August 12: Jeremiah 18-22

August 12, Jeremiah 18-22

Jeremiah 18 We are offered here a fantastic illustration about God’s prerogative and will. God told Jeremiah to go the the potters house - a guy that makes pottery. So Jeremiah obeyed. The potter was making a vessel of clay that was spoiled, or no good. So, he reworked another vessel using the clay because it seemed good to him. What is God’s point? God can do this with Israel. Like the clay that the potter holds, is like Israel being in God’s hands. If God wants to rework them, He can. If God wants to pluck them out, He can. All God wants is for them to repent and amend their evil deeds. But they refused to repent. 

Israel has done many horrible things, including forgetting God. God will be turning His back on them.

Then there was another conspiracy against Jeremiah. Basically, he was having traps set up by his enemies. Jeremiah tells God not to forgive them…

Jeremiah 19 God told Jeremiah to grab a broken jar and go before the elders and people. He was to tell them that God was bringing disaster upon them because they have forsaken God, profaned God, and worshipped other gods. It is going to get so bad that the people of Judah will turn to cannibalism to survive. Then Jeremiah broke the jar illustrating that God will break them. Jeremiah needed to obey even when it was hard, especially when its hard.

Jeremiah 20 Jeremiah was persecuted by Pashhur, the priest. Pashhur was a chief officer and heard what Jeremiah had said. He beat Jeremiah and threw him in prison. The next day Jeremiah was released and Jeremiah told him that God isn't going to call him Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side (nice name…).  God was going to make Pashhur a terror to everyone around him, send him to captivity with his family, and he will die there - because he prophecies falsely.

Then Jeremiah goes into a bit of complaining mode (he wasn't perfect!). But then Jeremiah confesses that when God’s words are in him, he will burst if he doesn't share them. Jeremiah has people against him on every side, but the Lord is with him! He also asks the Lord to take vengeance on his enemies. In one line he is praising God and the next he is cursing the day he was born. Obviously we get to see the human side of Jeremiah! But he was going to God. 

Jeremiah 21 The Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah again when he was with Pashhur and Zephaniah the priest. They asked him to inquire of the Lord because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon was going to make war against them. God’s response was basically declared judgment on Judah. God himself will fight against Judah, without compassion. God’s face is now against them and they will be given into the hands of Babylon. They will be punished by God for going against God. 

Jeremiah 22 God told Jeremiah again to go to the King of Judah. Jeremiah encouraged him to do good. Be righteous. Do justice. Do no wrong. Take care of the underdogs. If he would obey, they would be delivered. But if they do not they will become desolate. People will be talking it will be so bad, and it will all be because they did not repent from their sins and worshipping other gods. They will be kicked out and they shall die where they were not born.

To sum it all up: 

• We too, have traps set up by our enemies. Be cautious about the snares that are put before you to cause you to stumble.
• Like Jeremiah, we need to obey - even when it means ridicule and strife. Sure, Jeremiah complained - but he complained to God! That is where our complaints belong. 
• Again, the continual message from Jeremiah is the same: Repent of their sins. Return to God. Be redeemed.
• This same message is for us today. Let’s not be as stubborn as the Israelites and people of Judah!