Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Judah had whored after other gods. They had messed with them in the secret places of their homes, the high hills, and even in the middle of the streets. They were a spiritually adulterous people. Even when they experienced the consequences for their actions (Deuteronomy 11:16-17), they didn’t return to God, but doubled down with more whoredom. God was giving them the opportunity to return. God was warning them to return. They had blinded themselves to the effects of God’s correction, and their time before judgment was running out. God reminded them of what happened to Israel, hoping that it would prompt Judah to repent and return to Him. Israel had chosen sin as hard as they could as often as they could and they had been wiped off the country. God didn’t want the same for Judah.

Josiah led a great revival in Judah (2 Kings 23:1-25). Josiah had led the people toward the Lord AND they had seen Israel taken off into captivity. But the people did not move toward the Lord in their HEARTS. God spoke to Jeremiah in the days of this revival and asked the people to consider what happened to Israel. That the Lord had told them to return to Him and they had not. That they had defiled the land and committed spiritual adultery with trees and stones they themselves had made. Then the Lord looked at Judah and noticed that for all of what happened to Israel, Judah had also not turned back. Instead, in their hearts they were yearning after Israel’s ways.

Then the Lord told Jeremiah that Israel who had gradually fallen away was better than Judah who was giving lip service to revival, but in their hearts were idolatrous. Judah had seen the results of sin and were continuing that way themselves. They were more responsible because of the example set before them. The Lord asked His children to return to Him. He promised to give them shepherds to guide them in His ways. He spoke prophetically of the New Covenant and the better covenant it was. Not needing an ark to hold it, but instead Him dwelling INSIDE His people – first the Jew and then the Gentile. He prophesied of Jerusalem being known as the Throne of the Lord to all the nations. That it would turn the nations back to Him. That Israel and Judah would join and again walk together in oneness before Him.

So far Judah had dealt with the Lord like a treacherous spouse. He called on them to return to Him. There would be no help from outside. There would be no help from useless idols or demons. Sin would bring them shame and confusion. The way of sin makes labour useless. They could NOT be saved on their own merit. They needed to turn to God if they wanted to be saved. They needed to obey His voice.

“If you will return, O Israel, says the Lord, return to Me. And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be moved. You shall swear, “As the Lord lives,” in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; then the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory.” (Jeremiah 4:1-2)

The Lord warned Judah to soften their hardened hearts and to accept His offer of repentance. To circumcise their hearts and make their way right with Him. He was warning them. But He knew they would reject His offer. He knew they would refuse Him.

Jeremiah was to proclaim what would happen. He was to go to Jerusalem and tell them that an invasion was imminent. They would be invaded from the north (Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians). Judah and Jerusalem would be conquered. There would be no reprieve. Jeremiah cried to God that it was unfair God promised peace when He was saying judgment was coming. But that peace was conditional on the people obeying Him, which they were refusing to do. This was judgment, but wasn’t even the full judgment they deserved. This was not only fair, but merciful.

The judgment would be like a hot, dry wind from the desert bringing destruction. A wind too strong to stand against. A whirlwind. Yet He also pleaded with them to hear how bad it was going to be and repent so that He didn’t have to let it happen. What had happened to Israel was a warning to all in Judah. There would be a siege against them because of their sins if they didn’t repent. The Lord was executing this judgment, but it was the people who chose it and were insisting on it through their stubborn rebellion.

God wailed in sorrow at what was coming. This grieved the Lord. The Lord was losing the apple of His eye. His beloved children were going to suffer. This was not His plan, this had never been His plan, and this was NOT what He wanted for them. But His children were drunk on their sin. They were not understanding His warnings. They were not paying attention to the signs. Total destruction was coming against them. It would be so bad that mountains and hills would tremble. Still they were stupefied.

The land would be desolate because of this judgment BUT He would not totally end them – which is what they deserved and was His right. He would hold to the judgment. He would not turn it aside. They would be totally conquered. They wouldn’t be able to put a brave face on. It could have no spin to make it palatable. It was going to hurt so bad they would cry out like a woman in a difficult labour. This was going to bring them to the bottom, and this was going to be ugly.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Jeremiah

Key Verse(s): Jeremiah 3:2-3, 14-18, 23-25; 4:1-4, 10-26, 31