Jeremiah 34-36 Hearing, But Not Obeying

God had spoken a warning to King Zedekiah through Jeremiah, making a promise to him that if he obeyed, he’d go to Babylon and not be killed by the sword, but later have an honorable burial.  Yet Zedekiah failed to honor the word of the Lord by ordering Hebrew slaves freed as the law of Moses required.

 

God also spoke to Jeremiah to prepare a scroll with all of the words God had given him and to have it eventually delivered to King Jehoiakim.  But when the king heard the words, he disrespectfully sliced the scroll into strips and used them as fuel for his fire.  He care so little for God’s word.

 

My Bible’s sidebar, by Oswald Chambers, said, “We don’t consciously and deliberately disobey God – we simply don’t listen to Him.  God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them – not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly LOVE AND RESPECT HIM… Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us?  It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey.  But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative.  We respond by saying, ‘Well, that’s only your own idea, even though I don’t deny that what you said is probably God’s truth.’  Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child?”

 

Father, I’m sorry for all those times I’ve read Your word or heard Your servants speak and failed to take to heart what You’ve told me.  Give me a greater love for You and help me to honor and respect You more.  Don’t let me let Your word pass through my ears without entering my heart.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford