“But if you will not listen, my innermost being will weep in secret because of your pride” (v. 17).
Can you imagine being Jeremiah and having to be shown the clear revelation of what would happen to the people? And yet knowing that everything you did was futile. They would not listen. And terrible destruction was imminent? It wasn’t just that he knew bad things were going to happen (as we all know for today), but that the LORD showed him what that would look like.
What grief.
This was Jeremiah’s role. And God described it clearly.
The LORD instructed Jeremiah to go buy underwear and bury it in the ground. A long time later the LORD told him to go dig it up and obviously it was ruined. The LORD said this is what Jerusalem and Judah was like. He made them like a garment that was close to him and holy. But their pride ruined that ability to be close to Him.
He gives another illustration of empty wine bottles. Instead of being filled with wine, they will be empty and smashed together. Pieces of brokenness. Fathers and sons alike. He will not relent.
Jeremiah moved by these visions plead with his people once again. And once again they did not repent.
He had a message for the king and queen of Jerusalem and Judah. That those they trained would rule over them. Those who have done so much evil will be scattered to the wind. Why?
“because you have forgotten Me and trusted in Falsehood” (v. 25).
Therefore the Lord says this.
“I will pull your skirts up over your face so that your shame might be seen. Your adulteries and your lustful neighing, your heinous prostitution on the hills, in the fields–I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You are unclean–for how long yet?” (v. 26-27).
God gave them a time to repent. A time where he could deal with them in person and not have to expose them. But they persisted in evil. So God had to deal with them.
Oooh does this make me think of several things. There have been times in my life where I’ve drifted in the ways of sin. And I too have felt the warning of God–we can deal with this privately between me and you or soon enough this will become a public matter.
That put the fear of God in me. And thankfully I heeded that warning.
It’s not that God wants to deal with us publicly. He would rather deal with us privately. But regardless, he loves us too much to allow us to continue in sin.
Another thing I think of is Martin Luther. Last night in honor of the anniversary of the 95 theses nailed on the Wittenburg door, I watched again the movie Luther. Now I certainly realize Luther wasn’t a perfect man. He had his flaws. But because of his courage and his faithfulness to the Word of God, the world would never be the same.
He confronted evil–the veneration of relics, the selling of indulgences and more. The leaders of the church did not repent. But the common people did when they understood the truth of the Word. And the kingdoms of man came crashing down.
What would have happened if Israel would have repented? If not the leaders then the people? History would have written a different story.
Again I think of our own times. There is a global leadership crisis going on right now in so many nations. We hope for a change in leadership will change the course. But at this point it is beyond that. Yes, the leaders need the Lord and to repent. But this is in the hands of the populace as well. We too can turn this ship and become right before God. Perhaps he will have mercy on us.
