(Jeremiah 12:1-17)
1 Righteous are You, Lord, when I plead my case with You;
Nevertheless I would discuss matters of justice with You:
Why has the way of the wicked prospered?
Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
2 You have planted them, they have also taken root;
They grow, they have also produced fruit.
You are near to their lips
But far from their mind.
3 But You know me, Lord;
You see me
And examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter,
And set them apart for a day of slaughter!
4 How long is the land to mourn,
And the vegetation of the countryside to dry up?
Due to the wickedness of those who live in it,
Animals and birds have been snatched away,
Because people have said, “He will not see our final end.”
5 “If you have run with infantrymen and they have tired you out,
How can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace,
How will you do in the thicket by the Jordan?
6 For even your brothers and the household of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you,
Even they have called aloud after you.
Do not believe them, though they say nice things to you.”
7 “I have forsaken My house,
I have abandoned My inheritance;
I have handed the beloved of My soul
Over to her enemies.
8 My inheritance has become to Me
Like a lion in the forest;
She has roared against Me;
Therefore I have come to hate her.
9 Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me?
Are the birds of prey against her on every side?
Go, gather all the animals of the field,
Bring them to devour!
10 Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard,
They have trampled down My field;
They have made My pleasant field
A desolate wilderness.
11 It has been made a desolation;
Desolate, it mourns before Me;
The whole land has been made desolate,
Because no one takes it to heart.
12 On all the bare heights in the wilderness
Destroyers have come,
For the sword of the Lord is devouring
From one end of the land even to the other;
There is no peace for anyone.
13 They have sown wheat but have harvested thorns,
They have strained themselves to no profit.
So be ashamed of your produce
Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”
14 This is what the Lord says concerning all My wicked neighbors who do harm to the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel: “Behold, I am going to drive them out of their land, and I will drive the house of Judah out from among them. 15 And it will come about that after I have driven them out, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land. 16 Then, if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ just as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people. 17 But if they do not listen, then I will drive out that nation, drive it out and destroy it,” declares the Lord.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Nevertheless I would discuss matters of justice with You:
Why has the way of the wicked prospered?
Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
2 You have planted them, they have also taken root;
They grow, they have also produced fruit.
You are near to their lips
But far from their mind.
3 But You know me, Lord;
You see me
And examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter,
And set them apart for a day of slaughter!
4 How long is the land to mourn,
And the vegetation of the countryside to dry up?
Due to the wickedness of those who live in it,
Animals and birds have been snatched away,
Because people have said, “He will not see our final end.”
5 “If you have run with infantrymen and they have tired you out,
How can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace,
How will you do in the thicket by the Jordan?
6 For even your brothers and the household of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you,
Even they have called aloud after you.
Do not believe them, though they say nice things to you.”
7 “I have forsaken My house,
I have abandoned My inheritance;
I have handed the beloved of My soul
Over to her enemies.
8 My inheritance has become to Me
Like a lion in the forest;
She has roared against Me;
Therefore I have come to hate her.
9 Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me?
Are the birds of prey against her on every side?
Go, gather all the animals of the field,
Bring them to devour!
10 Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard,
They have trampled down My field;
They have made My pleasant field
A desolate wilderness.
11 It has been made a desolation;
Desolate, it mourns before Me;
The whole land has been made desolate,
Because no one takes it to heart.
12 On all the bare heights in the wilderness
Destroyers have come,
For the sword of the Lord is devouring
From one end of the land even to the other;
There is no peace for anyone.
13 They have sown wheat but have harvested thorns,
They have strained themselves to no profit.
So be ashamed of your produce
Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”
14 This is what the Lord says concerning all My wicked neighbors who do harm to the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel: “Behold, I am going to drive them out of their land, and I will drive the house of Judah out from among them. 15 And it will come about that after I have driven them out, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land. 16 Then, if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ just as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people. 17 But if they do not listen, then I will drive out that nation, drive it out and destroy it,” declares the Lord.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
People often mention that God is love because they are seeking approval for the things they are doing wrong; but people rarely mention God's righteousness. If God is right - and we disagree with God - that means we are wrong. People don't like to be wrong. People like to get their way and do things their own way and feel "good" about it. So people seek out other like-minded people for affirmation. The thing is, these like-minded people can very quickly betray and turn on us and each other! Even with family members who might say the nice things that we want to hear, it doesn't mean that we can trust them.
I love that we can ask God all the hard questions, because He has all of the right answers - to everything. And as a child of God, even when we have these doubts or questions, the Lord will not betray us or turn His back on us. He wants us to go to Him for everything. And we can trust in Him, and depend on Him to help us understand and know what we need to know.
I also love how God asks questions of us that bring about common sense, like... If we stumble on open ground when it is peaceful, how will we fair in an unforgiving topography when there is trouble? Or, if we run with foot soldiers and get tired, how will we fair when we have to compete against horses?
The question to ask ourselves is: do we just want to think that we are right - or - do we actually want to be in the right? Depending on how we answer that, we will either go to a source with lesser insight and lesser integrity - or - we will go to God and His word to help figure things out, trusting in His all-knowing and steadfast wisdom and unchangeable truth.
As well, because God created us as social beings, He created us to desire community. Therefore, going to a church that stands firm on biblical doctrines, and encourages people to pursue the Lord in a personal relationship, is very important and necessary. It is a place where we can be equipped and encouraged, and find sincere and uplifting friendships. When "everyone" is seeking to be like-minded with the Lord, we will be like-minded, in unity, with each other, all to God's glory.
To live out and practice the Lord's righteousness will not be understood by society or necessarily appreciated. In fact, we should not be surprised when we are mocked or persecuted just because we are Christians. But, while those who reject the Lord will one day face the consequences and punishment for their own sins, in our personal relationship with the Lord, He will be building us up in His strength, goodness, peace and joy.
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