3 mistakes that will bring God's Judgment

 Read Jeremiah 4.

"Return," the LORD declared to His wayward people.  But they did not.

Jeremiah saw the consequences for Judah in advance.  The coming events were terrifying.  "Blow the trumpet" of warning.  Sound the alarm.  "Cry aloud."  Why?  Because God's judgment on the nation's sin was about to take place.  "The fierce anger of the LORD" (v.8) will come in the form of an enemy "from the north" (v.6).

Sure enough, God used the Babylonians to destroy the land and take many of the people away as captives.  The invasion is described as being like a lion charging out of his hiding place to attack his prey (v.7).  They would sweep across the land as quickly and brutally as a scorching hot wind (v.11).  "Chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles" (v.13).  The people of Judah would run for their lives, leaving their cities deserted.

What caused God to drop His protection and allow this to happen?
"Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you." (v.18)

What did they do exactly to cause this judgment?
1. They refused to remove the "detestable things" from their lives and turn wholeheartedly to God. (v.1)
The people loved their sin more than wanting to live for the LORD.

2. They listened to the wrong people and believed a false message of hope. (vv.9-10).
The prophets of God had been warning them all along and calling the nation to repent.  But false prophets and ungodly leaders spoke only of peace and prosperity.  When the disaster struck, some then would blame God for not telling the truth.  He did tell them the truth.  They did not want to hear it and so they turned to those who had a message they liked better.

3. They learned about evil instead of learning how to live for God.  (v.22)
"For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding.  They are 'wise'--in doing evil!  But how to do good they know not."  Dr. Bill Bright used to say that people are not Gospel hardened.  They are Gospel ignorant.  They have either never heard or never taken the time to know a real relationship with God and discover the truth from His word. 

Out of His goodness, the Lord continues to call for individuals to come to Him.

 

 

Spiritual Adultery

 Read Jeremiah 3.

God's people are depicted as a wife and the LORD as the husband.  There was a commitment for life to exclusive love.  But, Judah had not only turned away from God, she gave her spiritual affections to anything and anyone who came along. 

Judah continued to act this way without shame.  Meanwhile, regarding the LORD, the people claimed, "My father, you are the friend of my youth..." (v.4).  This is much like those who went to church early in life, perhaps even made a profession of faith, but their living betrays the faith they claim.

So, God withheld His blessings on the land (v.3).  The people seemed to not have made the connection between their sin and what was happening to them.  In addition, they did not pay attention and take to heart what had happened to those around them.  God judged Israel and the northern kingdom fell.  Judah thought they could continue to do whatever they wanted and get away with it.  No one gets away with sin.

Yet, like a grieving husband, the LORD in His great mercy still called to them.  Three times He urged them to "Return."  When a person comes to realize the fathomless love of God and how great His mercy is, they humbly will repent of their wrong-doing and return.

What does God want when the wayward returns?
1. Acknowledge the guilt. (v.13)
First, one must realize they are guilty of violating God's claim upon their lives and confess their sin to Him.

2. Believe that He alone is LORD. (v.23)
Pursuing all other spiritual lovers is adulterous.  God will not share His glory with anyone or anything else.  It must be an exclusive and eternal commitment.

3. Experience the results. (v.22)
God promises, "I will heal your faithlessness."  There is only one cure in the universe for sin and shame.  There is only one source of forgiveness.  Jesus has paid our debt on the cross, once and for all.

 

 

Have you Forgotten?

 Read Jeremiah 2.

God called Jeremiah to be His spokesperson.  Next, He began to give this new prophet the messages to deliver on His behalf. 

At the end of Genesis, the descendants of Abraham were still a family.  In Exodus the Jews developed into a nation of people.  Their freedom from slavery is consistently looked back upon as a starting point in their national relationship with the LORD.  What characterized them in those early days?  Israel may have forgotten, but God remembered very well and said so in verses 2-3.

1. Your devotion.
In Hebrew the word is "kindness" and refers to how they responded to God.  He had rescued them from the intolerable bondage of Egypt.  He had demonstrated His power for them time after time.  How could they not be fully devoted to Him?

2. Your love.
They had intense, emotional affection for the LORD.  The comparison is those feelings a bride has for her groom.  She cannot wait to be with the object of his love.

3. Your following me.
Like a couple in love walking everywhere together is how God viewed their early days of relationship.  They willingly followed Him wherever He directed.  He led them through the Red Sea and into a wilderness with no resources.  Yet, He supplied all their needs.
 
4. Your holiness.
Just as the first part of the harvest was to be treated as sacred and given to the LORD in appreciation, so Israel was set apart to Himself.  They were not to be like everyone else.  They were His people and were to represent Him faithfully to an unbelieving world.

What happened?  That is God's question in this chapter.  The answer is they forgot.  They took Him for granted.  Instead of remembering that He is the Creator, they became evolutionists and believed they originated from other sources (v.17).  They worshiped things of their own invention.  They "went after worthlessness, and became worthless" (v.5b).

