Tuesday: The Warning to Jeremiah
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil
(John 3:19).
The sad story of Jeremiah is that the opposition he faced came from the very ones that, through him, the Lord was trying to save. The Lord wanted to spare them the disaster that was sure to come.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
The problem, though, is that people often don’t want to hear what they need to hear, because it cuts against their sinful and corrupt desires.
Read Jeremiah 11:18-23. What is going on here? What does some of the imagery remind us of?
Though in ancient Israel those who falsely prophesied in the name of the Lord could face death, in this case there was no indication that the men of Anathoth thought Jeremiah was speaking falsely. Instead, it seemed that they just wanted him silenced. They didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Though the text doesn’t say how they planned to kill him, some scholars have thought that they might have been thinking of poisoning him.
As we saw, too, Anathoth was Jeremiah’s hometown, and its people were rejecting his message, even to the point of being willing to kill him. This, though, was only the beginning of a much wider rejection by all but a remnant
of his own nation.
Of course, all of this, including the lamb led to the slaughter
imagery, evokes the sacrifice of Jesus. In a sense, Jeremiah prefigured Christ, not as a type (like the animal sacrifices), but in that he, like Jesus, faced powerful opposition from the very ones he was trying to help. This situation in Jeremiah’s life definitely calls to mind what Jesus went through early in His ministry as well (Luke 4:14-30).
When was the last time you heard something that you knew was right, but you simply didn’t want to hear it? What was your initial reaction? In cases like this, why must we learn to take up our cross?
(35)
It is so true evil is all around us and attacks every day. We have to pray constantly for protection from the evil one (S).
Why are the messengers of God reviled if they are not inciting people to do something evil? If they are simply lying about doing more good works than necessary can they not be ignored? Unbelievers and lukewarm Christians find various excuses to attack and silence the messengers.
For speaking truth and warning others the servants of the Lord are portrayed as too negative and making a big deal about little or nothing; and this because the message touches a spiritual nerve (Jeremiah 11:18-23). The reaction may often be an attempt to silence their own conscience and quiet the Spirit (John 16:7-11).
Sometimes the major versus minor argument is used to get around that which one is not prepared to comply with. The question is, what is minor to the Maker and King? Will it be okay to break a traffic rule in Heaven and just collect a ticket, warning or grace, since it is a minor violation?
Some supposed little things like appetite or a fruit (Genesis 2:16-17), fashion or a piece of garment (Numbers 15:38-40), and treatment of symbols or a rock (Numbers 20:11-12) may seem to be insignificant. Still believers ought not to think the Creator is uninterested in the small issues of life and merely observes from a distance the interactions on a troubled planet.
Though mankind seeks independence the Lord gets very involved in the details of life on this planet and takes seriously the response to His instructions. The building of the Tower of Babel was an experiment to get away from or beyond the reach of the Creator (Genesis 11:4).
Like unruly children the rebels just wanted to be left alone to do their own thing without supervision, and occasionally draw on the Father’s blessing when convenient. This is the mindset of modern Babylon. They make independent decisions about appetite, fashion, etc., only they wish to be called by Christ’s name (Christians - Isaiah 4:1).
The true and chaste bride of Christ submit all willingly (2 Corinthians 11:2).
let us relie in prayers cause time is limited brethren
I was impressed with the following statement found in today's lesson:
"The sad story of Jeremiah is that the opposition he faced came from the very ones that, through him, the Lord was trying to save. The Lord wanted to spare them the disaster that was sure to come."
And I thought: "History is being repeated today with God's Remnant."
Realy the Godly once are often attaked for having their faith set on the almighty, but he who promissed to stand by us will deffinitly grand us victory for he has overcome the enemy
Once again I say it hard to hear the truth when you have a great desire to sin.
No one once to hear correction. What an awesome task for Jeremiah when he was told to tell the children of Israel what they were doing and how they were going to be whip by the Father if they would not straighten up.
Plain and simple let kill him that will shut him up. Evil can only do one thing and that is to kill. Praise God that he would be a present help in the time of trouble.
God is for those who will go without fear from whomever and tell of him goodness and speak the truth in love but to speak THUS SAID THE LORD.
Just outside of but in view of Eden, a principle was displayed for the first time on earth that has been demonstrated ever since in the death of Abel at the hand of his brother Cain. What makes this so prevalent? Sin hates Purity as much as Purity abhors sin.
Which do we hate?
In Jeremiah (or any messenger of Truth) the wicked crucified the Lord, as Cain had done.
We must each crucify someone. Either SELF or CHRIST. Daily we are choosing between Jesus or Barabbas(self).
The closer we walk with the Lord, we become a greater target for sin. It is only through a constant prayer that we can overcome sin.