The book of Jeremiah ends with a succession of judgement prophecies on Israel’s enemies’ nations (see chapters forty-six through fifty-one). The LORD in His justice will not let the guilty go unpunished nor the sins of the guilty unaccounted for. In enacting His judgement, the LORD started first with His people and then moved to other nations. The point is clear: God does not show favouritism. He is just with everyone. Israel sinned and received judgement for her sins; similarly, other nations sinned, and they too receive judgement for their sins. Even though the LORD used nations like Babylon to carry out His judgement plan against Judah due to her idolatry, Babylon’s actions would still be subject to God’s law. That is why the LORD mentions going against Babylon and nations that were enemies to Judah because of their own sins – the mark they missed in keeping with God’s moral Law. The Bible makes it clear that we are judged for what we have done, our trespasses and transgressions. Indeed, according to the word of God we are all guilty before a Holy God, there is no one righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10, 23). Being used by God is not a shield to sin or falling short. As instruments of God, we have to be careful that we do not get puffed up by what the LORD accomplishes through us, rather we must remain humble. In this post, I would like to address two lessons from the end of the book of Jeremiah that will serve to edify us and strengthen our faith walk.
The first lesson that the end of the book of Jeremiah teaches us is that God is always justified in His actions. Before God acts, He warns by way of prophecies, visions and dreams. Unlike other gods, the living God, the One true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; the great I AM does not take His subjects by surprise. He is not a god that delights in catching culprits in their sin to punish them, instead, He pursues, He warns, He pleads, He calls them to reason and when all these avenues have been exhausted, He brings in His judgement because at that time, our actions validate His righteous judgement and show our stubbornness and sin. This is what happened with Judah and all the enemy nations the LORD went after. As Peter reminds us, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). God is so patient and loving, He does not want anyone to perish that is why He is not in a haste to enact His judgement. However, His patience has an expiry date: the day of the LORD. The Bible encourages us to live in expectation and preparation of that day when the LORD will come for His people; that day where we will see the justice of the LORD fully carried out; that day when we will see the clear separation and distinction for eternity that God makes between His people and the rest. Our lives here on earth must be lived in such a way that we are ready for the return of the LORD any day. Jesus calls us to live as though our master were to return during the night when no one expects because that is exactly how He will return (Matthew 24:43-44). Indeed, our master will come like a thief so we must stay awake (Revelation 16:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4).
Another lesson that the end of the book of Jeremiah teaches us is that we must take heed to the word of God for He does what He says He will do. Furthermore, not taking heed to the word of God leaves us vulnerable to sin and to the judgement of God. The many nations that did not listen to the prophecies of Jeremiah ended up being wiped out or devastated however, this could have been avoided. In the same way, Judah went into exile because she did not pay attention to God’s warning, she continued in her adultery, refusing to come to her senses. Therefore, God made her subject to a foreign nation that subdued her. The word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). Submitting to the word of God is for our own benefit, not the LORD’s. We are the primary benefactor of the light the word of God brings to us. Again, our heavenly Father wants us to be thriving just as He is, He wants us to remain in the vine so that we will bear much fruit, fruit that He has prepared in advance for us (John 15). We must believe the word of God that He spoke through His prophets, we have the privilege of holding the word of God at our fingertips, yet few of us believe it and even fewer know what it says. To heed the word of God, we must hear the word of God. Ironically, it is the act of hearing the word of God that produces faith in us (Romans 10:17) but for that faith to be present and to grow, we must heed the word of God. We must take heed to the word of God because, as the psalmist tells us “it is perfect, reviving the soul; sure, making wise the simple; right, rejoicing the heart; pure enlightening the heart” (Psalm 19:7-8). These are all different thriving states for our soul and only the word of God can make them happen. We serve a God who has not left us to ourselves to figure Him out, but He sent us His word to give us guidance and direction while on this earth. Even more than that, He has given us Himself through His Spirit that lives in us.
Indeed, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had decided to come down to this earth and live life like a human being. The God of the universe stooped so low as to become a creature, He who is uncreated. He came in the likeness of man, as Jesus of Nazareth, lived a sinless life, obeyed His Father perfectly, choosing to endure shame, scorn, beatings and the most excruciating and humiliating death, the cross. This Jesus died on the cross so that anyone who believes in him would have eternal life and have his sins forgiven (John 3:16-17). Jesus’s death made it possible for sinners to be declared righteous on account of his blood shed on the cross for them. The great divide that existed between God and man because of sin had now been removed because of the sacrifice of Jesus, he filled in the gap. As a result, all who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), they are heirs of God (Romans 8:17), they have a new life, their sins are not counted against them anymore for they are no longer enemies of God. To crown it all, those that believe in Jesus have the very Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit living inside them. Through the Holy Spirit, they are never alone, without access to the Father or His mind. He is their protector, defender, the one who brings the word of God to mind, the one who keeps us aligned with the will of God, the one who checks our heart and teaches us the word of God. Jesus may have left this earth, but he has not left us alone, God, the Spirit is with us.
As we enter into this advent season, I pray you are reminded of the gift that Emmanuel is and the privilege that we have to hold the word of God. May you know your God and enjoy the gift of proximity that we get because of the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Amen.
A Word Aptly Spoken 