A message to ancient Israel. A message to us today?
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:
“‘Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land…But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols.”
Jeremiah 7:3,5-6
Let’s work on this from bottom to top. What is an idol? It is an object or person that you give some of your very highest admiration–such that your attention to that object or person exceeds your attention to God. Do you have anything or anybody like that? Is there a certain show that you just can’t miss? Is there an activity that is absolutely going to happen in your week? How does your devotion to the living God compare? What does your wallet say? What does your calendar say? Will they stand up and confess against you in the last day?
And why does God say to push idols aside–because he is an attention hog and doesn’t want you to enjoy yourself? No, he wants you to stop harming yourself by your devotion to idols. Such misplaced attention is harmful to you.
God also cares very much not only for you but for all of those rotten people around you that you don’t like and would rather were not around or those you just wish were dead. He cares for them just as much as he does you. He also cares for all of those people who are in bad situations–foreigners, orphans, and windows–and expects you to care for them as well (and dare I say, reach out and help).
God also is big on justice. In fact, his very nature is to see that justice is fulfilled. He can defer justice for a time but cannot allow any wrong to remain in the end. He gives us the opportunity and commands us (rather than seeking our own justice) to provide for justice to those around us. This might include not cheating on our taxes or on our time card or giving people credit where credit is due rather than taking it for ourselves.
Oh, and God expects you not just to do all of these things but to repair your thought life so that your mind isn’t full of garbage and warring against your right thoughts regarding how you know you should behave.
This all sounds very hard, doesn’t it. It is good news to hear from Paul in the New Testament when he says
Philippians 4:10-14 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
Many like to use the verse “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” to say I can be the best basketball player or stock broker or … but don’t you think from the context that, more than those things, it means God provides us the ability to do His will for us like what we’ve seen in Jeremiah–to have good thoughts, to have deeds that follow those thoughts, to act justly, to do mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Praise God that as we lean on Him that he provides for us the ability to live right regardless of our circumstances.
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