Jeremiah 29:15-23
Verses
15-19 may or may not be a second letter from Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon,
and we will leave that argument to wiser folks. This writer has little
interest in such knowledge, in that it misses the message of the Scriptures.
So what is taking place, two men, self-proclaimed prophets, Ahab the son
of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah and they have the minds and hearts
of the people. The old is forever new, not much has changed, we still
have men and women proclaiming what our ears want to hear and claiming they are
God’s spokesperson, yet their message is not in agreement with the Scriptures.
These
false teachers always look away from the moral sins and give flowers of empty
hope, and by not calling sin what God calls it gives license to rebel against
God’s instructions. Such was the case both in Jerusalem and those who had
been carried off to other nations like Babylon. A big part of the message
is, do not listen to crazy guys like Jeremiah who say you're going to be in
Babylon for seventy years, we will be going home very soon.
So
God used Jeremiah’s pen to write and tell them Jerusalem is not going to be the
place you left. He told them the following was about to happen. “Concerning all the people who
dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into
exile: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, behold, I am sending on
them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that
are so rotten they cannot be eaten. I will pursue them with sword, famine,
and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth,
to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where
I have driven them, because they did not pay attention to my words,
declares the Lord, that I persistently sent to you by my servants the
prophets, but you would not listen, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:16b-19)
How
many times has this happened, the pastor is addressing a point in the message
that you are not doing or have had victory over, and in your thinker, you are
saying, give it to them pastor! But often the next point hits you while
you are basking in how righteous you are and that may be what is taking place
as they read this letter. Shall we reread verse 19 and pay attention to
the last part of the verse. “I will do this because they have not listened to
My words” – this is the Lord’s declaration – “that I sent to them with My
servants the prophets time and time again. And you to have not
listened.” This is the Lord’s declaration.”
Now,
do you understand it matters not if it was the first or second letter, as long
as we listen and act on what God has said, and this was the message? “Hear the word of the Lord,
all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Thus says the Lord of
hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the
son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will
deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall
strike them down before your eyes. Because of them this curse shall be
used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like
Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” because
they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with
their neighbors' wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did
not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am witness, declares
the Lord.’”
A
wise man taught me that rebellion brings curses and obedience brings blessing;
choose wisely!
From
the Back Porch,
Bob
Rice
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