to you that will only serve to remove you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. (Jeremiah 27:10)

A false prophet named Hananiah arose at that time, speaking against all that Jeremiah said.

When he did, Jeremiah answered,

Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.

Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.

But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true. (Jeremiah 28:6–9)

What was he saying?

Basically he was saying that we should beware the prophets that speak only words of peace. That say, “Oh yes, God is pleased with your worship. He’s pleased with your lives,” and speak nothing of the need for repentance in our lives.

Another man named Shemaiah told the priests to reprimand Jeremiah for all his words of “doom and gloom.” (Jeremiah 29:24–32)

But in both cases, the Lord rebuked these would‑be prophets, and they both died for it.

I think sometimes people claim to speak for the Lord, when really they are only speaking from their own emotions.

Emotions are great, but they don’t mean the Lord is speaking. God will use prophets to encourage us, that’s true. But he will not use prophets to say that he will bless us when we’re living in sin.

Instead he uses true prophets to admonish us to put away our sin and follow him. That’s what Jeremiah did.

Do you test those that claim to be speaking for the Lord? Just because a person claims to be speaking for the Lord doesn’t make it true.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying to just outright dismiss anyone claiming to speak for God. As Paul said,

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. (1 Thessalonians 5:19–20)

But also remember what Paul said right after that,

Test everything. Hold on to the good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

How about you? Do you test what you hear?

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Jeremiah25-

Responding to hard words

Jeremiah

Nobody likes discipline. Nobody likes hearing hard words. But how we respond to them can shape our lives for the good or the bad.

Jeremiah had many hard words for the people of Judah, namely words of judgment for their sin.

It was always a two-fold message: Judgment is coming. But you can avoid it if you will just turn from your sin.

In chapter 25, he warned the people that they would go into exile into Babylon for 70 years unless they repented.

Not only did he warn Judah, but he warned the surrounding nations as well.

How did they respond? Many didn’t respond well at all.

When many of the people, priests, and prophets heard Jeremiah’s words, they seized him, saying, “You must die! Why are you saying these things?” (Jeremiah 26:8–9).

They considered it almost treason to preach that Judah would be destroyed for their sins. Jeremiah was only saved when the elders of the land stood up for him.

They pointed out that when the prophet Micah prophesied during the time of Hezekiah, Hezekiah responded by fearing the Lord and repenting, causing God to relent on passing judgment.

On hearing this, the people released Jeremiah, but we see no signs that they actually turned from their sins.

Their king Jehoiakim was no better. When another prophet named Uriah preached against Judah as Jeremiah did, Jehoiakim had him pursued all the way to Egypt, and when they brought him back, he had Uriah killed. (Jeremiah 26:20–23)

At another time, Jeremiah had his scribe Baruch go to the temple and read out the words Jeremiah had been given by God.

When he did, the palace officials had Baruch hand them the scroll, and they took it and read it to Jehoiakim.

Jehoiakim’s response? He cut them up and burned them. Then he tried to have Jeremiah put to death too.

How about you? How do you respond to hard words. When someone confronts you about sin in your life, do you brush it off? Do you get angry and attack the person who confronts you? Or do you take those words to heart and repent?

God’s desire is not to judge people. His desire is that we turn from our sins and repent. And by sending people to warn us, he’s giving us that chance.

How much better for us would it be if we would take those words and let them shape us, instead of casting them aside?

What will you do?