Jeremiah 2:5-6: This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, a land of drought and darkness a land where no one travels and no one lives?'"
If there was one certainty with the Judean people during the time of Jeremiah, it was their utter wickedness and rebellion against the One True Lord. In fact, their debased, licentious behavior was rather flagrant. These children of Israel did not hide their wickedness; instead they would climb the hills and flaunt their evil ways with all kinds of perverseness (2:20).
In response, the Word of the the Lord came to the prophet, Jeremiah; specifically, the Word recounted the history of intimate fellowship that certain Israelites a millennium before had experienced with the LORD. God wanted the covenant community in Jeremiah's day to remember the devotion of the Israelites of ages past, who like a bride "loved (the LORD) and were devoted (to Him)" [2:1]. The LORD then used this history lesson to call into question the Israelites of Jeremiah's day, recognizing their failure to remember the Creator's blessing of deliverance and protection through the wilderness.
What especially is telling is the Lord's addressing the leaders of Israel first as the ones who forgot the blessings of the Lord and chose instead to lead the people into worship of the pagan deities of the day. The leaders set the stage for the behavior of the people; thus, they were the first ones to be held to account.
True to His Holiness, the Lord would not permit these acts of rebellion to go unnoticed; in fact, the Lord promised judgment for these people (2:35). They would not be able to divert the Lord's chastisement for their wickedness; for even as this warning was communicated, the LORD was preparing the Babylonians for an invasion of Palestine.
There is a good word for us in these verses, for how often do we fail to remember the historical goodness of the Lord to us in our lives personally and collectively. God has blessed us beyond measure; and yet we seem to have developed shorten memories of His goodness to us. We all have heard the old adage, "those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it." It certainly was true for the Israelites of Jeremiah's day . . . and if we are not willing to reflect upon the Lord's goodness to us, and turn from our wickedness, we will find ourselves with a similar fate.
Let us take time to reflect upon the Lord and the blessings that He has lavished upon us in the past. It may very well be that in our reflections, we will be repent and turn again to obedience to the Lord of Hosts.
We know from 2 Chronicles 7:14 that if we will humble ourselves, pray, seek the Lord's face, and turn from our wicked ways, then God promises to hear our prayers, heal us, and forgive us. Let's open the history books of our lives and return to the Lord!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
God's Calling Is Not Always Easy
Jeremiah 1:7b-8: "(The Lord said to Jeremiah) Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid to them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the LORD."
If there has ever been a prophet who had a most difficult ministry calling, it would be Jeremiah. The prophet was likely about 20 years old when the Lord summoned him to herald the coming judgment to the most rebellious people of Judah. This people were full of "wickedness in forsaking (the Lord), in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands (had) made" (Jer. 1:16).
The Lord first revealed to Jeremiah that He had set the prophet apart even before birth to present to the people the coming wrath of the Lord. And though Jeremiah's ministry would be full of personal rejection and suffering, God assured the prophet that He would be with him. The Lord commanded the prophet to "Stand up and say to them whatever I command . . . . (assuring Jeremiah that he would be a) fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land (even the) kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land" (1:18). The Lord warned Jeremiah in advance that the people would not put up with his proclamations of judgment and would fight against him; still, the Lord reassured that He would be with the prophet throughout his ministry.
As God predicted, Jeremiah's ministry was not easy. He was "ridiculed and mocked all day long" (Jeremiah 20:7); even his friends turned on him and waited for him to say or do something that could be used against him with the officials (20:10). Eventually, the religious leaders seized Jeremiah and determined that he should die for his very unpopular proclamations (26:7-9). Whereas Jeremiah escaped from death in this instance, the prophet later would find himself before an angry King Jehoiakim of Judah. The king was enraged at the prophet's written scroll of God's Word of judgment against the people of Judah . As the words were being read, the king stopped the reading and threw the scroll into a firepot, until the entire scroll was burned up. Jehoiakim then ordered that Jeremiah and his scribe be arrested. I'm sure that Jeremiah often reflected upon the compounding episodes of rejection and persecution, but he was strengthened by the Lord's fulfilled promise to rescue him. (Jer. 1:19; 36:23-26).
