Jeremiah
7 reminds me of the ironic line about the three biggest lies, the
last one being “I love you”. It is a sad truth but those
simple words have been used to manipulate, deceive, and take for
centuries. How do we know the difference between deception and
true love? Any time conditional words are added, beware.
Love does not come wrapped in requirements, it gives without being
asked. In today’s chapter Jeremiah is instructed to “Stand
at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message“.
And note that God always begins His instruction to His people first,
“all you people… who come
through these gates to worship the Lord… Reform your ways and your
actions, and I will let you live in this place“.
To be clear, I have said similar things to my own kids. I have
certain expectations that anyone living under my roof will respect
our rules. Does that contradict the conditional love
statement? Not at all, parental authority requires us to expect
standards. True love cheerfully obeys, or while takers
grudgingly resist. And listen to the first warning to the
people, “Do not trust in
deceptive words“. Young
and old alike are surrounded by them, “What they don’t know won’t
hurt them. Gotta look after number one. That’s what
they deserve, turnabout is fair play.” God says, “This
is the temple of the Lord“,
some things are precious and sacred and should never be treated as
common. Deceptive words conceal intentional actions.
Knowing
how we look for loopholes, God’s Word continues with specifics,
“deal with each other justly…
do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not
shed innocent blood… do not
follow other gods“.
Interesting that the Jewish teacher of the law asked Jesus which
commandment is the greatest and He replied, “Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind… And… Love your neighbor as yourself. All
the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”
(Matthew 22:36). If your first reaction is to question
definitions, or to ask “What about me?”; Jeremiah repeats the
warning. “You are trusting in
deceptive words that are worthless.”
He asks the leaders, “Will you
steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury… and then come and
stand before Me in this house… and say, ‘We are safe’?”
The
chapter closes with the broken hearted words of God to His people
severing the relationship. There are no more second chances.
“I spoke to you again and
again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer…
I will thrust you from My presence… do not plead with Me, for I
will not listen“. God
reminds them how simple it was, “I
gave them this command: Obey Me, and I will be your God and you will
be My people… instead,
they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts… they
did not listen to Me or pay attention“.
He does not act swiftly, or without just cause. God withdraws
His hand of protection because He will not support their sin.
God assigns this thankless task to Jeremiah to be faithful, while
knowing, “they will not listen
to you; when you call to them, they will not answer“.
I pray that our nation and our people do not hear these words of
judgment, “This is the nation
that has not obeyed the Lord… or responded to correction“.
I see a glimmer of hope in the pronouncement, “for
the Lord has rejected and abandoned this generation“.
This season will pass. Will you stop listening to deceptive
words? Please believe that reconciliation is available through
Jesus Christ for you today.