Jeremiah 14 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
I have often wondered why Christians have not been more vocal in their support of all things relating to nature. We believe God created the world and therefore matter is good. We believe He gave the land of Israel to His chosen people. We believe he often speaks about sending rain on just and unjust and a common refrain of peace and tranquility is every man under his vine and fig tree (I Kings 4:25; II Kings 18:3; Is 36:16).
On the other hand, the land can suffer from the sins of God’s people. (Jer 14:1ff; 12:11ff; 23:10; Is 33:9; Hosea 4:3). The land and even animals suffer due to what God is working in and through His people. Of course, every time we hit a dry spell or receive too much rain we ought not to conclude that we are sinning. But three have been connections with nature and sin in the past. This covers Jer 14:1-6
In verse 14:7-9, Jeremiah offers a confession of guilt and sin. Jeremiah’s beautiful words are a paradigm of how to repent. “. . . for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. . . . 9 we are called by your name; do not leave us.” Jeremiah’s prayer is so honest, so God- centered as he lays the blame on himself and his people and exonerates God. When you confess, remember to be honest. Keep from sugar-coating your sins. Just say our backslidings are many, we have sinned against you. As you know, all sin is against God. All sin is treachery and treason against a perfect, loving, just God who wants the best for you. Every time we sin we are choosing bondage over freedom. So when you repent, tell God what He already knows.
Most of the time when people repent and confess, God forgives. It is not automatic but it almost seems that way at times. You almost think, “If I repent, He will forgive? Look at verses 10ff, “10 Thus says the LORD concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.”11 The LORD said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12 Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.” This is stunning. God has had it with their refusal to listen and obey. But Jeremiah does not stop.
Jeremiah tells God (what God already knows) that the prophets are reassuring God’s people saying there will be peace. God answers by saying those prophets are not My prophets. The world is filled with lies in religion, work, school, politics, media, families, and in us. But to claim you are speaking for God when you aren’t, you are asking for judgment. That is a serious, serious miscalculation. I fear that many religious speakers and authors will have a bad time when they meet God.
As you read vs. 17ff, you see the heart of a faithful prophet. A Pastor should have this same heart. Jeremiah is so hungry for God that sin bothers him deeply. If you didn’t care, it would be easier to be a teacher, a nurse, a parent, grandparent, or pastor. But the best people within their calling care deeply. Those around them know it. Oh, how Jeremiah loved God and loved God’s people. You see this depth of love with our Lord, “37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” Matt 23:37. Of course our Lord’s love is deeper than Jeremiah or Paul. Yet a true Christian leader loves deeply.
One way to love others is to remember that you can be a hard person to love and to live with and yet God loves you beyond comprehension (Eph 3:19). His love for you is overwhelming. If God not only forgives you, but includes you in His family, provides you with all the benefits of His cross, and loves you more deeply than any human can, we certainly ought to be able to love our brothers and sisters. Yes, we might not vote the same way, view life the same way, school our children the same. But can’t we still look others in the eye and say I love you?