Psalm 92: 6 A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this.7 When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever.
In Jeremiah 12, the prophet has a question for God! Judgment was most certainly coming to those who just had lip service for God. Those were people who were described having trust in lying words. In other words, they had itching ears to only what they desired to hear. There appeared no repentance on those who were about to have judgment visit them.
In Jeremiah 7:18, it was the whole family that participated in the "queen of heaven". It was the children who gathered the wood, the father who kindled the fire and the women would knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven and that together also have drink offerings to these gods! And what these worshiped and participated together would bring judgment of everything and everyone else around them.
Judgment was coming to them that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God. They neither received correction and God said that truth had perished and was cut off from their mouth. The children of God had done evil in His sight. They had built high places to Tophet which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which God did not command them to do.
God continued to declare that their leaders bones would be scattered under the sun in the day and under the moon at night. ( Jeremiah 8:2) They would fall and not rise due to their hearing only false teachings. As those considered wise men had refused the spoken word of God through the prophets, they would be dealt with and they would not see peace in their time.
The prophet Jeremiah declares his mourn for the people. Jeremiah 9:1-3 NKJV "Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! 2 Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodging place for travelers; that I might leave my people, and go from them! For they are all adulterers, and assembly of treacherous men. 3 And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me, says the LORD."
Yes, as the weeping prophet, he had wept for them to turn from their wicked ways and here we see he would love to get away from them. He did not see those leaders turn and heed truth to teach others truth. A noise was going out and that noise appeared as a great commotion out of the north country. (this was Judah) The covenant is broken: they would not obey the voice of the LORD! (Jeremiah 11:7) And in all this, now Jeremiah's own life is being threatened. He is told to prophesy no more in the name of the LORD----lest you die by our hand....is what they presented the prophet in their speaking! (Jeremiah 11:21)
So back to Jeremiah's question. God speaks this in Jeremiah 12: 5-6 NKJV "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trust, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? 6 For even your brothers, the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; yes, they have called a multitude after you. Do not believe them, even though they speak smooth words to you." Jeremiah 12:13 "They have sown wheat but reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain but do not profit. but be shamed of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD."
Yes, judgment was coming and the prophet is warned that the troubles he has seen will increase indeed! And God laments at this decision, but they will not repent and turn.
In this passage, Jeremiah is most likely the one who gives the example of someone willing to walk by faith when others do not. He is willing to speak what God the Lord has spoken and not man's words. He is willing to obey regardless of the personal cost to himself. Jeremiah was mocked, and scorned, and was numerous times disregarded. But Jeremiah was always going to God for his answer.
Are we giving lip service to God or are we really seeking time with Him to know what tomorrow holds for us? We may not be given the answer that we seek, but He will confirm His love to us and will confirm He is with us.
The Almighty God came to earth and as the humble man conformed his will to that of the Father in whom there is no shadow of turning. God never changes for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. What He spoke in Genesis 1, He reveals light be in every circumstance we encounter. And though men might confess faith but reveal unrighteous behavior, still our conduct should be the dictate of the righteous heart that has been set on the things of God.
For if we deal treacherously with our neighbors what outcome should we not expect but judgment! Ultimately the wicked will perish and God's righteousness will be vindicated. May we know that we are not to be right in our own eyes, but seek Him who knows all. For certainly in Him, we live, move and have our being.
Evil men do not understand justice! Isaiah 44:18-20 NKJV 18 They do not know nor understand; for He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 19 And no once considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, yes, I have also backed bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; & shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?" 20 He who feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; & he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"
In short,
the tree is taken down for use in the fire and that which is left is made into
an idol that is an abomination to God and to wise men. The beautiful growing tree
provides cover in summer and shade from the heat. It provides safety for birds
and animals that come to find its stately spread an inviting place to rest.
But as the
cut down tree only amounts to heat for a moment, and a fire to prepare a meal
yet what is the advantage when the people use it for worship to that which
gives to no life and no hope. For worshiping idols is done by those drawn away of
their own lusts. Their heart is of the evil nature and they reside in unbelief.
The
idolaters hold a lie in their right hand, their hearts set upon the wealth of
the world and the pleasures for their flesh. For if we place all our beliefs in
those things, when the end comes what grounds would one have for gaining
heaven? They would have no hope in ever seeing the Lord in all His majesty and
glory. For all that we do: all the performances and the mask wearing will prove
a life built on sand. For 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 reminds us of this: 11 And for
this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the
lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had
pleasure in unrighteousness. Each of us will believe something and each of us
speaks something from the heart. Is our heart drawn toward God and life with
goodness in the land of the living or are we bent toward with a heart set for
evil and destruction for the unrighteous will never inherit the kingdom of God!
I do not know about you, but I want to be found with God. I want to be found worshiping the Lord of glory to abide with Him where He can be found for He is not far from anyone of us! ( Acts 17:27)
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