“As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth--Jeremiah 44:16
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
That is quite a statement of self will. Here is another one from chapter 6.
Thus says the LORD: “ Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘ Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ (emphasis mine)
Jeremiah preached to the people of Judah for over 40 years. He spent all of those years speaking the Word of the Lord to them and was blatantly ignored. They saw his prophecies come true but it did not matter...they did what was right in their own eyes. They followed their own ways. Judgment came. Jeremiah spoke to the nation...God speaks to nations and judges nations, but He also speaks to each individual.
Throughout the Book of Jeremiah what has struck me the most is our Lord's faithfulness, long suffering and mercy toward His people. Judah had rejected the word of the Lord, worshiped idols and believed the false prophets. They had walked very far from from the "old paths" where they would find rest for their souls. And yet, God pleads with His beloved people relentlessly throughout the book to come back to Him. It is such a beautiful picture to me as a mom. God warns His children to the very end...He never gives up. He so does not want them to suffer and face judgment. He yearns for them jealously and wants them with Him. When judgment does come, however, the people had no one to blame but themselves. How grieving it is when our children do not hear and go the wrong way. How difficult it is to watch knowing that trouble is ahead for them.
So many of us follow wrong paths for years...doing what is right in our own eyes and ignoring all that God does to get our attention. We become established in our own path and very practiced with sin. I look back to my own 34 year path of destruction and am amazed that despite my depravity and sin, my God was there pulling at me gently with His cords of love. I see His hand protecting me and hedging me...not willing that I should perish. He wanted me for Himself. His hand of mercy and love was always extended and it was His goodness that led me to repentance. The Lord invites us to come to Him and be washed in His love and sheltered from the storms. He wants to lavish His love on us and bless us. He loves us so much and died for us when we were still His enemies. He wants all of us to come to life in His Son. Truly His faithfulness reaches to the heavens.
Chuck Smith says something about God's faithfulness. I will end with it.
"It is tough, really tough to go to hell. You will have to work at it. You will have to fight God every step of the way. He will put every kind of roadblock in your path. If you are tough and stubborn and stupid, you can make it. But, right up to the end, God is faithful. Oh the lovingkindness of God! the goodness of God! The faithfulness of God to us!"
Truly many of us are like foolish children who do not listen and when we arrive at our final destination we will be without excuse. This verse from Zephaniah I have claimed for my grandchildren...it is how I picture the lovingkindness of my God.
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”--Zephaniah 3:17
Love
Mom
