Hope in Jeremiah

I have been stuck in my Bible reading. The longer I am stuck the more questions I have. I have been reading in Jeremiah. He is called the “weeping prophet” because he literally wept over Judah. Jeremiah stays faithful to God through 40 years and 5 kings. The five kings were Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. Jeremiah learned first-hand from Josiah who tried to reinstate the old laws of Israel. God said that Josiah was a good king.

Jeremiah’s audience is not serving God in any form. The priests are giving sermons that God didn’t give them. The prophets are prophesying and none of the prophets are hearing from God. They are making up their own dreams and saying God gave them the dreams. They are basically ignoring everything Jeremiah says.

In Jeremiah 5 God is saying, “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, and search through the squares. In other words, look high and low, look in every crook and cranny; see if you can find one person who deals honestly with the truth. If you can fine this one person, I will forgive the city. “

In Jeremiah 14 the Lord says to Jeremiah, “Do not pray for the well-being of these people.” Remember how the Prophets are prophesying lies and saying they are from God. I have not sent them; I have not appointed them, and I do not have any relationship with these false prophets.

The saddest chapter to me is Jeremiah15:1. Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! The Message says it this way:  Then God said to me: “Jeremiah, even if Moses and Samuel stood here and made their case, I wouldn’t feel a thing for this people. Get them out of here. Tell them to get lost!

WAIT—STOP—God in Exodus 12 is defending Moses to Miriam & Aaron. God says all the other prophets I gave dreams, but with Moses I talked to him face to face. And Samuel was a fair judge. He loved God and obeyed Him without question. Samuel earned God’s favor because he steadfastly followed God. But here in Jeremiah 15:1 we have God saying it wouldn’t matter if these two prophets were standing here it would not matter. Fast forward with me to Chapter 27 All of Judah ends up serving Nebuchadnezzar. His armies took every able-bodied man, woman, and child. The ones that didn’t fall into this category were left behind. Don’t give up, keep reading.

Here is where we need to be. There is hope. God didn’t leave them. Jeremiah sent a letter from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets and all the other ones who were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. Here is our reminder that we may be down for a season, but God loves us. He cares for us. He will pick us up. He will carry us through. He will hold each one of us and give us hope!

Jeremiah 29:11– I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

God Bless,

Pastor Wanda