Jeremiah Chapter 4

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God!
Surely You have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem,
Saying, ‘You shall have peace,’
Whereas the sword reaches to the heart.”

This cry of Jeremiah stands out like a sore thumb and will probably unnerve us as well.  It should also set us thinking of questions along these lines:

Does Jeremiah not have faith in God?  Why does he question God so?

Is he really a hand-picked worker of God?  How can he make such a frivolous statement that questions God’s integrity?

Even if one is deeply grieved and confused, can we shoot our mouth off and make such bold and callous proclamations.

Why did God seemed to avoid Jeremiah’s accusation?  He neither seemed to act against Jeremiah nor answer his question directly.

Before we explore these questions, we could perhaps first ask whether there are times where we may similarly have expressed our doubts, displeasure and perhaps even disgust towards God.  We railed against Him, and we demand an answer, akin to bringing God before the stands, to be interrogated and to be questioned. 

God did answer Jeremiah, albeit in an indirect way.  

O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness,
That you may be saved.
How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

God throughout has reiterated clearly that His heart is always with His people.  There is never any deceit.  In fact, if one carefully studied the words of God.  Preceding all that had happened, God had clearly and unequivocally proclaimed and promised that the blessing to His people is one that is conditional.

“Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not ^[d]be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. Therefore, you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them. (Deut 7:9 – 11, see also Deut 11:8 – 17, 28:9 – 14)

The forbearance of God was upon Jeremiah as well for He understands the grief, frustration and perhaps even naivety of a young Jeremiah.  God knows that Jeremiah’s heart and compassion is for the people and that the outburst is fundamentally due to his inability to help make a difference.

“If you will return, O Israel,” says the Lord,
“Return to Me”
“Break up your fallow ground,
And do not sow among thorns.
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
And take away the foreskins of your hearts.

Do we see the lifeline that God has provided?  Do we follow the instructions so that we are saved?

If we do not take the outstretched hand of the Lord nor follow Him.  Wouldn’t this be akin to a drowning man who refuses to move towards the safety buoy that is thrown out towards him, to reach out for the buoy and to cling on while he is pulled to safety?  Can we discredit God for His lack of love when God has done everything at His end, and it is now up to us to reciprocate with the right moves.

Finally, a last point for thought.  While it may seem rather cruel to inflict harsh punishment – plunder, destruction and desolation.  How does such affliction compare with the eternal weight of condemnation in the lake of fire.  We can probably say that it is like a drop of water in an ocean.  

Do we therefore see the bigger picture that God chastises and disciplines us because of His love towards us.  As we have read previously in Hebrews 3, while it is called today, do bot harden our hearts.

May the Lord help us.  

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