Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Jeremiah+014
Jeremiah 14 (ESV)
19 Have you utterly rejected Judah?
Does your soul loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
so that there is no healing for us?
We looked for peace, but no good came;
for a time of healing, but behold, terror.
20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
and the iniquity of our fathers,
for we have sinned against you.
21 Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
do not dishonour your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22 Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Are you not he, O Lord our God?
We set our hope on you,
for you do all these things.
REFLECTION:
This chapter and the next chapter begin with the drought that God will send to Judah and that God will not listen to their prayers for rain, and then describe the scene of future judgment that Jeremiah prophesied. The drought is a devastating disaster that God brought to the judgment of Judah. Facing this disaster, the people of Judah did not ask God for help until they were desperate. However, they only wanted God’s help and salvation, but they still refused to repent of their sins. Jeremiah interceded for the people, asking God whether he would save the people of Judah after they repented. God said that he would not, because the people of Judah did a lot of evil and were stubborn and had no sincerity to repent. Although they know that God is willing to bless and what to do to be blessed, they just want to be blessed and don’t want to do their part. When we do something wrong, it’s easy to express regret, and it’s easier to gain benefits by superficial regret. However, the most important thing is to stop committing sins immediately. We should remember that true repentance includes two steps: “repent” and “reform”. Repentance without reform is just a fake verbal promise and will never please God. God is merciful and He forgives all those who sincerely repent. However, God is also righteous and He will severely punish hypocrites.
PRAYER:
Pray for God to mould your life so that you can have a deeper experience, not only at the level of praying for God’s blessing, but being able to deal with your sins more thoroughly. Confess to God the sins you understand in your heart but have been unwilling to confess. Resolve to God to put your repentance into action, no matter how great the cost of repentance is.
HYMN:
At The Cross – youtu.be/Zev5tHjCB_s
