Jeremiah
6 reminds me of my mother’s “butterfly stitches”. With
seven kids, going to the doctor for every sniffle and cut was not an
option. Mom would close a cut with a homemade strip of tape cut
thin at the center. It closed the cut, but often left a scar.
Not so bad for boys, but my sister does not think her scars are very
attractive. It was cheap and effective, unless the cut was a
deep wound. Butterfly Stiches won’t work for serious medical
condition. In today’s chapter, Jeremiah is telling the people
of Jerusalem it is time to head to the emergency room. “Flee
for safety… Sound the trumpet… For disaster looms… terrible
destruction… Daughter Zion, so beautiful and delicate.”
The army is impatient and ready to go, “Arise,
let us attack… But, alas, the daylight is fading“.
God Himself speaks, “This city
must be punished; it is filled with oppression… she pours out her
wickedness.
Violence and destruction resound
in her“. Understand that
God is saying this patient is critical and radical treatment is the
only option to save her, “her
sickness and wounds are ever before Me“.
I would not want to watch my child having an operation, “I
will turn away from you“.
Have you been putting band aids on life’s lacerations?
God
declares the invader is to be very careful not to miss anyone, “Let
them glean the remnant of Israel… thoroughly…
pass your hand over the branches
again, like one gathering grapes“.
Jeremiah says helplessly, “Who
will listen to me? Their ears are closed… The word of the
Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it“.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I see the church
as a hospital for the spiritually sick and the best way to recognize
a good one is that they read, study, and follow the written Word of
God. He says it is time to take note that our nation, our home
and our life may be in need of examination. “Their
houses will be turned over to others, together with their fields and
their wives… From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for
gain… all practice
deceit“. Listen to this
observation, “They dress the
wound of My people as though it were not serious“.
Don’t
be fooled, the corrupt always say there is nothing to see here.
“‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
when there is no peace… they have no shame at all“.
Jeremiah answers all who are in shock, “This
is what the Lord says“.
The people of Israel responded, “We
will not listen“. It
seems Jeremiah wants us to learn basic lifesaving treatments, “hear,
you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to
them“. God
declares, “I am bringing
disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they
have not listened to My words and have rejected My law… I will put
obstacles before this people“.
The chapter closes with an interesting image, “I
have made you a tester of metals“.
Jeremiah is to “observe and
test their ways“. God
describes our trials as similar to the process of refining Gold, “The
bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire“.
But He adds this conclusion, “but
the refining goes on in vain;
the wicked are not purged out…
They are called rejected silver“.
Israel was unwilling to see they were in critical condition and after
repeated attempts to save the whole nation, God allowed major
surgery. Jesus was “pierced
for our transgressions… crushed for our iniquities… and by His
wounds we are healed” (Isaiah
53:5). This was God’s radical treatment for you and me.
Are you ready for complete recovery, or will you keep using Butterfly
Stitches?