Jeremiah Chapter 14

As the year draws to a close, reading Jeremiah 14 also gives me thoughts for reflection. And as I will also be sharing on Chapter 15, I will borrow just the very 1st verse of the next chapter to complete my reflection for today. This chapter makes painful reading at times…

17 “Therefore you shall say this word to them:
‘Let my eyes flow with tears night and day,
And let them not cease;
For the virgin daughter of my people
Has been broken with a mighty stroke, with a very severe blow.
18 If I go out to the field,
Then behold, those slain with the sword!
And if I enter the city,
Then behold, those sick from famine!
Yes, both prophet and priest go about in a land they do not know.’ ”

The People Plead for Mercy

19 Have You utterly rejected Judah?
Has Your soul loathed Zion?
Why have You stricken us so that there is no healing for us?
We looked for peace, but there was no good;
And for the time of healing, and there was trouble.
20 We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness
And the iniquity of our fathers,
For we have sinned against You.
21 Do not abhor us, for Your name’s sake;
Do not disgrace the throne of Your glory.
Remember, do not break Your covenant with us.
22 Are there any among the idols of the nations that can cause rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Are You not He, O Lord our God?
Therefore we will wait for You,
Since You have made all these.

15:1 Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.

In verses 17-19, things were bad for the people. There was a terrible drought, and an enemy army was attacking towns one after another. Jeremiah was so upset because he knew this was just the beginning of God’s judgment. After verse 19, the people were hoping for healing in their lives and in the land.

Have you faced something along these lines this year? The consider! And even if you had not, do reflect…

The people of Israel wanted God to heal them because they realized now that they were suffering the consequences of all the wrong things they have done.

They now admit the idols or false gods they followed could no longer help them.

And they thought that now, they should call out to God and remind Him of His honour and promises He made in the past.

It looked like they were repenting, but God’s reply in verse 1 of Chapter 15 must have startled them… God was telling them that even if the great prophets of old, like Moses who had pleaded for the stiff necked Israelites in the wilderness and turned away the wrath of God, were to intercede on their behalf, God, would not even give them a glance!

Why do you think this was so?

And when you think about it, it was a bit too much. Although the words the people used in their plea to God sounded so right and reasonable, but it exposes them of their hypocrisy! The people had forgotten all their past promises to God and yet, now reminding God of His promises!

Are we like that?

In the New Testament, in Hebrews 12:14-17, there’s a similar warning for Christians.

¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

It says we should try to live in peace and be holy.

If we fall short of God’s grace and let bad things grow in our lives, it can lead to trouble… BIG TROUBLE!

The lesson from Israel’s story is that we shouldn’t assume we can keep doing wrong, thinking God will always forgive us when things go wrong.

Hebrews 10:26-27 reminds us:

²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Do we take God for granted and assume that we will aways receive His forgiveness just because He has promised us that He loves us and will save us?

Let’s reflect upon ourselves today and see if we had done what we should and have promised to Him.

•