THE LORD SPOKE (October 28)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Jeremiah 40-42

Jeremiah’s preferred name for the Lord in this chapter is “the LORD, the God of Israel” or “the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel” (see Jer. 42:9,15,18 and continuing usage in the next chapter). But something else is going on here. Notice how, when the Israelites speak to Jeremiah they refer to “the LORD your God” (Jer. 42:2,5) but Jeremiah turns it back to them and says “the LORD your God” (Jer. 42:4). In something of a let’s-get-him-off-our-back attitude, they finally reply “the LORD our God” (Jer. 42:6ff).

But do they mean it? Certainly not. Though Jeremiah reminds them of their promise to “the LORD your God” several more times (Jer. 42:13,20,21) and they respond once more with “the LORD our God” (Jer. 42:20), when push came to shove, “all the people disobeyed the LORD’s command” (Jer. 43:4).

Why do we play games with God? It’s common enough for children raised in a Christian home to not take personal possession of “the God of their fathers”. Indeed, there must sooner or later come a crisis moment when they make that decision for themselves and enter a personal relationship with the Lord. But what’s more worrisome is the older believer who should know better but doesn’t listen or doesn’t respond properly to the Lord in his life.

That rarely comes as a sudden blowout. Usually it starts as a small leak. Some pet sin, probably “small” in itself, is condoned or cherished. We ignore it and slow leaks begin to appear in other areas. Before long, our spiritual life is flat. We no longer have that vital, personal contact with the Lord. He becomes something for church, or something from a previous life, or something distant that doesn’t really matter any more.

What’s the remedy? A daily, devotional walk with the Lord where you seek His face in the Scriptures. Listen to His word. Keep your heart soft to hear when He speaks to you. Pray over the words you’re reading. Ask Him to bring direction to your life through your Bible reading. He promises to do it,

For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates
even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare
before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13

Psalms 83-84

Will it be this way forever? It seems all the world is against Israel. Already 3000 years ago, the enemies surrounded the nation on every side! Psalm 83 lists them: north/south and east/west. They include Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites - Ishmaelites all. They are Philistines, Assyrians, Midianites and Canaanites of every kind.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Today the little nation is still surrounded by enemies on every side. Even those who have so-called “peace agreements” continually aid and abet the others who are arrayed against Israel. Even her friends place great pressure on her. With friends like that, she hardly needs enemies. So the beleaguered nation cries out:

Make them like tumbleweed, O my God,
Like chaff before the wind.
As a fire consumes the forest
Or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
So pursue them with your tempest
And terrify them with your storm. (Ps. 83:13-15)

Did God do it? Yes, indeed. Not one of those nations still exists, but Israel does. So why does the situation repeat itself today? Because God is not done with Israel. He is still molding that nation to His own purposes. So long as Israel does not submit fully to Him, He is obligated to place enemies on her borders and within who will inflict pain to accomplish God’s purposes. Individuals may repent and prosper but the nation has still to learn the lesson.

The Sons of the Pioneers had an entirely different thought in mind, but their famous song has an interesting application here: See them tumbling down; pledging their love to the ground...drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds. The nations are adrift, spiraling downward, and pledged to the Underworld in their opposition to Israel. Israel herself will survive because of God’s eternal covenant with her. But she will continue to suffer so long as her heart is not turned toward God.

And, as it goes with Israel, so it goes with us.

Repent and submit to Him!