Later under Zedekiah's reign over Judah, several of Jeremiah's enemies determined to start a false allegation that the prophet was deserting to the Babylonians. Despite Jeremiah's defense to the contrary, the officials of Judah had Jeremiah beaten and imprisoned in a "vaulted call in a dungeon, where he remained a long time" (37:16). Of course, even this beating and extended imprisonment did not appease Jeremiah's enemies; some time later, the officials approached the king and suggested that the prophet be put to death. The weak king acquiesced to the wishes of his leaders, and these officials decided that Jeremiah should die a slow, painful death in a deep cistern . . . essentially starving to death in the dark hole in the ground. As Jeremiah was lowered down into the dark pit, he sank into the deep mud and was left there to die. Still, the Lord was true to His word and rescued the prophet from the cistern. Whereas the prophet was delivered from an abysmal fate in the cistern, still, Jeremiah remained shackled in chains in the courtyard of the guard until Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians (37:28, 40:4).
When Nebuzaradan, commander of the imperial guard of Babylon rescued Jeremiah, he offered the prophet asylum in Babylon, and would give him personal care and protection. As tempting as this was to a man who for years had been subject to persecution at the hands of his own people, Jeremiah knew that his calling was not complete. He graciously refused the offer from the commander of the army and returned to the Jewish remnant that remained in the land. The army officers of Judah in a change of heart petitioned Jeremiah to pray to the Lord for guidance as to what they should do. Ten days later, Jeremiah received a word from the Lord for the people to stay in the land and be subjected to the Babylonians, rather than flee to Egypt (which is what they were planning to do). When Jeremiah shared this word with the army officials, they accused the prophet of lying and forced the Jewish remnant (including Jeremiah) to Egypt in direct defiance to the will of the Lord (43:2-7).
When they arrived in Egypt, these rebellious Israelites continued to worship their pagan gods. Again, Jeremiah warned the people of God's coming disaster upon them for their wickedness, but these people would have none of it. They determined to continue offering incense to their pagan deities. God then speaking through his prophet gave these wicked Judeans over to their rebellion, and vowed by His Great Name, that the Israelites living in Egypt would not escape destruction by "sword and famine until they are all destroyed" (44:27).
By this time, Baruch (Jeremiah's faithful scribe who had been with Jeremiah through most of this persecution), had just about all he could handle, claiming that he had been "worn out with groaning, finding no rest." There seems to have been a moment when Baruch thought he had served the Lord enough, and now was his time to seek "great things for himself." God, speaking through Jeremiah, encouraged Baruch to keep to the assigned call, knowing that the Lord ultimately would bring deliverance. And this was the end of the recorded ministry of Jeremiah.
Again, as we look at the historical account of Jeremiah's ministry, we find that it was not a very popular one . . . the prophet had no converts and he was subjected to ridicule, persecution, imprisonment, kidnapping, and near execution for faithfully fulfilling his calling given to him by the Lord. His ministry resume' would not have been very impressive; still, we find that Jeremiah's faithfulness honored the Lord, for he did exactly what was asked of him, even though it cost him severely.
We must remember today that when our Lord calls us to a task, He never promises that our journey will be easy; in fact, our calling may involve rejection, persecution, and tremendous hardship. As we face these turbulent waters, may we have the resolve of Jeremiah to press on in our commitment to the Lord so that His purposes might be fulfilled in and through us. We can know that if we are faithful to the Lord, He will bless us. We may have to wait until His glorious return to see the fruit of that blessing; still, we by faith press on, knowing that our obedience is not in vain.
If there has ever been a prophet who had a most difficult ministry calling, it would be Jeremiah. The prophet was likely about 20 years old when the Lord summoned him to herald the coming judgment to the most rebellious people of Judah. This people were full of "wickedness in forsaking (the Lord), in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands (had) made" (Jer. 1:16).
The Lord first revealed to Jeremiah that He had set the prophet apart even before birth to present to the people the coming wrath of the Lord. And though Jeremiah's ministry would be full of personal rejection and suffering, God assured the prophet that He would be with him. The Lord commanded the prophet to "Stand up and say to them whatever I command . . . . (assuring Jeremiah that he would be a) fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land (even the) kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land" (1:18). The Lord warned Jeremiah in advance that the people would not put up with his proclamations of judgment and would fight against him; still, the Lord reassured that He would be with the prophet throughout his ministry.
