August 8 - Jeremiah 5-8
There is a definite theme for today's passage, and it is a great lesson for all of us. Jeremiah 5:3 says, "O Lord, are not Your eyes on the truth?" With that question the Lord gets us to focus on what He is looking for in us and in our society. God desires truth. He is looking for it constantly. He loves to find people living by His truth. In the case of Israel and even the USA there has been a drastic turn away from the truth. God sees this, and He realizes that He must bring punishment to people who operate on falsehood, so they will see the error of their ways. (5:9) His punishment to Israel was very just. He declared that since they wanted to serve foreign gods so much, he would have them sent away into a foreign land so they could serve them there. (5:19) This is the response of the logical God of truth to those who rejected the truth.
It seems that as long as there was a chance for the people to hear the truth God withheld His punishment, but when the prophets, the priests, and the people turned from the truth, God knew that the battle for the truth had been lost. (5:31) The reason He sent the Babylonians to destroy them was that was the only way they would listen to His instruction. The God of truth wants His people to receive His instruction, and He will do what it takes to get His point across. (6:8) Even when He revealed His plan to send Babylon, the people did not listen. The Word of God was a reproach to them. (6:10b) They continued to sin. (6:13) He saw the fruit of their thoughts. (6:19b) He knew they were listening to the lies of those who said that God had to bless them, because His Temple was in Jerusalem. (7:4) They were trusting in the lie that God looks at sacrifices instead of obedience. (7:23) They were going backward instead of forward. Truth had perished from the land. (7:28) What an indictment for the people who had the Word of God given to them! Could the same be said about the USA today? If it is not true now, the time is fast approaching. We must realize that God looks for truth. He judges by His truth. We must live by His truth, and not our lies. He is watching and testing us constantly. (6:27) He will do what it takes to get our attention so truth does not get lost in the sea of falsehood. I urge you to base your life on His truth and to do your part to spread His truth.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 8-10.
It seems that as long as there was a chance for the people to hear the truth God withheld His punishment, but when the prophets, the priests, and the people turned from the truth, God knew that the battle for the truth had been lost. (5:31) The reason He sent the Babylonians to destroy them was that was the only way they would listen to His instruction. The God of truth wants His people to receive His instruction, and He will do what it takes to get His point across. (6:8) Even when He revealed His plan to send Babylon, the people did not listen. The Word of God was a reproach to them. (6:10b) They continued to sin. (6:13) He saw the fruit of their thoughts. (6:19b) He knew they were listening to the lies of those who said that God had to bless them, because His Temple was in Jerusalem. (7:4) They were trusting in the lie that God looks at sacrifices instead of obedience. (7:23) They were going backward instead of forward. Truth had perished from the land. (7:28) What an indictment for the people who had the Word of God given to them! Could the same be said about the USA today? If it is not true now, the time is fast approaching. We must realize that God looks for truth. He judges by His truth. We must live by His truth, and not our lies. He is watching and testing us constantly. (6:27) He will do what it takes to get our attention so truth does not get lost in the sea of falsehood. I urge you to base your life on His truth and to do your part to spread His truth.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 8-10.