Take Heed to the Warnings

Today's chapter in Jeremiah is almost like people who watch the weather channel. While outside the sky is completely dark and the winds are howling, they continue living as though nothing is happening. The weatherman is predicting a hurricane and suggests that everyone needs to evacuate. However, there are several individuals who believe that because of who they are, the hurricane will go right around them. They choose to ignore the wind, whipping the trees furiously. They ignore the fact that rain is being dumped on them in buckets. They refuse to recognize the fact that the sky is as dark as it can be, even at night. They have convinced themselves that what the weatherman is predicting about the hurricane, surely won't bother them. By then, it is too late. The roof is gone. Their house and all within it is completely flooded. They end up dying.

My friends, all the warning signs were there. There were even recommendations as to what they ought to do in order to avoid the devastation and destruction. This is where we find the similarity in Jeremiah 6.

Five different times in this chapter, Jeremiah gives clear indication as to the authority of his message. He let it be known that he is not making this information up. He uses the phrase, "Thus says the Lord.”

Unyielding Oppression - 6.1-8

Jerusalem’s destruction is so inevitable that Jeremiah sees the invasion from the Babylonians as if it had already taken place. The only way to safety was for them to flee the city. No longer would Jerusalem be a place of safety, because it was going to be destroyed. They were told that destruction was coming from the north. Jeremiah was giving the people plenty of warning.

Jeremiah 6:2 “The comely and dainty one, the daughter of Zion, I will cut off.” Many translations use the phrase beautiful and delicate. We get the distinct impression that Jerusalem, at one time, was looked upon as a beautiful city where justice, help, and wealth prevailed. However, it would no longer be seen that way.

We see that as Babylon is on its way to Jerusalem, they are leaving a wake of destruction in their path. They were seen as shepherds with flocks, eating and destroying everything in their path. In verse 3, we see the phrase, “they will pasture each in his place.” This is a literal phrase for devastating. This was not going to be a neat, clean operation. When God has to discipline or punish, it is not always a pretty sight.

We can tell that Babylon was intent on destroying Jerusalem. Their plan was to attack at noon, when soldiers would not normally do battle. But because the day was drawing to a close, they would make a night attack. God is once again using an evil nation, to accomplish His purposes. Babylon is God's agent of judgment against the people of Judah during Jeremiah's time.

The nation which had so been blessed by God is now seen as an oppressive nation. We see this in the last part of Jeremiah 6:6 “This is the city to be punished, In whose midst there is only oppression.” But it gets worse as we read Jeremiah 6:7 “As a well keeps its waters fresh, So she keeps fresh her wickedness. Violence and destruction are heard in her; Sickness and wounds are ever before Me.” This implies that Jerusalem is no longer capable of doing good, but only in doing evil.

Yeah, once again, we need to read Jeremiah 6:8 ““Be warned, O Jerusalem, Or I shall be alienated from you, And make you a desolation, A land not inhabited.”” Here we see God offering that ray of hope. And this ray of hope is seen in the phrase "be warned."

In Christian circles, is it possible that we could face the same danger as Judah? It seems that at one point in time, people would look to the churches and know that they would be treated in a Christlike manner. They knew they would be welcomed and loved and taught God's Word. Today, are churches seen this way? This is not to suggest that we go contrary to the Bible.But personal preferences must never supersede the word of God states.

The people of Judah were told to take heed to the warnings. As we go to the next section, we see another reason why judgment was required.

Ungodly Leadership - 6.9-15

Jeremiah 6:9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, “They will thoroughly glean as the vine the remnant of Israel; Pass your hand again like a grape gatherer Over the branches.”” We can read that this invasion is going to be thorough. Judah is likened to a vineyard and every cluster of grapes was to be gone over with a fine tooth comb.

Sadly, the people seem to thumb their noses at God. In verse 10 we read "their ears are closed, and they cannot listen. Behold the word of the Lord has become a reproach to them; they have no delight in it." They are like a little child whose parent is giving instructions, while the child covers his ears and makes all kinds of noise, all the while saying, "I can’t hear you." Jeremiah basically felt like any further warnings is useless to the people. The people didn’t care, plus they refused to listen to God.

Can you imagine being in a situation like the prophet Jeremiah? The message from God still had to go forth to a people who didn't care. Yet, Jeremiah knew what had to be done. It did not matter what the peoples response was going to be. We see in verses 10-11 that Jeremiah knew that he had to preach the message that the Lord gave him. This message was a harsh message. Even children and the elderly, who would normally be protected, were going to find themselves as recipients of God's wrath.

If this seems unfair, Jeremiah spells out the sins in Jeremiah 6:13–15 ““For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is greedy for gain, And from the prophet even to the priest Everyone deals falsely. “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace. “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.”

Going back to verse 12, we see the graphic display of violence with property and family members: ““Their houses shall be turned over to others, Their fields and their wives together; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the Lord.”