In Revelation 2:4, Jesus called out the church at Ephesus for having "abandoned the love you had at first."  It is good for us to intentionally and regularly remember how God delivered us, saved us, forgave us, and how we promised our lives to follow Christ at the beginning.  Every day can be/should be a renewal of our love and devotion to Jesus.

To be used of God

 Read Jeremiah 1.

He was born the son of a priest who served the tribe of Benjamin in the kingdom of Judah.  His ministry spanned from 627 B.C to 586 B.C. when Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians.  Though his preaching primarily targeted Judah, his appointment was to the Gentiles also ("nations" v.5).

What do we learn about God and ourselves here in reading this chapter?
1. God has preconception knowledge about each life. (v.5a)
The LORD is not only aware of us in advance due to His Omniscience, but knows every intimate detail about us.

2. God is the giver of each life. (v.5b)
As Psalm 139 explains, we are not biological accidents.  In the womb, our loving LORD sees and superintends who we are from the very beginning.  Life begins before our date of birth.

3. God has plans for each life. (v.5c)
The LORD does not waste His time.  He has a purpose for every individual and their being alive.  With God as the Owner of life and the planner of life, it is only when one aligns themselves with Him that true fulfillment may be realized.

4. God has an appointment for each life. (v.5d)
His plan has specific times and places for it to be carried out.  Things that are alive grow and develop in seasons.  The way God chooses to use an individual and the places of their influence most often changes over time. 

Jeremiah's response to God's plan for his life is typical.  He expressed his inadequacy.  God reassured him with His promises.  We are God's design, not our own.  It is His plan, not ours.  He is "watching over my word to perform it" (v.11).  Ours is the privilege and honor to be used of God in whatever way He chooses. 

 

Thy Kingdom Come

 Read Isaiah 66.

In this culmination of the book, there are some recurring themes.
1. God, as Creator, owns all things in heaven and on earth. (vv.1-2)

2. Outward displays of worship are to reflect a humble spirit that trembles at the Word of God. (vv.3-5a)

3. God will put all His enemies to shame and punishment. (vv.5b-6)

4. God will keep every one of His promises to the nation of Israel. (vv.22)

When Messiah appears, as described in Revelation 19:11-21, there will be a decisive and deadly dealing with the enemies of God and Israel.  The Jews will see an immediate new birth of their nation, both literally and spiritually.  With Jesus on the throne in Jerusalem, Israel will be:
1. A place of rejoicing. (vv.10-11)

2. A place of peace. (v.12)

3. A place of comfort. (v.13)

4. A place to see the glory of God. (v.18)

5. A place that sends missionaries with the good news of Jesus to the rest of the world. (v.19)

"Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!  Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

 

A contrast of two types of People

 Read Isaiah 65.

After a chapter and a half of prayer, asking for God's intervention, He responds. 

Even though God chose to unfold His story of redemption through the family of Abraham, the LORD has always been available to all people of every nation.  In these opening verses, consider the depiction of God's message for the Gentiles.  He calls to them, "Here I am." 

To Israel, His arms are open wide "all the day."  But of these whom He chose to bear His name to the world, God only sees rebellion.  In acts of blatant self-righteousness, they made up their own religion for life-guidance and worship.  Instead of humility before the LORD, they felt their way to be better.  So much so that verse 5 is the origin of the phrase "holier than thou."

Regardless of nationality, God divides humanity into two types of people.
1. Those who seek Him. (v.10)
A relationship with the LORD is waiting for those who seek Him.  As the Good Shepherd, He leads His people like a flock into safe places.  He provides for their needs.

2. Those who do not seek Him. (v.11-12)
The consequences are severe.  Why is there such harshness in this wording?  Note the three times God says "did not."   "Because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in."

The contrast of the diverse futures for these two continues in verses 13-16.

Every person who ever lived fits into one of these two types of people.  "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36)

 

Praying and Waiting

 Read Isaiah 64.

This prophetic prayer that began in chapter 63 continues.  The wording looks forward to a believing Jewish remnant of captives calling out to God for His presence and power.

It will be no secret as to why they ended up in Babylon and why their homeland was destroyed.  Even the burning of Solomon's Temple is mentioned in verse 11.  The cause of these losses was due to their disobedience to God.  Separated from God, their best self-efforts could never atone for their sin.
"We have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.  We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." (v.6)

In humility, they will come to realize the sovereignty of the LORD and they will desire to surrender themselves to Him completely.  They will call Him "our Father", emphasizing a personal relationship.  They will refer to themselves as a clay in the potter's hand.  (v.8)

Such restoration for which they cry is a spiritual work that only God can do.  It does not happen through natural means.  "From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you..." (v.4a)  Jesus compared the work of the Holy Spirit in a person's life like wind blowing through the trees (John 3:8).  We cannot see the Spirit; only the effects.  The Apostle Paul referred to Isaiah 64:4a in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 and then stated in the rest of the sentence, "these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit."  That is wonderful news for believers in Jesus today.

Now more good news.  God "acts for those who wait for him.  You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways" (vv.4-5a).  Calling upon God in such a manner and depending upon Him will be worth the wait.