As God predicted, Jeremiah's ministry was not easy. He was "ridiculed and mocked all day long" (Jeremiah 20:7); even his friends turned on him and waited for him to say or do something that could be used against him with the officials (20:10). Eventually, the religious leaders seized Jeremiah and determined that he should die for his very unpopular proclamations (26:7-9). Whereas Jeremiah escaped from death in this instance, the prophet later would find himself before an angry King Jehoiakim of Judah. The king was enraged at the prophet's written scroll of God's Word of judgment against the people of Judah . As the words were being read, the king stopped the reading and threw the scroll into a firepot, until the entire scroll was burned up. Jehoiakim then ordered that Jeremiah and his scribe be arrested. I'm sure that Jeremiah often reflected upon the compounding episodes of rejection and persecution, but he was strengthened by the Lord's fulfilled promise to rescue him. (Jer. 1:19; 36:23-26).
Later under Zedekiah's reign over Judah, several of Jeremiah's enemies determined to start a false allegation that the prophet was deserting to the Babylonians. Despite Jeremiah's defense to the contrary, the officials of Judah had Jeremiah beaten and imprisoned in a "vaulted call in a dungeon, where he remained a long time" (37:16). Of course, even this beating and extended imprisonment did not appease Jeremiah's enemies; some time later, the officials approached the king and suggested that the prophet be put to death. The weak king acquiesced to the wishes of his leaders, and these officials decided that Jeremiah should die a slow, painful death in a deep cistern . . . essentially starving to death in the dark hole in the ground. As Jeremiah was lowered down into the dark pit, he sank into the deep mud and was left there to die. Still, the Lord was true to His word and rescued the prophet from the cistern. Whereas the prophet was delivered from an abysmal fate in the cistern, still, Jeremiah remained shackled in chains in the courtyard of the guard until Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians (37:28, 40:4).
When Nebuzaradan, commander of the imperial guard of Babylon rescued Jeremiah, he offered the prophet asylum in Babylon, and would give him personal care and protection. As tempting as this was to a man who for years had been subject to persecution at the hands of his own people, Jeremiah knew that his calling was not complete. He graciously refused the offer from the commander of the army and returned to the Jewish remnant that remained in the land. The army officers of Judah in a change of heart petitioned Jeremiah to pray to the Lord for guidance as to what they should do. Ten days later, Jeremiah received a word from the Lord for the people to stay in the land and be subjected to the Babylonians, rather than flee to Egypt (which is what they were planning to do). When Jeremiah shared this word with the army officials, they accused the prophet of lying and forced the Jewish remnant (including Jeremiah) to Egypt in direct defiance to the will of the Lord (43:2-7).
When they arrived in Egypt, these rebellious Israelites continued to worship their pagan gods. Again, Jeremiah warned the people of God's coming disaster upon them for their wickedness, but these people would have none of it. They determined to continue offering incense to their pagan deities. God then speaking through his prophet gave these wicked Judeans over to their rebellion, and vowed by His Great Name, that the Israelites living in Egypt would not escape destruction by "sword and famine until they are all destroyed" (44:27).
By this time, Baruch (Jeremiah's faithful scribe who had been with Jeremiah through most of this persecution), had just about all he could handle, claiming that he had been "worn out with groaning, finding no rest." There seems to have been a moment when Baruch thought he had served the Lord enough, and now was his time to seek "great things for himself." God, speaking through Jeremiah, encouraged Baruch to keep to the assigned call, knowing that the Lord ultimately would bring deliverance. And this was the end of the recorded ministry of Jeremiah.
Again, as we look at the historical account of Jeremiah's ministry, we find that it was not a very popular one . . . the prophet had no converts and he was subjected to ridicule, persecution, imprisonment, kidnapping, and near execution for faithfully fulfilling his calling given to him by the Lord. His ministry resume' would not have been very impressive; still, we find that Jeremiah's faithfulness honored the Lord, for he did exactly what was asked of him, even though it cost him severely.
We must remember today that when our Lord calls us to a task, He never promises that our journey will be easy; in fact, our calling may involve rejection, persecution, and tremendous hardship. As we face these turbulent waters, may we have the resolve of Jeremiah to press on in our commitment to the Lord so that His purposes might be fulfilled in and through us. We can know that if we are faithful to the Lord, He will bless us. We may have to wait until His glorious return to see the fruit of that blessing; still, we by faith press on, knowing that our obedience is not in vain.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Surrender Yourself to the One True Lord
Isaiah 66:2b,3b: "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word . . . . (but) They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations."
