Jeremiah 9 -- Three Things They Just Couldn't Fathom

Jeremiah had rather have gotten away than have to deliver the message God had:  “I wish I had a place in the desert … so I could leave my people.  I could go away from them, because they are all unfaithful to God; they are all turning against Him.”  What a job to have to go to every day!

I hove how my commentary pointed out three obvious truths about the Jewish people of that time:

First, “being God covenant people is no excuse for sin … The people of Judah thought they were free to sin because they’d been born children of Abraham and were the people of the covenant.  On the contrary, being a part of God’s covenant gave them a greater responsibility to live to glorify Him and obey His will! … Any theology that minimizes personal holiness and excuses sinfulness is not biblical theology.”

Second, “being God’s covenant people offers no escape from judgment.  If anything their favored relationship with the Lord invited an even greater Judgment.”

Thirdly, “being God’s covenant people is no assurance of spiritual understanding … God doesn’t delight in a nation’s learning, political influence, armies, or gross national product.  He delights in a people who practice kindness, justice, and righteousness because they know and fear the Lord.  God promises covenant blessings to those who obey him, not to those who only submit to religious ceremonies.”

Even today, we need to check our own feelings.  Jeremiah put it this way:  “Everyone speaks nicely to his neighbor, but he is secretly planning to attack him.”  Wow!  That says a lot for political correctness and insincerity.

Father, my covenant relationship with You calls me to a greater responsibility to live to glorify You and obey Your will.  Be sure to tell me when I’m failing at this!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford