Jeremiah 13
-Jeremiah is instructed by God to
by himself a linen waistband (a type of under garment much like our underwear today) and put it around his waist where it would cling to him. He was told not
to put it into water. Jeremiah followed through as a faithful servant to the
LORD’s command and then the Word of the LORD came to him a second time telling
him to take the waistband to the Euphrates to hide it in the crevice of the
rocks there. Jeremiah again obeyed and went. After many days God told him to go
back and take the hidden waistband back from where it was hidden. Jeremiah did
this to find the waistband ruined and totally worthless. Then the Word of the
LORD came to him saying, “Just so will I (the LORD) destroy the pride of Judah
and the great pride of Jerusalem. This wicked people, who refuse to listen to
My words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and have gone after
other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, let them be just like this
waistband which is totally worthless. For as the waistband clings to the waist
of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of
Judah cling to Me…that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise
and for glory; but they did not listen (Jeremiah 13:1-11).” *Application* We too,
like Israel and Judah, can trade God’s blessings and glory for renown and turn
it into rubbish by going our own way. Listen to His Voice and be ever careful
to follow His path in your life walk. It is so easy to get sidetracked and
settle for less than God’s best. His ways are the most fruitful even when there
may be pain and displeasure in the offering. Cling to God as a waistband of
worth. He will richly reward.
-Next the picture of jugs filled
with wine represent the drunkenness of the wayward children of God to be
intoxicated with their own ways and means rather than reliance on the LORD. God
says He will “dash them against each other” and not show any pity nor be sorry
nor have compassion so as not to destroy them (Jeremiah 13:12-14). There is then
a thirteen verse stanza of the LORD’s vindication pronounced upon the
disobedient people. He tells them not to be haughty but to turn in humility and
repentance with bitter sorrow for what they had done. Exile was their plight as
the army from the north is again reiterated. Their authority will be vanquished
because of the magnitude of their iniquity before their King. They have been
exposed and will not change their evil ways. Therefore, there will be a
scattering, like drifting straw to the desert wind. They had forgotten their
God and now He had to remind them of His authority and sovereignty in the
matter. God has seen all their abominations and would now hold them accountable
for their misdeeds and lack of sincere heart in their uncleanness (Jeremiah 13:15-27).
*Application* We cannot hide anything from God. He sees and knows all. So it is
wise to remember this fact before you try to live heinously before Him. He is
just and will hold you accountable.
Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 13:11
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