Gen. 39:2 π Neh. 2:8 π Prov. 16:18 π Jer. 13:10; 2nd; 3rd π Jer. 13:11 π Jer. 13:13 π Jer. 13:14 π Jer. 13:17 π Jer. 13:22 π Jer. 13:25 π Jer. 13:27; 2nd π Jer. 14:3-5 π Jer. 14:12 π Jer. 14:13-14 π Jer. 15:1 π Mt. 6:24 π Mt. 7:21 π Mt. 7:23 π Lk. 16:31 π Acts 27:41-44 π Rom. 1:10
“‘And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,’ says the Lord. ‘I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy, but will destroy them.’” ( Jer. 13:14; top )
The nation of Israel, during Jeremiah’s time, received judgment from the hand of God that led to their slavery in Babylon because of their many sins. Scripture tells us God sent a drought that left their wells dry; the dried ground couldn’t produce any crops and the farmers’ animals gave birth but forsook their young because there was no pasture available. ( Jer. 14:3-5; top )
What were the sins of God’s people that caused this judgment? It reads practically identical to the sinful condition of our own land in this hour.
- Sex sins ( Jer. 13:27; top ): A recent group of thousands of preachers admitted to having pornographic materials.
- Drunkenness ( Jer. 13:13; top ): Our country’s per capita consumption of alcohol continues to increase, as school-aged children have joined this sin. Our society has called it a sickness as a cover-up, but Scripture says it is a sin.
- Pride ( Jer. 13:17 ): Many businesses and social groups now present different kinds of assertiveness training programs, which feed our egos and pride. Pride is the basis for all sin. Pride goes before the fall. ( Prov. 16:18; top )
- Trusting in falsehoods ( Jer. 13:25; top ): Astrology and the occult have become a common practice even amongst church people. The main enemies of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel and Moses were the sorcerers and magicians and astrologers of their day.
- Fornication and adulteries ( Jer. 13:27; top ): A recent list of statistics shows teen-age pregnancies as increasing at a rapid rate; even 13-year-olds are included in this statistic.
- Walking in the way of their divided hearts ( Jer. 13:10 ): The “health and wealth” message of today gives license toward the worshipping of things and prosperity. We cannot serve God and mammon. ( Mt. 6:24 ) Joseph prospered as he spent many years as a slave in Egypt. ( Gen. 39:2 ) Paul prayed for a prosperous journey to Rome ( Rom. 1:10 ), the answer to which prayer entailed a shipwreck, and they only escaped by paddling to land on planks. ( Acts 27:41-44 ) Nehemiah said the Lord prospered him as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem; it had to do with courage and strength, not dollars. ( Neh. 2:8; top )
- Refusing to hear God’s words of correction ( Jer. 13:10; top ): We treat Scripture like a cafeteria, taking only those things that please us. Any warning of sin or correction is rejected because “it doesn't edify us.”
- Constant evil ( Jer. 13:22; top ): Our media of today is repetitiously reporting constant murder, rape, extortion, robberies, incest, brutality and violence.
- Idolatry in every home ( Jer. 13:10; top ): Entertainment and pleasure, with all of its gadgets, programs and costly paraphernalia, upstages the Scriptural standards of holiness and surrender to Almighty God.
Jeremiah said that God’s people were meant to live and cleave as closely to God as a linen did to a person’s body. ( Jer. 13:11; top )
Not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord” will make it into heaven, but those that do the will of the Father ( Mt. 7:21; top ), and idols of all types, especially those in our divided hearts, are totally against God and His commandments.
Idolatry is a form of false worship; true worship is total surrender to Almighty God. No matter what your group, denomination, philosophy, board of elders, bishop, or anyone else says, we are to kneel and bow down in total commitment before God, our maker. Anything else will bring the retort, “Depart from Me, for I never knew you.” ( Mt. 7:23; top )
Jeremiah readily recognized and admitted Israel’s sins. He also included himself accountable for these sins, an attribute of a true prophet. Jeremiah pleaded for God not to leave His people, but God said that there would be judgment without mercy. ( Jer. 14:12; top )
Jeremiah then reminded God of what some prophets had said, that there would be no destruction and famine. The Lord said that He had not sent those prophets, nor given them this message. They were false prophets and had deceitful hearts. ( Jer. 14:13-14; top )
Jeremiah tries to ask for mercy again, remembering Moses’ and Samuel’s example of pleading mercy for the children of Israel. However, this didn’t change God’s mind; it was judgment without mercy. ( Jer. 15:1; top )
However, today many Christian leaders have said judgment is Old Testament and not totally valid. Lk. 16:31 says different: “...If they (we) will not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they (we) be persuaded even though one rose from the dead.” (top)
Are we ready to repent for our lukewarmness that has helped bring to pass the needed judgment in this hour? Or doesn’t this agree with our evangelical procedures?
I’d love to hear comments and/or questions from you! Email me!