Jeremiah 6 -- The End Is Near

God reveals His plan to rid Jerusalem of all the evil and idolatry that have overtaken His people.  Like Sodom and Gomorrah, Jerusalem had become completely evil, but rather than being destroyed, it would be overrun by the invading army:  “This city must be punished.  Inside it is nothing but slavery [to sin]. … The people of Israel have closed ears, so they cannot hear My warnings.  They don’t like the word of the Lord; they don’t want to listen to it! … I will raise My hand and punish the people of Judah … They should be ashamed of the terrible way they act, but they are not ashamed at all.  They don’t even know how to BLUSH about their sins … Ask where the old way is, where the good way is, and walk on it.  If you do, you will find rest for yourselves … I am going to bring disaster to the people of Judah because of the evil they plan.  They have not listened to My messages and have rejected My teachings … I will put problems in front of Judah.  Fathers and sons will stumble over them together.  Neighbors and friends will die … All My people have turned against Me and are stubborn … They are like bronze and iron that become covered with rust … the fire is fanned to make it hotter, but the lead does not melt.  The pure metal does not come out; the evil is not removed from My people … the Lord has rejected them.”

 

My commentary says, “He wasn’t purifying them; He was punishing them.  They weren’t being refined; they were being rejected.  They were too cheap to preserve.”

 

Most tellingly, there was another quote in my commentary:

 

“Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”  Thomas Jefferson

 

How much worse have we become since then?

 

Father, I pray for our nation as this election nears.  Please steer us away from the abyss.  I fear that this may be the deciding point just like it was for Jerusalem.  Don’t give up on us.  Purify us.  Purify me.  Save us from our sin nature.  Help me to completely walk in Your ways.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford