Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
My chosen people have roared at me like a lion of the forest,
so I have treated them with contempt. (Jeremiah 12:8 NLT)
Observation
There’s not much encouraging about today’s reading—okay, really, there’s nothing! It seems that God’s people have ignored and rejected Him for the last time—that they have moved past the point of no return.
Their behavior is inexplicable. Through Jeremiah, God says…
My chosen people have roared at me like a lion of the forest.
(Jeremiah 12:8 NLT)
I read that and thought of children I’ve known whose parents had “bent over backwards” (that’s a phrase my dad used to use a lot) to supply not only every need but many “wants.” Remarkably, however, instead of gratitude and respect, the attitude of the child is often to roar at the parent "like a lion of the forest!" What possible explanation could there be?
Well, this is where I would offer an explanation—if I had one! It’s inexplicable, but this single phrase describes Judah’s actions again and again. No wonder God is at the place where—no matter what—judgment will be meted out. Can you blame Him?
I never want to be there. I never want to be at the place where God says to someone about me what He said to Jeremiah about Judah…
“Do not pray for these people anymore. When they fast, I will pay no attention. When they present their burnt offerings and grain offerings to me, I will not accept them. Instead, I will devour them with war, famine, and disease.” (Jeremiah 14:11-12 NLT)
I don’t ever want to be at the place where, even when I pray a prayer as beautiful as…
LORD, we confess our wickedness
and that of our ancestors, too.
We all have sinned against you.
For the sake of your reputation, LORD, do not abandon us.
Do not disgrace your own glorious throne.
Please remember us,
and do not break your covenant with us.
(Jeremiah 14:20-21 NLT)
…God basically says, “Too bad…so sad…I'm done with you.”
“Lord, sensitize my heart to your voice…to your correction and, yes, rebuke…so that always I’m quick to respond and obey.”
***
2 comments:
Your right Pastor I hope I am never at the point where God would not pay attention to my prayers ect. Or where I dont give Him the praise He so rightly deserves. If only His people would have seek forgiveness and turnback to God maybe things would have been differant. Thank God we can go to Him today and He is always with us.
pastor, He seems to be saying, No more intersessions. I don't want to hear it. Moses interceded and he heard him. (ex32:11-13)And when plague broke out for our sins, Arron made a snake and intercede in the midst of the people. (I think) Anyway, When God told Jeremiah NOT to be interceding. It's like he threw in the towel. Yes there are plenty of accounts of Jeremiah praying and weeping for the people before this. But I don't read anything like Moses' Prods and arguements of "Who would worship you if we weren't here"(my trans)and "What would other nations think if You can't redeem this people?"(me again) Just wanted to comment on that. Martin
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