Jeremiah: The Word of the LORD Came to Me

 A couple of years ago as God was leading me back into a fellowship of Church and Believers after a few years of hard trials I found myself in what I called the "Land of Oz" and in a Sunday Morning study through the book of Jeremiah.  I wrote a piece a few years ago about it linked here . Like the book of Ecclesiastes changed my life in a Sunday morning book study and birthed this ministry "Living Above the Sun," so this book written by a prophet whose nickname is "The Weeping Prophet" was a sweet gift from my LORD as he gently was leading me back to the life He had called me to live.  It was a sweet gift because He was leading me in repentance for the years of hard living I had just come through.  Sin I never intended to ever do, or thought I could do...I fell hard.  But here I was back in a church pew around people that felt foreign to me.  I was longing for Jesus and His Word, the familiar, the truths I had held near to me.  The theologies I had given my life to study.  The passion for missions.  I feel as if I have struggled to get back to where I was, but God has reminded me that knowing Him, His Word, and His truth is journey...there is no "going back."  There is only continuing forward and into a deeper more intimate knowledge of Him in ways He can only guide us to.  The life I had known in my late teens and twenties was done.  He has new things to show and teach.  It is scary!

Chapter 1 of Jeremiah begins and we see repetitively "The Word of the Lord" "The Lord" "declares the Lord."  I love the complete phrase "The Word of the LORD came to me." (emphasis mine)  I've been reading The Summa Theologies by Thomas Acquinas, it is a deep philosophical read but so so good!  Acquinas in the first part concerning the Trinity explains the mission of God.  God is a sending God.  I have been pondering this truth and rejoicing in it this past week.  God didn't create all we know and leave it be.  He is an active part of His Creation and He has sent His Son and Holy Spirit to interact in our lives.  As someone who has a deep passion for missions, and has served in missions for years it is exciting to know God as a sending God.  In Jeremiah the LORD is sending His Word to and through Jeremiah.

God begins to call out their sins, and its such a gift to read because we can find ourselves in this and repent as we read verse by verse:

Sin (2:11) - "But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols."

Our response - Glorious are You, God!  I cast my worthless idols down, there is no glory in them.

Sin (2:13) - "They have forsaken me the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

Our response - We have forsaken You, God.  Only You satisfy our lives.  We repent of trying our own way and coming up with nothing compared to you.

God also provides promises to His people Israel and Judah.  He says, "Return, you faithless, and even though you are faithless I am faithful.  I'll not be angry forever, just acknowledge your sin." (3:12-13)

The Lord goes on to say, "I will give you (I will SEND you) shepherds after my own heart who will lead you with knowledge and understanding."  I prayed this for my own life, God give me shepherds in my life who will lead me and teach me. [study this verse (3:15)!  start with Acts 20:28]

God sends His Word to us so that we will obey.  He doesn't leave us in the dark unsure of what we did wrong, or how to get ourselves out of the messes we make.  God really loves us!  He isn't standing around waiting for us to sin so He can destroy us.  He is shouting from every prophet, "I love you!  Turn back to me!  The One who has chosen You, and lead you all the way!  The One who can manage your messes.  The One who is greater than these idols of stone and wood (for us today plastic and glass screens).  Our obedience matters to our children's children.  

We receive Your Word God, may we walk worthy of Your glories God, and stand in awe of You.