Lord of the Heart: Jeremiah 16, 17 (3)

Pray Psalm 76.4-7.
You are more glorious and excellent
Than the mountains of prey.
The stouthearted were plundered;
They have sunk into their sleep;
And none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands.
At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
You, Yourself, are to be feared;
And who may stand in Your presence
When once You are angry?

Sing Psalm 76.4-7.
(Lauda Anima: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven)
O resplendent God of glory, mighty in Your majesty,
You abase the proud and wicked by Your Word eternally.
Let men fear You! Who may stand when all Your wrath shall kindled be?

Read and meditate on Jeremiah 16.19-21.

Prepare.
1. What did Jeremiah prophesy in this part of his prayer?

2. How did God respond?

Meditate.
Jeremiah’s response to God’s promise about “hunters” and “fishermen” was to foresee the day of the Gentiles coming to the Lord, repenting of the sins of their fathers, and acknowledging the foolishness of their ways (vv. 19, 20).

Though the Gentiles would be the rod with which God would chasten His people, they were as much the object of God’s hunting and fishing as the people of Israel and Judah. God’s plan has always been to bless all the families of the earth (cf. Gen. 12.1-3). Israel was supposed to be the means whereby that would happen. As they obeyed God and kept His Law, their wisdom would shine like a beacon for the nations, who would be drawn to the Lord through them (Deut. 4.5-8).

Of course, God knew they would not succeed, because they did not have a heart for Him – then (Deut. 5.29) or in Jeremiah’s day (Jer. 16.12). They would need a new heart if they were going to obey the Lord and realize the benefits of His covenant; but the day of that happening lay in the future, beyond the coming time of captivity in Babylon.

But Jeremiah glimpsed it here, and he prayed it to God – one more spark of hope in a stream of messages about judgment to come.

But first, Israel and Judah and the Gentiles need to know the power of God to carry out His side of the covenant – the sanctions for disobedience. And when He did, if they were paying attention, they would know that their judgment was just, the Lord’s Word was sure, and the God of the covenant is alone LORD (v. 21).

Reflect.
1. The day of the gathering of the Gentiles is the day in which we live. What does that mean for you?

2. How can you see in these verses that repentance is important to knowing the blessings of God?

3. How does judgment operate to lead us to know God as the Lord?

Not only do people make gods for themselves from statues, but you will also find people making gods for themselves from their imaginations. Such people can imagine another god and creator of the world other than the divine plan of the world recorded by the Spirit, other than the true world. These all have made gods for themselves, and they have worshiped the works of the hands. Origen (185-254), Homilies on Jeremiah 16.9.1

Keep me from all idols Lord, and use me as Your witness today as I…

Pray Psalm 76.1-3, 8-12.
Pray that you may grow in the knowledge of the Lord, and that He will fill and embolden you to be His faithful witness in your Personal Mission Field.

Sing Psalm 76.1-3, 8-12.
Psalm 76.1-3, 8-12 (Lauda Anima: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven)
God is known among His people; great His Name in Israel!
He is all our peace and glory, as He in our presence dwells.
He has crushed the devil’s weapons, cast him down to deepest hell.

Judgment flares from heav’n above us; all the earth in terror waits.
Rising, God will save the humble, each who meekness demonstrates.
Men’s proud boasts shall turn to praises when in wrath You show Your face.

Vow to God! Repent and seek Him; keep His cov’nant while you may!
Fear Him, bring Him gifts and tribute; walk within His holy way.
For He’s coming soon in judgment: fear Him ‘til that glorious day!

Princes proud bow down before Him; He their spirits mortifies.
Kings and rulers fear His glory, Who descends from in the skies.
God is known among His people; loudly Israel testifies.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).