Day 5
Day 5 - The uncomfortable truth
(12/05/2008) - (16/05/2008)Prepare
‘I will give them a heart to know me …’ (24:7). Reflect on what you know in your heart about God. Think of how God has revealed his character to you. Then give him thanks because he is fulfilling a longing in you to know him.Read
Jeremiah 23:1-32Explore
‘Everything’s all right.’ That was the message that most of the prophets were bringing to Israel (v 17). It made people feel good about themselves, it boosted their self-esteem and it made the prophets popular. It was a kind of flattery. The only problem was that this was not the word of God (vs 16,25–27). And that’s a big problem! Their words were doing no good; they were speaking judgement on themselves (vs 30–32). Any of us who dare to speak God’s word, whether in prophecy or teaching from the Bible, must be aware of the serious responsibility we have (see James 3:1).
Jeremiah sacrificed popularity for truth. He spoke the message of judgement that people did not want to hear (v 2). Yet this was not a message without hope. He announced that when the people had faced up to their rebellion and repented, God would again restore them (vs 3,4) and appoint a righteous king to lead them (v 5). The ‘righteous Branch’ is clearly a reference to the Messiah, Jesus, who would be the ultimate king. (Isaiah also uses the picture of the Messiah as a ‘Branch’, see Isaiah 11:1,2.) But Jeremiah says there is no shortcut to that future. He refuses to speak sugar-coated words.Respond
Are you familiar with the temptation to tell people what they want to hear rather than help them face the truth? The Bible tells us to speak the truth in love (see Ephesians 4:15). Make that your aim today.
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