Jeremiah 11
-Jeremiah’s rebuke of Judah and
Israel in general takes a turn to focus on God’s covenant that has been broken
by His people in this section beginning in chapter 11 and extending through
Jeremiah 13:27. God speaks wanting His people to hear the words of His covenant
because He had been clear with them that if and when they broke it, they would
be cursed (Deuteronomy 27:26, Jeremiah 11:3; 17:5, Galatians 3:10). There were
solemn warnings from the time of Egypt up to their present day, but they
refused to turn to their God and repent. They walked according to the
stubbornness of their own evil heart and broke covenant continually without
regard for the LORD (Jeremiah 11:8, 10). Therefore, the LORD is bringing
disaster upon them, which they would not be able to escape. Even their cries
before Him would not be heard because of their rebellious hearts and actions in
defiance of His commands (Jeremiah 11:11-17). *Application* There comes a time
when God has had enough of our placating ways. He genuinely knows when we are
sincere in Godly sorrow and when we simply have a worldly guilt that wants to
escape punishment because we seek only pleasure. God is just and will not
listen when the heart is corrupt to the point of bringing His righteous
disaster to show who really is King. Go God’s way and you will never have to
fear His deaf ear when you pray. Humble yourself before Him and He will always
listen and respond.
-Jeremiah finds himself
discerning from the LORD the evil plots against him from the men of his own
hometown in the last section of this chapter. He, like the coming Messiah
(Isaiah 53), was a gentle lamb being led to the slaughter with devious plots
for destruction by the wayward enemy of God. The prophet calls out to the LORD,
who judges righteously and tries the feelings and the heart, for His vengeance
since his cause is committed to Him (Jeremiah 11:20). God promises annihilating
punishment on them (Jeremiah 11:22-23). *Application* God does nothing without
revealing it first to His prophets and those with spiritual discernment (Amos
3:7, 2 Peter 1:20-21). Listen to these men, and women sometimes, of God who get
His download. Don’t ever refuse the true prophetic Word of God. He is always
trying to warn us and bring us into His good way if we will comply.
Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 11:20
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