Because of the people’s greed, they're going to lose everything. For the majority of the inhabitants, having possessions and being accepted in an ungodly society meant more than having a godly name. As a result, they were going to be destroyed.

But there is even a deeper reason. The spiritual leaders had not even called the people to walk in godliness and uprightness. Instead, they had promised peace and prosperity, even while practicing ungodliness themselves.

The priest and the prophets had completely misled the people into believing there would be peace. It was almost like the power of positive thinking theology that was being promoted. As a result, the people saw no wrong in their sins and had no shame. Even verse 15 has the sentence, "they did not even know how to blush.” people were so accustomed to sin, they were actually not even open to God's truth.

Sometimes, as Christians, there is a desire to believe that we are beyond Judah’s way of thinking. However, we must recognize that it is much easier to preach and teach a message on love and acceptance, then it is to call people to walk in godliness and uprightness. It is much safer to say "I am OK and you're OK," than it is to say, "we both have some correction that needs to take place." It is much easier to let people do their own thing to call people to account. Demanding a lifestyle of godliness and holiness has never been acceptable to those who believe in a "feel good" theology.

Sadly, many within churches, as well as people across our nation "do not even know how to blush." It is quite unfortunate when believers get to the point where we don’t even blush at sin, yet when given the opportunity to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to someone who is headed for hell, there is a sad tendency to blush and be embarrassed.

Jeremiah was warning them to take heed to the warnings. Yet, the people of Judah had a much deeper problem that causes us to shake our heads in disbelief.

Unrepentant Attitude - 6.16-30

Jeremiah 6:16–17 “Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ “And I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’”

Jeremiah, presents us with an incredible mental picture. You can almost see them standing at the crossroads, attempting to decide which direction they should go. Instead of asking for advice, they simply state that they will not go the way in which they are supposed to go.

Of course, the way in which they needed to go was the same way of today; repentance, reconciliation, and love of God. The other path leads to death. It is interesting and sad to observe how many people today try to reinvent the Bible and what it has to say. They attempt to make the Bible more acceptable; more palatable; more politically correct; rather than accept the Bible as the absolute authority. There is a continual watering down of the Word of God based upon cultural norms. My friends, that is the pathway that leads to death.

What was about to take place in Jeremiah's time was all the surrounding people would observe the judgment upon Judah for her wickedness. She would end up being an object lesson for all nations and peoples.

God also reminded Judah, that it didn't matter how costly their sacrifices may have been, they were worthless. Whenever giving does not come from a heart of love for the Lord and a desire to be obedient to him, that kind of giving is not pleasing to God.

We can learn from this, as well. It does not matter how much we give, whether it be time, talents, or money. Unless we give out of a heart of love for the Lord, and are walking uprightly with him, it is worthless. God can still use money, talents, and time that are given, even when given with a heart of selfishness. However, the giver will not experience the blessing.

Jeremiah warns the people that they are about to be invaded by a cruel nation that will nearly destroy them. The picture is of devastation that would strike fear into the bravest of hearts.

Jeremiah 6:27–30 ““I have made you an assayer and a tester among My people, That you may know and assay their way.” All of them are stubbornly rebellious, Going about as a talebearer. They are bronze and iron; They, all of them, are corrupt. The bellows blow fiercely, The lead is consumed by the fire; In vain the refining goes on, But the wicked are not separated. They call them rejected silver, Because the Lord has rejected them.” God reminds the people that they have had every chance possible to repent. Yet, just in case there are those who still feel that this is not fair, God will have them tested to see if there is any worth in them. In verse 28, the phrase stubbornly rebellious, would literally read "rebellious of the rebellious." The moral character of the people is absolutely inferior. That is why "bronze and iron" are used instead of the silver and gold that should have been used. Here we see the lead is so impure and unfit that there is no alloy to remove as a reward for the refiner.

In summary, the nation of Judah had rejected God. As a result, God has rejected the nation. In addition, other people and nations, see Judah as garbage, also. Therefore, judgment is necessary.

With all of our freedoms in North America, in particular the United States, have we become unrepentant in our attitude? Have we, as a nation developed an attitude of arrogance? What about the churches that claim to be representing Jesus Christ, yet are not doing so? If God were to put all of this to the test, would he find any value?

Conclusion

You have to admit that Jeremiah was quite a man. He was given a message that never would have made some of our religious magazines, TV programs, Christian blogs, etc. Instead, he was to present this particular message to a people who really didn't care. If you make the comparison to today, we might say that they were simply playing church. Jeremiah was charged with giving them warning after warning, pointing out to them the reasons they have brought judgment upon themselves.

Today, we must take heed to the warnings. We must be diligent and helping others and not be oppressive. We must encourage godly leadership. That involves a willingness on each of our parts to be held accountable to a godly lifestyle. We must also ask God to test us and try us, making certain there is not an unrepentant attitude with us. We must have pliable spirits, that are willing to be shaped into the image of Jesus Christ.