If there were an excellent summation of the entire book of Isaiah, it would be found in this simple citation above. God is a loving Lord who wishes to bless all men and bestow His mercy and grace to them. Tragically, however, many refuse such an offering of grace in favor of the exaltation of themselves as their own lord. Whereas they might not formally participate in ceremonious ritual to worship themselves, by their thoughts and actions of self-consumption, they reveal hearts that are focused upon the satisfaction of their own appetites above all others (including God). They might deny such a reality exists in their lives; nevertheless, their behavior indicates that their first priority is in fact themselves. Deep within their souls, they resent the thought of a Higher, Supreme Authority to which they must yield. They want to be god themselves. They even will use illogical ideologies (like evolution) to discredit any notion of a Sovereign Lord; by doing so, they believe that they can legitimize their own selfish pursuits as morally acceptable (even preferable).
God does not bless such debased behavior, for to do so would be to counter His rightful place as the Sovereign, Holy Lord over all. Rather than honor such abominable behavior, the Lord ultimately brings judgment to such treason (see Revelation 20). And whereas we know that all of us deserve God's divine wrath, for all of us have sinned against His Lordship (Romans 3:10-11, 23), we find hope in His death and resurrection, offered as the only sufficient payment for our sins.
In response to such an offering of grace, we are called to humble ourselves before the Lord, confess our sins of rebellion against Him, and surrender ourselves to Him as our Master and Savior. The Lord promises in the passage above that He will esteem those who will humble themselves in a spirit of contrition and tremble in reverential respect for His Word. Those who yield themselves to God's rightful rule in their lives can expect deliverance. Those who "choose their own ways and delight in their own abominations" should understand that such choosings are detestable to the Lord. In the end, the Lord will not hold those people guiltless for desiring themselves as their own lord; His divine wrath will be brought upon them in full measure for all eternity (see Isaiah 66:4).
If there were an excellent summation of the entire book of Isaiah, it would be found in this simple citation above. God is a loving Lord who wishes to bless all men and bestow His mercy and grace to them. Tragically, however, many refuse such an offering of grace in favor of the exaltation of themselves as their own lord. Whereas they might not formally participate in ceremonious ritual to worship themselves, by their thoughts and actions of self-consumption, they reveal hearts that are focused upon the satisfaction of their own appetites above all others (including God). They might deny such a reality exists in their lives; nevertheless, their behavior indicates that their first priority is in fact themselves. Deep within their souls, they resent the thought of a Higher, Supreme Authority to which they must yield. They want to be god themselves. They even will use illogical ideologies (like evolution) to discredit any notion of a Sovereign Lord; by doing so, they believe that they can legitimize their own selfish pursuits as morally acceptable (even preferable).
God does not bless such debased behavior, for to do so would be to counter His rightful place as the Sovereign, Holy Lord over all. Rather than honor such abominable behavior, the Lord ultimately brings judgment to such treason (see Revelation 20). And whereas we know that all of us deserve God's divine wrath, for all of us have sinned against His Lordship (Romans 3:10-11, 23), we find hope in His death and resurrection, offered as the only sufficient payment for our sins.
In response to such an offering of grace, we are called to humble ourselves before the Lord, confess our sins of rebellion against Him, and surrender ourselves to Him as our Master and Savior. The Lord promises in the passage above that He will esteem those who will humble themselves in a spirit of contrition and tremble in reverential respect for His Word. Those who yield themselves to God's rightful rule in their lives can expect deliverance. Those who "choose their own ways and delight in their own abominations" should understand that such choosings are detestable to the Lord. In the end, the Lord will not hold those people guiltless for desiring themselves as their own lord; His divine wrath will be brought upon them in full measure for all eternity (see Isaiah 66:4).
Monday, April 6, 2009
Only A Remnant Will Be Redeemed
Isaiah 65:8-12: "This is what the Lord says: 'As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, 'Don't destroy it, there is yet some good in it,' so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all. I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess my mountains; my chosen people will inherit them, and there will my servants live . . . . But as for you who forsake the LORD and forget my holy mountain . . . . I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.'"
After the wonderful presentation of salvation through the sacrifice of the suffering Messiah (Isaiah 53) [which opens the doorway to the blessedness of eternity (Isaiah 54)], the Lord calls out repeatedly for mankind to respond to His offering of grace (Isaiah 55). What is quite profound is that humanity did not seek the Savior's deliverance; rather, God in His infinite love chose to reveal His grace to us in our rebellion (see Romans 8:5-8) in order that some would partake of the joy of His salvation (Isaiah 65:1). Tragically, many have continued to forsake God's offering of reconciliation . . . an offering which cost Him immense (and undeserved) pain, persecution, and death. The root problem with these reprobate is their own quest for lordship. In effect, they exclaim, "Keep away; don't come near me, for I am too sacred for you!" (Isaiah 65:5). They foolishly think to be a god unto themselves and therefore are in no need of God's grace. They find it repulsive to think that they must submit themselves to the authority of another. They would rather feast upon their own personal delights, even though such obstinacy is heaping up the full wrath of God, who "will pay back in full" (Isaiah 65:6).
