August 10, 2020
Jeremiah 11-Part 2
LET IT GLOW
Have you ever had a plot to get rid of you, whether it was on your job, in your community, your church, or family? I have experienced it several times during my teaching career, as well in churches which my husband pastored. It cuts your heart out when you are doing your best, doing what is right, are faithfully doing God's will, yet people are offended and want to get you out of their presence. We have had our mailbox smashed in, office broken into, lies spread about our reputation, hateful words said to us, accusations made falsely, and the list goes on. So I can understand just a smidgen of Jeremiah's pain as he was faithful in delivering God's message in prophesy. (But mine has never been to the extent he experience.) It makes you question if you are actually doing what is right, tempts you to quit and leave.
However, God wants us to be overcomers, rise above our circumstances, conquer the evil.
It was to Jeremiah's surprise, the people of his hometown were plotting to kill him. Why in the world would his people hate Jeremiah so much?
Life Application Study Bible gives reasons they wanted to silence Jeremiah's message:
- economic-his condemnation of idol worship would hurt the business of the idol makers;
- religious-the message of doom and gloom made the people feel depressed and guilty;
- political-he openly rebuked their hypocritical politics;
- personal-the people hated him for showing them that they were wrong.
The thing is, if Jeremiah could not handle his situation, how could he handle the injustices ahead? Isn't it natural for us to demand fair play and cry for justice against those who take advantage of others? However, we must realize that we ourselves would be in big trouble if God gave each of us what we truly deserved. So may we pray for God's grace and mercy, a repentant and soft heart for our enemies instead of justice.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
The word despitefully means falsely accuse; persecute refers to pursue, follow (after), suffer.
Are we loving, blessing, doing good, and praying for those who falsely accuse us and cause us to suffer? After all, isn't it when we show love that people see that we are a child of God?
LET IT GROW
Jeremiah had no idea that his enemies were planning to kill him. The LORD told him about the plots of his enemies against him. They wanted to destroy this man and all his words, cut him down so his name would be forgotten forever. But God had other plans for Jeremiah and He wasn't finished with him yet. Even though he was put in prison and in a pit hole, cistern, Jeremiah survived.
In his prayer, Jeremiah committed his cause to God, revealed his cause. (verse 20) He wanted to see God's vengeance upon them. God said He would punish them, their young men would die in battle, and their children would starve to death. Not one of those plotters would survive.
Wow! My experience has been that when we leave the revenge to our God, His punishment is worse than we could imagine. He takes care of His own.
LET IT GO
Your promises stand, great is Your faithfulness, Jesus.
I'm still in Your hands, this is my confidence-You have not failed me yet.
My heart will sing Your praise again.
You make a way when there is no way. I believe I will see You do it again.
(God, You know what we need when we need it. Thank You for the songs of encouragements.)
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