March 15-19, 2010

But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Jeremiah 18:4

Once again this week, much of our journey is guided by Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. What a colorful spokesman he was. God’s message through Jeremiah was not only through spoken word, but with vivid dramatization. On Monday we find Jeremiah buying a new loincloth and wearing it for days on end without washing it. What interests me about these illustrative lessons is that they were often played out for an audience of one. Who was there at the Euphrates when Jeremiah hid it in the crevice of the rock? Who was there when he dug it up again and God gave him the message to take to the people? The graphic illustration was to indelibly etch God’s concepts in the heart and the mind of His prophet. The pictures God painted for Jeremiah were worth far more than a thousand words! Like a photo album of the heart, God was filling Jeremiah’s pages with unforgettable images that would make his words more potent.

As we continue our week with Jeremiah, we begin to discover that this is not an aged prophet, but a young man with hopes and dreams like any other young man. On Tuesday we hear God tell him that he is not to marry or have children because of what is about to happen to the nation. If you’ve ever had to die to the dreams of your heart, you can imagine the pain this instruction brought to Jeremiah. But God knew the pain he would endure if he had a wife and children would be far greater.

In the midst of Jeremiah’s anguish over the rejection of his people and the unfair treatment he has received, he cries out for God to be with him and take note of all he has gone through. No matter how difficult God’s word was, he ate them and they became the delight of his heart. In this discourse between God and Jeremiah, we hear the heart of a man who is worn and weary from the pain of rejection and abuse from those who should be able to hear and understand. He struggles with the desire to be free from it all.

Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me as a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land? (Jeremiah 15:10)

But take note that God does not allow Jeremiah to wallow in his self-pity. In one beautiful statement, God reminds Jeremiah where he can find the strength to continue.

Therefore, thus says the Lord, “If you return, then I will restore you - Before Me you will stand; and if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, but as for your, you must not turn to them. (Jeremiah 15:19)

When the pain inflicted by others seems too great to bear, God tells Jeremiah that he must always turn to God if he wants to continue to be His spokesman. Only there will he find the healing and strength to carry on. The comfort Jeremiah sought would not be found in the remorse of those who had wounded him. He may never hear the words, “We are sorry Jeremiah. Please forgive our stupidity and insensitivity,” but God would save and deliver him. How many times did Jeremiah have to go to God for His healing power to restore him enough to carry on? I am sure there were far more instances than are recorded in the pages of the Book! But one thing we know for certain is that God was faithful to him. Listen to Jeremiah’s declaration.

O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of distress, to You the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood, futility and things of no profit.” (Jeremiah 16:19)

In Jeremiah’s distress, he found the same place of refuge that David found when he was fleeing Saul. The Lord is my strength and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of distress!!! When you are certain that you truly have God’s approval, then you have the strength to endure people’s rejection! But Jeremiah was also well aware that it is easy for us to deceive ourselves and justify our thoughts and actions. We are reminded that he was constantly confronted with the priests and prophets who were convinced that they were right and Jeremiah was wrong. Therefore he reminds himself that the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick, and God reminds him that He will search the heart and test the mind. If I truly want to see my heart and motives, God is ready to test and try me for the sake of my own revelation. Obviously He already knows them!

On Wednesday we take a trip down to the potter’s house for another illustrated sermon. What a graphic message of the sovereignty of God! It is the voice of stupidity that questions God’s right to do the things He does. All that is in existence is His creation and He alone has rightful ownership. He has the right to change His mind, to scrap all that He had been previously doing and start again if He chooses.

We also are introduced to the Rechabites who serve as a beautiful example of a people who are true to the commands of their father. Who were the Rechabites? The Rechabites were descendants of the Kenites. A part of the Kenites had joined themselves to the Israelites when they were delivered from Egypt. I’d encourage you to find out who their famous ancestor was during that time. It is quite an eye-opener and worth the search. There is also a famous woman mentioned in the time of the judges who was also from the Kenites. The information you glean will shed more light on why God used the Kenites in this powerful illustration.

On Thursday we hear God speak to the surrounding nations. The axe is about to fall and they will not escape God’s judgment. To some, God says He will tear them down, but then will restore them to their land again. To others, God says that their destruction will be total and eternal.

On Friday we see the end of Jehoiakim’s reign as he is taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar. And on Friday we meet his brother Jehoiachin. He is only eighteen years old when he takes the throne and his reign only lasts two months. It is easy to see why he would have no heirs as yet and his line would be totally cut off from the throne of David. Jeremiah’s prophetic word during his short reign seems to take on greater intensity. The time is short and Jeremiah staggers at the sight of the total destruction that looms on the horizon. God’s patience has run out and the time of His retribution is at hand!