Jeremiah 17 reminds me how few things are “etched in stone” today. Often our obligations are not even printed on paper. Contracts are edited with a keystroke and our promises are made with the commitment of a checkmark. Frequently we do not even read the terms until the bill arrives. Today’s chapter focuses on God’s promises. “Judah’s sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed …on the tablets of their hearts”. We conveniently forget our vows, but God declares that His Word does not change. “Your wealth and all your treasures I will give away… Through your own fault you will lose the inheritance I gave you”. And He begins to produce the documentation of the original terms. “Cursed is the one who trusts in man… turns away from the Lord… they will not see prosperity”. Next He describes something that takes seasons to experience, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord…They will be like a tree planted by the water… its leaves are always green… and never fails to bear fruit”. Are you bearing fruit? We justify ourselves by saying, “I am just following my heart”, but God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure”. And He adds, “I… search the heart and examine the mind”. You may deceive yourself, but you cannot bamboozle God.
Jeremiah responds with understanding, “Lord, you are the hope of Israel”. In contrast, every other promise is, “written in the dust”. Jeremiah clings to that truth, “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved”. The people pretend there is no higher authority, mocking the prophet, “Where is the word of the Lord?” Seeing how the people have intentionally ignored God’s instruction and His provision, Jeremiah nods, “Bring on them the day of disaster”. Perhaps you say that you never agreed? All of creation is subject to the law of the Creator. You inherited Adam’s sin and you have blown it too, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The chapter closes with a simple, back to basics lecture. “The Lord said to me: ‘Go and stand at the Gate’”. This was where the decision makers would come and go. “Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord… Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath… keep the Sabbath day holy’”. He is asking; can you keep just one of the Ten Commandments? Predictably, the people did not hold up their end of the bargain, “Yet they did not listen… or respond to discipline”. God offers this addendum, “But if you are careful to obey Me… then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this city… and this city will be inhabited forever”. He adds, “People will come… bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices”. But God reiterates the terms of the original covenant do not expire, “But if you do not obey Me…I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem”. The people again failed, and Jerusalem fell. Later God allowed His people to return once again. Knowing we are unable to satisfy the terms, Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law and gave us a New Covenant. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:16-17). Many of us have more faith in a virtual signature than the blood of Christ. I believe there is a due date coming. You can either live under the obligations and penalties of the law, or the freedom of faith in Christ. Why are you still looking for loopholes?