Day 3
Day 3 - Judgement is coming
(12/05/2008) - (16/05/2008)Prepare
‘… the Lord is the true God’ (Jeremiah 10:10). Name some of the influences on your life just now. Then dare to declare over each of them that the Lord is the true God and he has first place in your life.Read
Jeremiah 12:1-17Explore
Some doctrines are more palatable than others. It’s comforting to know that God is gracious and merciful to repentant sinners. It’s quite uncomfortable, however, to recognise that God is also a righteous Judge who justly punishes those who insist on rebelling against him. As Jeremiah faces the recurring question of why God allows evil people to prosper (vs 1,2), he receives a simple answer: they may prosper for a while but their judgement will come soon when God allows fierce invaders to destroy their land (vs 12,13).
Some people are quick to reject the uncomfortable idea of a God who punishes wrongdoing. They imagine it forces us to believe in a callous and vicious God who casually smites the weak. But look closely at verses 7–10 and you will see the sorrow that underlies God’s decision to exercise judgement. He is allowing the one he loves to suffer (v 7); the people are his own ‘inheritance’ and he is permitting that to be ruined (v 9); it is his own vineyard that will be trampled (v 10). Can you feel the sadness in God’s words? He is just and therefore he will judge rebellion, but this gives him no pleasure. In fact, his real longing is that beyond judgement his people will return to him (vs 15,16).Respond
Ask God’s Spirit to reveal to you the depth of his sorrow over your sin and his profound desire that when you have strayed from his ways (and perhaps felt the uncomfortable consequences) you should return to him with all your heart.
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