Jeremiah was told to go and stand at the entrance to the temple of God and speak a strong message to the people of Israel who were going in to worship. He was to preach as they entered or left, calling them to repentance and away from the deception of empty religion. He would be considered a fanatic today and would probably be heckled or possibly even be arrested for disturbing the peace. Let’s consider his message.
“Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”–safe to do all these detestable thing? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching declares the Lord!” (Jeremiah 7:9-11) Jeremiah had a tough message for a hardened people. They were so hard that God told him not to pray for them any more. He would not listen to prayers for them. (Jeremiah 7:16) He also told Jeremiah that the people would not listen to his message from Him either. (Jeremiah 7:27-8) Jeremiah was to cut off his hair and throw it away and take up a lament for this lost people who were beyond God’s help.
Wow, this is hard stuff! Why would God have Jeremiah preach this message if they would not listen? Why would God tell Jeremiah not to pray? Was God unmerciful? Would He not give them another chance? A principle of God is that preaching brings responsibility and, if there is no response, judgment. Prayer postpones judgment. God had given these people opportunity to repent by sending many prophets. They had rejected the message again and again until the only remedy left was God’s wrath! (Jeremiah 7:20, 25-26)
Because of sin, man has a blind spot. He tends to think that God doesn’t see what is done in darkness. When God doesn’t judge immediately, he tends to think that God may be soft or senile. None of these presumptions are true. God is watching everything and will judge the evil and reward the good. His eyes penetrate the darkness and it is as light to Him. He even sees inside and knows the motives and thoughts of our hearts. Respond today if you hear His voice!
“The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”” “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” (Jeremiah 1:4-6)
Have you ever made excuses for why you can’t do something? Has your mom or dad or preacher ever asked you to do something and you looked for all the reasons why you couldn’t? Have you felt fear rise in your heart at the thought of beginning a new job or going to school? Because of sin and Satan, we are creatures bound by fears and centered on ourselves. Change is often difficult and we become our own worst enemy by positing endless excuses.
Jeremiah was a young man when God spoke to him about a plan for his life. This plan would take Jeremiah out of his comfort zone and involved public speaking. Jeremiah was being called to speak before nations, not just the local people. He immediately thought up some excuses! “I can’t speak” and “I am only a child” came first into his mind. Public speaking is one of the top fears even today. I know personally that as a young man, I was terrified to get up in front of people.
God immediately rebuked Jeremiah and told him to stop his excuses. God made promises to Jeremiah to calm his fears. He told him that He would be with him and rescue him! What comfort that should have brought! I wonder if Jeremiah’s mind raced to think of the kind of dangers that God might rescue him from?
God also touched Jeremiah’s mouth and put His words in his mouth. He spoke a prophetic word to Jeremiah that would define his mission. “See today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:10) He then gave him a vision of an almond tree. This tree was the first tree to bloom in Israel and signaled the coming of spring. Everyone watched the almond to know when spring had arrived. God promised Jeremiah, “I am watching to see that My word is fulfilled.” (Jeremiah 1:12) God knows how to deal with our excuses!