Even with this prevalent demonstration of recalcitrance by humanity, still there will be a remnant who will yield to the convictions of the Holy Spirit and surrender themselves to the Lord thus receiving His mercy. These are not unlike the cluster of grapes mentioned above that are rescued from being destroyed, for though they seem unworthy of being harvested (as all in the vineyard truly are unworthy), the Harvester is able to find fruit worthy of redeeming. This does not suggest that our works are worthy of God's grace, for even the prophet Isaiah has rightly identified in chapter 64 that our "righteous acts are as filthy rags" (64:6); still, the obedient fruit of our lives reveals that God's initiatory work of grace has had great effect. God then sees that our lives are worthy of rescue, for we have responded to Him as Lord; we have savored His love offering of Himself for our sin debt (called expiation). To this remnant, the merciful Savior will usher them into the blessedness of His eternal dwelling, where they will "build houses and dwell in them (and) plant vineyards and eat their fruit . . . . they will not toil in vain" (65:21,23). To them, He too will give a new name (65:15). One such name will exclaim the eternal covenant marriage between the Lord and His remnant (Isaiah 62:4); so too, the Lord will impress His name upon their foreheads as a sign of the eternal covenant of salvation.
May we not neglect such an offering of grace (Hebrews 2:3); rather, may we respond to His love with submission to Him as our Lord. May we be found to be part of the remnant that is like the cluster of grapes that will be salvaged for harvest and not destroyed in the fire of God's judgment.
After the wonderful presentation of salvation through the sacrifice of the suffering Messiah (Isaiah 53) [which opens the doorway to the blessedness of eternity (Isaiah 54)], the Lord calls out repeatedly for mankind to respond to His offering of grace (Isaiah 55). What is quite profound is that humanity did not seek the Savior's deliverance; rather, God in His infinite love chose to reveal His grace to us in our rebellion (see Romans 8:5-8) in order that some would partake of the joy of His salvation (Isaiah 65:1). Tragically, many have continued to forsake God's offering of reconciliation . . . an offering which cost Him immense (and undeserved) pain, persecution, and death. The root problem with these reprobate is their own quest for lordship. In effect, they exclaim, "Keep away; don't come near me, for I am too sacred for you!" (Isaiah 65:5). They foolishly think to be a god unto themselves and therefore are in no need of God's grace. They find it repulsive to think that they must submit themselves to the authority of another. They would rather feast upon their own personal delights, even though such obstinacy is heaping up the full wrath of God, who "will pay back in full" (Isaiah 65:6).
Even with this prevalent demonstration of recalcitrance by humanity, still there will be a remnant who will yield to the convictions of the Holy Spirit and surrender themselves to the Lord thus receiving His mercy. These are not unlike the cluster of grapes mentioned above that are rescued from being destroyed, for though they seem unworthy of being harvested (as all in the vineyard truly are unworthy), the Harvester is able to find fruit worthy of redeeming. This does not suggest that our works are worthy of God's grace, for even the prophet Isaiah has rightly identified in chapter 64 that our "righteous acts are as filthy rags" (64:6); still, the obedient fruit of our lives reveals that God's initiatory work of grace has had great effect. God then sees that our lives are worthy of rescue, for we have responded to Him as Lord; we have savored His love offering of Himself for our sin debt (called expiation). To this remnant, the merciful Savior will usher them into the blessedness of His eternal dwelling, where they will "build houses and dwell in them (and) plant vineyards and eat their fruit . . . . they will not toil in vain" (65:21,23). To them, He too will give a new name (65:15). One such name will exclaim the eternal covenant marriage between the Lord and His remnant (Isaiah 62:4); so too, the Lord will impress His name upon their foreheads as a sign of the eternal covenant of salvation.
May we not neglect such an offering of grace (Hebrews 2:3); rather, may we respond to His love with submission to Him as our Lord. May we be found to be part of the remnant that is like the cluster of grapes that will be salvaged for harvest and not destroyed in the fire of God's judgment.
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