Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Four destinations and four devourers

Jeremiah 15:1-21
Let them go! Where shall we go? if they ask you, "Those destined for death, to death; those or the sword, to the sword; those for starvation,  to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity." There were four destinations of Judah.
The Lord sent four kinds of destroyers against them,"the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds of the air and the bests of the earth to devour and destroy." They will be killed and no one bury them.
The Lord said to Jeremiah, "Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in time of disaster and time of distress."
The Lord answered Jeremiah: if you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you."
When Jeremiah prayed to the Lord to avenge him on his persecutors. "I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel."
Why?
In deep suffering Jeremiah comes to God, praying against those who have paid back his faithful service and his care for them with hared, making his life for them with hatred, making his life a misery.
There is justice in his plea. It is for God's cause, and in rejecting him they reject God.
God answers the prophet's self-pity with the strong reassurance he needs.
Jeremiah prayed for them, the Lord asked Jeremiah let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them, there are quite different result will be.
When people always rebellion to the Lord and doing evil things, all of the disaster and distress come upon them, no one will have pity on them, it is a miserable destination.
How?
To be a servant of the Lord have to repent and utter worthy, not worthless , words, them will be God's spokesman. Do not turn to them, but let them turn to the Lord. The Lord is with me.




No comments: