Remembering

O. T. #1733  "Remembering"
July 14, 2020
Jeremiah 2

LET IT GLOW

Do you remember the excitement and enthusiasm for your future together whenever you were newlyweds? I recall those feelings of young love we had for each other. I willingly moved many times before my husband settled on what God's calling on his life, his purpose, was. I followed him wherever he went. Israel was like that, in their young years of heading toward the Promised Land.
However, at this particular time, their love for God had grown cold. Let's take a deeper look into the situation.

Jeremiah prophesied during the last 40 years of Judah's history, through the reign of its 5 last kings, to the destruction of Jerusalem and beyond. Some commentaries say he gave 6-14 messages condemning Judah for their idolatry. Which ever is used, Judah had forsaken their God and was without salvation. God used Jeremiah to deliver messages to His people, so the words came from their God. The outlines used are from Liberty Bible Commentary.

Message 1: national apostasy

The first message came during the thirteenth year reign of King Josiah. Josiah became king at age 8. It was during godly King Josiah's reign that the Law was found and the temple worship was restored.
Thus, a great revival occurred, which was 5 years after Jeremiah was called by God.
Later, Pharoah Necho marched across northern Palestine, intending to fight the Assyrians at the Euphrates River. Josiah feared that if Syria fell under this empire, then it would be the end of Judah. So Judah's army intercepted the Egyptians, but were defeated. Thus, Josiah was mortally wounded and died on his way back to Jerusalem. That gives us some historical background, which I did not know about.

Now then, let's turn to chapter 2. What was this first message about? The LORD remembered some things about Judah's younger years, when they first began loving Him:
* the kindness of their youth;
* love like a young bride eager to please;
* following God in the barren wilderness;
* Israel was holiness unto the LORD;
* they were the first of His children;
* God protected them, harming those who harmed Israel.

Likewise, God showed Israel kindness, love, provision, holiness, and protection.

What can we learn from this?
Even when our hearts grow cold toward God and our devotion to Him weakens, His love remains steadfast. We may forget God, but He remembers us. It's good to use our spiritual memory, recalling our early years as a young believer in Jesus. Have we drifted from God? Is our love and devotion to Him just as strong today as it was back them? We must guard our hearts so our love does not grow cold. God has not changed. He still loves us.
[Resource: Experiencing God Day-By-Day, by Henry and Richard Blackaby]


LET IT GROW

What did Judah's apostasy look like?
*They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves.
* They defiled the Promised Land and corrupted the possession God gave them.
* The priests did not miss God, but ignored His Word; they became civil leaders, not religious ones.
 * Prophets turned to Baal, the false fertility god of the heathens, oracles.

In spite of their sins, God continued to plead with His children to repent and return to Him. His mercy and love continued. (verse 9)

How is your relationship with God right now? Is it cold and ritual or warm, loving, and growing stronger? It is always good to remember our days or years as a young Christian.


LET IT GO
I see You in everything, all day, Jesus. Your love continues.
With every beat of my heart, keeps reminding me, all day.
No matter where I go, Your love is finding me.
You will always be my everything.
(I am so grateful for Christian radio.)