Lord of the Heart: Jeremiah 16, 17 (4)

Pray Psalm 75.1-3.
We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!
For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.
“When I choose the proper time,
I will judge uprightly.
The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved;
I set up its pillars firmly.

Sing Psalm 75.1-3.
(Galilee: Jesus Calls Us)
We give thanks, Lord, we give thanks for Your all-glorious Name is near!
Men Your wondrous works declare, Lord; let all living creatures hear!

When you choose the time of judgment, You will judge with equity.
Then the earth and all within it by Your hand no more shall be.

Read and meditate on Jeremiah 17.1-8.

Prepare.
1. What kind of heart departs from the Lord?

2. What blessings redound to those who trust the Lord?

Meditate.
The focus of Jeremiah 16 and 17 is on the core problem vexing the people of Judah and Jerusalem: Their hearts – their affections, love, desire, and longing – had turned from God to man-made gods and false deities. Actually, their hearts had drifted to desire things, security, and licentious living, which they thought would be more readily theirs by turning to false gods rather than the one true God.

As if to emphasize the problem that God will ultimately fix, these two chapters call the people to look within, to examine their values, priorities, and desires, and thus to know that God knows those affections, and God is determined to give these people what they have longed for.

The people’s problem was deeply ingrained: written with a “pen of iron” that had a “point of diamond” (v. 1). These were hard-hearted people. They would not be persuaded by God’s prophets to turn from their sinful desires. All the wealth and treasure the people believed their false gods had delivered for them would be taken from them, right along with all their idols and high places (v. 3). And they were going into captivity in a foreign land, where they would realize their desires – to be slaves of false deities and those who worshipped them (v. 4).

Those who trust their own ideas and the ideas of other men will be cursed, because they have preferred the ways of men to the ways of God (v. 5). They will be dried up, withered, and parched – unable to refresh or enrich anyone, because they are totally bereft of life (v. 6). Their land that flourished with milk and honey will be sown with salt and become barren (v. 6).

But people don’t have to live this way. The blessings of God are always available to those who set their hearts on Him. In verses 7 and 8 Jeremiah reminds himself from Psalm 1 of the promises of God to all who seek Him. Hope in the Lord, and be refreshed in His living water. Let your roots sink deep into Him, and you will bear fruit and fear nothing. The heart that trusts in God will realize all the most important and enduring blessings of God. As surely as God’s Word is fulfilled in judgment, so it will be fulfilled in blessing for all those whose hearts are set on the Lord.

These words stand in stark contrast to what the people of Judah and Jerusalem were about to experience. So when they realized the reliability of God’s Word in judgment, they would be encouraged to turn their hearts to Him and rely on His promises for blessing and renewal.

Reflect.
1. What are the promises of God that guide your life each day?

2. What does it mean to be “like a tree planted by the waters”?

3. How can believers encourage one another to keep their hearts focused on God?

Being transplanted on (or by) the waters refers to the various graces of the Holy Spirit. And sending its roots into the water (or by the stream) means that one receives abundance from the Lord. Jerome (347-420), Six Books on Jeremiah 3.73.2-5

Lord, let my heart be set on You today as I…

Pray Psalm 75.4-10.
Seek the blessings of God for this day. Devote yourself to seeking Him and His promises. Set your mind and heart on Jesus, and go forth to serve Him in all your ways.

Sing Psalm 75.4-10.
Psalm 75.4-10 (Galilee: Jesus Calls Us)
Warn the boastful, warn the wicked: “Do not boast or raise your horn!
Do not raise your boastful voices; do not speak with pride and scorn!”

Neither east nor west nor desert shall exalting bring to man.
God is Judge, He puts one down and makes another one to stand.

For the cup of judgment foams in Jesus’ sovereign, holy hand.
He has mixed it and will pour it out on every wicked man.

As for me, I will declare it: Evermore to God be praise!
He abases all the wicked, but His righteous ones He saves!

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).