God’s Word as a hammer!
Scripture reading for August 9th: Jeremiah 21-25
“Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. for what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29
When we were much younger and had small children we were in a church that sang Scripture songs. A lady named Laura would use her King James Bible and lead us in singing. One of the songs we sang was from these verses in Jeremiah. My youngest son, Marshal, loved this song and is now preaching God’s Word!
Jeremiah had to deliver some hard messages to his own peers in the ministry of that day. He spoke a word to the shepherds of that day and accused them of scattering the sheep and destroying them. (Jeremiah 23:1-3) They were not caring for God’s people and were bringing about their death and captivity. The shepherds he was talking to were the kings of Judah. He warned them repeatedly but few appreciated his warnings! (Jeremiah 22:11-12) (Jeremiah 22:28-30)
God, Himself, promised to raise up a ‘righteous Branch’ from the line of David who would restore justice and save the nation. (Jeremiah 23:5-6) This righteous king would bring God’s people out of captivity in the lands where they would be scattered and bring them into their own land. (Jeremiah 23:7-8)
The godless priests and prophets were the cause of the people going astray. They committed adultery and lived a lie. They prophesied by Baal, the false idol of the Canaanites.(Jeremiah 23:13-14) They told people who were living in sin that they would have peace when God’s word said they would have trouble. (Jeremiah 23:16-17) God was sending a storm that would destroy the wicked and these prophets should have been giving them God’s word to turn around.
Jeremiah saw the word of God as a fire that would burn out the dross of sin and bring judgment on the wicked. Jeremiah saw God’s word as being a strong hammer that could shatter the hardened hearts. Jeremiah’s heart was broken and his bones trembled at the thought of God’s holy words and their supernatural power. (Jeremiah 23:9)
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