The Weeping Prophet

O. T. #1757  "The Weeping Prophet"
August 17, 2020
Jeremiah 13-Part 2
But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive.
(verse 17)

LET IT GLOW

Even in the gloom and doom that lay ahead of Judah, Jeremiah continued to prophesy. By rejecting the light, darkness of judgment was coming. Jeremiah was faithful in delivering God's message calling His people to repentance. The results was rebellion in Judah. Pride kept them from surrendering to their God. It so touched Jeremiah's heart and burdened him, that he wept over the destruction coming upon his people. (verse 17)

It was the haughtiness, stubbornness, vain confidence that pride succeeded to separate the children of God from their Heavenly Father.

Jeremiah is known as "the weeping prophet', living a life of conflict because of his predictions about judgment by the invading Babylonians. He was threatened, tried for his life, put in stocks, forced to flee from King Jehoiakim, publicly humiliated by a false prophet, and thrown into a pit. (The MacArthur Bible Commentary)

When is pride harmful?
Life Application Study Bible tells us it is when it causes us to:

1. look down on others;
2. be selfish with our resources;
3. force our solutions on others' problems;
4. think God is blessing us because of our own merits;
5. be content with our plans rather than seeking God's plans.

Prophet Jeremiah is a good example for us to follow.
Time for self evaluations. Proverbs 16:18 says, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Are we prideful? Are we lifting up our self instead of Jesus?
How do we treat others that are prideful?
Do the sins of others cause us to mourn over them?

LET IT GROW

In verse 23, God asks if a man can change his skin color or a leopard his spots. Of course, we know the answer. It would be easier for that to happen than for Judah to do good.

Judah preferred the filth of her harlotry to the purity offered by God. (Falwell)

They had so long been used to doing evil that it was next to impossible for them to repent, and amend, and begin to do good. (Matthew Henry)

The Lord asks two questions in verse 27: Wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it once be?

However, the Gracious Almighty God can do the impossible. He awaits for us to come to Him with loving and open arms.

LET IT GO

Burden our hearts over our pride, Father.
We need Your grace.
Give us a heart burdened and aching over our family and nation. Oh, how we need You.