Day 223 – Jeremiah 14-17

Talking Points

• Jeremiah intercedes on behalf of his people, knowing that idols are powerless and their only hope is in the LORD — a true shepherd’s heart revealed.
• Despite the terribly difficult call to proclaim God’s judgment on the sins of the people, Jeremiah continues on. He calls for repentance and promises a hope. He’s persecuted, rejected, hated, and lonely — to the point that he sometimes wonders if God has abandoned him. The only reason for him to keep speaking is that when he found God’s words he found them to be “a joy and the delight of [his] heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). He truly doesn’t know what else to do.
• God is dealing with His people. In His judgment, He is seeking their repentance, their return to Him. Yet, as He works, false teachers are working counter to His plan. Instead of acknowledging what God was doing, they proclaim false peace and happiness. False teachers always work in such a way. How many lives have been shipwrecked due to the false hopes proclaimed by those not sent by God?
• God contrasts a man whose trust is in mankind, “a bush in the desert,” with a man whose trust is the LORD, “a tree planted by the water” (17:6-8). From the beginning, it has always been about trust.
• The LORD tells us that we cannot trust our own hearts. “Follow your heart” is not Biblical wisdom.

Thoughts

As Jeremiah intercedes for Judah, he says something I found incredibly profound: “Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for Your name’s sake!” (14:7). Jeremiah knows what, deep down, all of us know — there is no reason for God to ever act on our behalf, except that it proves His character and brings praise to His name.

Our sins bear witness to our rebellious hearts, our selfishness, our pride. They confirm our lack of trust in the LORD. They testify to our desperate need for a Savior. In our sins, our only hope is in God’s mercy, patience, grace, and faithfulness. Truly, our only prayer is that He would act for His name’s sake.

And, then, look at what God does. For His own name’s sake, He acts on our behalf. He actually “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). And, for the glory of His name, He shows mercy, patience, grace, and faithfulness beyond measure. He proves His character and brings praise to His name. What a wonderful God!

“The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;” – Exodus 34:6