Jeremiah
14 reminds me of a time in my mid-20’s when I had moved to my third
city in three years. Managing restaurants meant working very
late hours and left little time to keep life’s priorities
straight. I found myself completely empty emotionally and
spiritually. The chapter begins, “This
is
the
word of the Lord…
concerning
the drought“.
Most of us know that feeling of being in that dry desolate place, but
those times frequently lead us to search. Jeremiah writes, “The
nobles
send
their servants… They return with their jars unfilled;
dismayed
and despairing“.
I realized that I could not rely on others to search for me.
After self-examination, we then become aware of others in the same
mess. “The
ground is cracked… the
farmers
are dismayed… the doe in the field deserts her newborn… Wild
donkeys…
pant
like jackals;
their
eyes fail
for
lack of food“.
This observation creates a new awareness, “our
sins testify against us“.
We can spend years trying to fix symptoms until we come to this
revelation: Lord, “we
have sinned against You“.
Then the first trickles of moisture form. “You
who are the hope…
Savior…
why are you like a stranger?”
In my experience, I found a church the read and taught the Bible and
I was shocked by the personal application to my life. Someone
could have asked me, “Why
are you like a man taken by surprise“?
That experience was like a new birth. I learned the humbling
truth that while I was still living as if God did not exist, Jesus
died for me. “We
love because he first loved us”
(1 John 4:19). I understand the Israelites call, “We
bear Your Name; do not forsake us!“
Sadly
the Nation of Israel became prosperous and powerful and began to
trust in themselves rather than the God who loved them.
Jeremiah writes of a time when the Jews had, ceased reading His Word,
no longer worshipped Him and eventually rejected God completely.
“They
greatly love to wander“.
Jeremiah explains, “He
will now remember their wickedness“.
It seems impossible to imagine walking away from God’s love, but it
still happens today. Jeremiah is instructed, “Do
not pray for the well-being of this people… I will not listen to
their cry… I will not accept them“.
This nation that had come into the land from the desert was now being
sent packing, “I
will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague“.
And note their leaders simply lied to them, “The
prophets are prophesying lies in My name“.
Be careful who you let whisper in your ear. Those that believe the
lies get “the
calamity they deserve“.
Never doubt that God is both Just and Merciful.
Jeremiah
is overcome by grief seeing the nation slide down the slippery slope,
“my
eyes overflow with tears night and day without ceasing… my people…
suffered
a grievous wound, a crushing blow“.
Jeremiah asks the same question we ask when we struggling, “God
have You rejected us?” Hebrews Chapter 12 reminds us “the
Lord disciplines the one He loves…it produces a harvest of
righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it“.
I believe God allows times of drought in order to help us reassess
our life. Jeremiah writes, “We
hoped for peace but no good has come“.
Are you at a turning point? The Jewish people responded with a
new understanding, “We
acknowledge our wickedness… we have indeed sinned against You…
Therefore our hope is in You“.
Are you thirsty? Has the drought left you dismayed and
despaired? Jesus said, “Let
anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink”
(John 7:37). I responded by dropping to my knees and saying.
“Lord Jesus, please forgive me of my sins and pour out Your Holy
Spirit on me now”. My friend, it is time to stop wandering.