God will Rescue His People
Isaiah 1:19-20 (NIV)
“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword…” – Isaiah 1:19-20 (NIV)
Jeremiah was gravely concerned for the people of Judah because of their rejection of God’s laws. His task was to deliver God’s messages of coming judgement to that rebellious nation. For this, he was hated. They did not want to hear about their wrongdoings and sought to silence him.
But this was not all that Jeremiah had to say to them. He spoke God’s Word of restoration and blessing, which would follow if they were obedient and turned away from sin. It included:
- Doing what was just and right, doing no violence to foreigners, the fatherless or widows, and not to shed innocent blood (Jeremiah 22:3-4).
- Being restored after bondage where they will be fruitful and increase in number. They will no longer be afraid or terrified (Jeremiah 23:3-4).
- Seeking and finding the Lord with all their heart (Jeremiah 29:13-14).
Not unlike the days of Jeremiah, people today would rather enjoy the pleasures of sin, which last only for a season and hardly give thought to the consequences. We see the results of sinful practices around us daily: children being disobedient to parents and causing physical and emotional pain, dishonest practices of adults causing loss of jobs and pay, sexual immorality bringing pain to the victims and shame to the family, infidelity resulting in separation and divorce, and much more.
God desires for all mankind to know and experience His love and for His children (believers) to be His mouthpiece against all injustices. When we fail to speak out, we allow injustices to continue to the extent that we become partakers in the evil practices around us. As God directed Jeremiah what to say to His people, pray and ask God to use you in a similar manner to speak the power of God to evil-doers. He will guide you through.
Prayer
Lord, we stand before You today guilty of remaining silent when we should have spoken or acted to correct the wrongs we witness daily around us. Help us to be strong to speak up against evil and call out the injustices meted out against those who are powerless to defend themselves. Thank You for protecting us from every kind of danger, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Read: Psalm 91:1-4; Jeremiah 29:10-12
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 73:1-14; Acts 7:44-60; Acts 8:1-3; 2 Samuel 18:19-33; 2 Samuel 19
