Ezra, like his daddy before him, has exceptional balance and coordination. At barely two and a quarter, he has mastered every ride-on toy we own, including his older sister’s pedal bike with training wheels. Not only does he move forward effortlessly, he sits confidently looking ahead while coasting backwards from the edge of the front porch to where the driveway meets the grass about ten feet away. His only drawback seems to be that he prefers being barefoot and is constantly skinning his toes. Half a dozen pairs of shoes sit by the front door and his mom and dad, and his Poppy and I are constantly reminding him to wear them. He may temporarily put on shoes but eventually, off they come and before long he’s wailing over another scrape. You would think he would learn.
Back to the time of the Judges, Israel waffled between their promise to serve God and worship Him only and the melding of their worship with the practices of their pagan neighbors. Outright idolatry was the result and God allowed the consequences of their disloyalty as He promised through both Moses and Joshua to be visited upon them. After the reigns of David and Solomon, separate kings ruled the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The kings either led the people back to God or drove them further away. By the time Manasseh became king in Judah and began rebuilding pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah had ordered destroyed and placing pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, God’s Word of judgement came to Jeremiah.
“Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for these people anymore.”
Jeremiah 14:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.14.11.NLT
Jeremiah reminded God that their prophets were lying to them, promising peace and God’s protection. God assured Jeremiah that He was aware of their deception and would mete out punishment where it was due. Though Jeremiah prophesied for more than forty years, the people failed to respond with repentance and God’s judgment fell as promised. Jeremiah was ignored and mistreated and was himself exiled with the remnant to Egypt. Still Jeremiah interceded for the people of Judah.
“Lord, have you completely rejected Judah?
Do you really hate Jerusalem?
Why have you wounded us past all hope of healing?
We hoped for peace, but no peace came.
We hoped for a time of healing, but found only terror.
Lord, we confess our wickedness and that of our ancestors, too.
We all have sinned against you.
For the sake of your reputation, Lord, do not abandon us.
Do not disgrace your own glorious throne.
Please remember us, and do not break your covenant with us.
Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain?
Does it fall from the sky by itself?
No, you are the one, O Lord our God!
Only you can do such things.
So we will wait for you to help us.”
Jeremiah 14:19-22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.14.19-22.NLT
The prayers of the people were less sincere and God rejected their insincere religious activities.
“The people say, “Our wickedness has caught up with us, Lord, but help us for the sake of your own reputation.
We have turned away from you and sinned against you again and again.”
Jeremiah 14:7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.14.7.NLT
God does not argue with them. He accepts the truth of their words even as He sees through their hypocrisy.
“Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem, or who will grieve for you?
Who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?
You have rejected me, declares the Lord; you keep going backward, so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you— I am weary of relenting.”
Jeremiah 15:5-6 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jer.15.5-6.ESV
Jeremiah was told not to pray any longer for the people of Judah and he was forbidden to mourn for them. He did not marry or have a family at the Lord’s command. He endured hatred from his own people. His entire ministry was an exercise in futility and still he faithfully obeyed the Lord. How?
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation.”
Jeremiah 15:16-17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jer.15.16-17.ESV
With David, Jeremiah recognized that God’s enemies were his enemies, even if they looked like kinsmen. He did not wish destruction on them. He followed them into exile with more messages from the Lord. Learn from what you have seen and heard and endured. Turn and seek the Lord. God allowed pagan nations to chasten His people but Jeremiah prophesied the eventual downfall of those nations as well, calling them judgment from God. God was setting all things in order. His economy ruled the day then and now.
“Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.”
Psalm 139:19-22 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.139.19-22.ESV
May we recognize what the people of Judah did not. Though man looks on the outward appearance, God sees the heart. (I Samuel 16:7) My posture in worship cannot hide an unyielded spirit. My pious sounding prayers may impress some people but not God. Offering up everything I own does not excuse my disobedience.
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:7-10 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.6.7-9.ESV
Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
John 14:15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.14.15.NLT
“Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.
But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people.
No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.”
John 2:23-25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.2.23-25.NLT
“Jesus… knew how fickle human hearts can be.
He needed no one to tell him about human nature, for he fully understood what man was capable of doing.”
John 2:24-25 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.2.24-25.TPT
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.””
John 4:23-24 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.4.23-24.ESV
“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.
There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
