Day 221 – Jeremiah 7-9

Talking Points

• All wisdom comes from the Word of the LORD; rejecting it brings ruin. As we build a worldview based on the Bible, we should be convinced that there is no middle ground. That is a good thing. In a world of relativism and insecurity, His truth is sure. It is certain.
• The false teachers lied about sin. Instead of warning of its danger and God’s wrath toward sin, they proclaimed, “peace, peace” (Jeremiah 8:11). The false prophet has always led people to be comfortable in their sin. In the full counsel of God’s Word, there is conviction, warning, and a leading away from sin. A gospel that avoids discussion of sin is not the gospel!
• God is gracious. He is forgiving. God always responds in faithfulness to those who would repent — always. Yet, be sure that God’s grace is not a license to sin. To revel in sin, counting on God’s forgiveness shows a heart not given to Him.
• Reading this account, something huge stands out: false worship doesn’t always involve false gods. It often involves false hearts. As the people pour into the temple, prepared to proclaim loud words and make religious tributes, God sees their hypocritical hearts. He sees that they love their sin and are not ashamed of it. He sees they do not hesitate to carry His holy name into profane actions. Doesn’t this sound tragically familiar?
• If we have anything to boast in, it is the LORD, alone – for His lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth.

Thoughts

There are some doctrinal truths we can nail down here. God hates sin. He judges sin. In Christ, He has made a remedy for sin. And, then, maybe there is something new to consider: God is heartbroken over sin. He mourns what it does to people. He grieves over the condition in which it leaves His cherished creation. The LORD God Almighty hurts over sin.

As we read these accounts, we see that God does judge sin, but not in celebration. We see the LORD upholds His perfect standard, but not rejoicing over the broken lot of His people. Even God is remorseful over what could have been. He has regret for sin — not His, but ours.

What a different perspective of our God! While some might like to paint Him as an angry taskmaster calling us to submission out of dread and guilt, He is actually motivated entirely by love. It is in love that He judges sin. It is in love that He forgives sin. And today, we see that it is love that He is sorrowed over sin.

God, I’m sorry for the sorrow my sin has brought You. Thank You for Your love. Lord, help my obedience to be motivated by the same.