Fear No Fear

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

Jeremiah’s girdle wasn’t some waist trimming device. It was a kind of sash, similar to a belt, but more. They were used to hold their robes together, but the robes could also be pulled up and tucked into them so that they could run and fight without restriction. They were often decorated and were a source of pride, pulling the whole outfit together and announcing the social and financial status of the person wearing it. They were a big deal.

The Lord told Jeremiah to get a linen girdle and put it around his waist. It was a symbol of how the Lord had wrapped the Israelites around Himself. He had made them cling to Him. They were also a source of pride, something God was showing off to the whole world. Jeremiah wore this linen girdle for a period of time. Then the Lord spoke to him and had him bury it beside the Euphrates river in a hole in a rock. The Israelites would be taken and buried away from their land. But they would still exist. Waiting to be recovered. After many days, God told him to go get it. He did and it was ruined. Deteriorated and filthy. Useful for nothing. And the Lord said to him that this was exactly how he was going to ruin the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.

The evil people who were actively refusing to listen to God and whoring after idols would be as useless as this girdle. God wanted to have the whole house of Israel and Judah to cling to Him like a girdle, His people, renown for praise and glory. But they refused Him. They refused to listen. So they would be like full bottles of wine: full of drunkenness, stumbling and falling. Their pride would come to nothing but sodden rottenness.

Pride comes before a fall. Before captivity. They didn’t HAVE to be prideful. They didn’t HAVE to reject Him. Because they WERE, exile was coming. They would be separated from their place because of THEIR choices and THEIR actions. The Lord would weep for their pride because He knows the harvest that seed brings. He warned the king and queen, the entire nation of Judah to HUMBLE themselves. To refuse to be prideful, because it causes such a terrible fall. To think of the people of the nation and to turn their eyes to the Lord. To cling to Him. If not, their portion would be captivity and being conquered completely. They could be made clean if they chose to listen to Him, but if they refused nothing good would happen.

The Lord warned Jeremiah not to pray for these stubborn people. If they chose actions like fasting, offerings, and praying, without a HEART change, the Lord would not listen. The sword would come against them. Famine would come against them. Drought would come against them. This was the harvest of idolatry and turning consciously from the Lord. These things would happen. The land would be dry. Great suffering would grip Jerusalem. Jeremiah acknowledged the people’s sin, but pleaded for mercy. God told him that since the people refused to listen, He would refuse to listen to them in return.

Jeremiah pointed out that the people weren’t at fault completely because the prophets had prophesied peace and safety. The Lord answered that they were liars. He had not sent them. He had not told them to say these things. They were proffering a false vision of false security. And because of it those lying prophets would be consumed by sword and famine. Their wickedness would be poured on themselves – them and the wicked people they prophesied to. These people should be grieving day and night for what was coming. Everywhere they looked there would be judgment. Anyone who survived the famine, the sword, and the drought, would be taken captive. If they cried out ‘why, why’ they would be told it was a punishment for their wickedness. A punishment for their refusal to listen. They would plead for mercy and beg, but they wouldn’t turn away from their sins. They wanted to be saved and continue doing whatever they wanted. They did NOT truly repent. They were only interested in not suffering, not in doing ANYTHING differently. [These are the same cries that come out of hell, in my opinion.]

“Then Yahweh said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me, my heart would not be to this people. Send them away from my sight, and let them go out.” (Jeremiah 15:1)

Moses and Samuel were two great intercessors for the Israelites. But if they were there, their efforts would be in vain. That is how set the people were in their determination to be sinful. That is how determined the people were to ignore the Lord. As such, nothing could turn away the judgment. [We are SO BLESSED that Jesus paid for sin and took the punishment for us. We will never have to turn away God’s wrath because there is no more wrath for us. Ever. Jesus changed all that. We receive the benefits in Jesus for what He did and that’s all – 2 Corinthians 5:21. Talk about GOOD NEWS.]

Because of the choices and actions of the wicked, they had four choices. The sword would slay them, dogs would eat them, birds would pick at them, and the beasts of the earth would consume them. Because of what Manassah had done in Jerusalem [2 Chronicles 33:1-6] which was embraced by the people of Judah, this punishment was coming on them and no one would pity them. They were getting what they deserved. The Lord took NO pleasure in it. It wasn’t what He WANTED to do. But as a JUST God, He was obligated to bring upon them what they had chosen wilfully and with full knowledge of the covenant they were breaking. Because they refused to return from their ungodly ways, there would be suffering, premature death, and a whole BUNCH of widows.

Jeremiah was depressed about this. He lamented his assignment. The Lord assured him of protection during the judgment. For Jeremiah and for the remnant that had refused to follow the wicked crowd. Those that had stayed true would be safe and secure, even in the midst of this turmoil and judgment. Babylon would come down and there would be consequences for their actions, but those that looked to the Lord would be protected from destruction. They would be preserved. Jeremiah pleaded with the Lord to keep him safe from those persecuting him. It was a painful message for him and for everyone. He was faithful, but attacked on every side. The Lord told him that he would be safe. He would not be destroyed. He would not be prevailed against. He would be redeemed from the grip of the terrible. The Lord was with him to save him.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Jeremiah

Key Verse(s): Jeremiah 13:1-7, 12-14, 24-27; 14:7-12, 14-15; 15:1-9, 19-21