SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 13:15-27
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
1. “Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings the darkness” – To “give glory” is to shine the spotlight on. If we do not shine the spotlight on God, but instead shine it on ourselves, we are blinded by the light, and experience darkness.
2. “You hope for light, but he will turn it to thick darkness” – It is folly to shine the spotlight on ourselves, to make ourselves the center, to boast about and rely on ourselves. We think it helps us, but it actually blinds and defeats us, and we enter “thick darkness”.
3. “I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears” – Jeremiah’s heart is revealed here, he is not just an angry prophet but his love for his people, and his awareness of their suffering through judgment, causes his heart to weep bitterly.
4. “And if you ask yourself, ‘Why has this happened to me?’ – it is because of your many sins” – How often do we try to shift the blame, to justify ourselves. But on the last day, when all is said and done, no one will be able to blame or accuse God. We will see clearly then that we dug our own graves.
5. “Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil” – Their sin has degenerated to such a degree that they cannot change. They have become slaves to sin. Can I relate to this in any way?
6. “Because you have forgotten me” – In the end, this is the essense of all sin. Forgetting Who God is, our relationship with Him, how great and important He is, how we depend on Him completely. We rely on – and brag about – ourselves because we forget Who God is. This is the lament of a forgotten spouse, someone who loves but is not loved in return.
PRAYER:
Lord, this passage speaks to me personally, and I know that the darkness I experience is the consequence of my own sinful, lukewarm heart. I know Your forgiveness, therefore I do not give up… but it does get frustrating at times. Amen.
Once again we hear the Word of the Lord, Do this and live. We need to be in tune with our Maker and hear His voice. The prophet goes on to describe what will happen when the people do not listen – captivity and exile. Their lifestyle is evil and they are no longer able to do good. They are lost in their own ways, their own evil desires. The people will be scattered because they served their own gods. God sees all and He is able by His grace to also make these people clean if they but hear and do His Word. Help me to hear Your voice this day Lord in all I do and say.
Come to the Master, wanderer,
Come to your long sought home;
Jesus is calling, calling:
Come, never more to roam.