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Jeremiah 17 (ESV)
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
11 Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch,
so is he who gets riches but not by justice;
in the midst of his days they will leave him,
and at his end he will be a fool.
12 A glorious throne set on high from the beginning
is the place of our sanctuary.
13 O Lord, the hope of Israel,
all who forsake you shall be put to shame;
those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth,
for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.
14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
save me, and I shall be saved,
for you are my praise.
REFLECTION:
This passage compares the two types of people who rely on people and those who rely on God. The people of Judah did not trust in Jehovah, but relied on idols and human power, so they became as desolate as deserts and wilderness. On the contrary, those who rely on Jehovah, as described in Psalm 1, are like a tree planted by a stream, and it will bear fruit on time without its leaves withering. In this passage, God clearly pointed out that the root of our sin lies in our own hearts, not social or family reasons. We have a tendency to sin since we were born and it is easy to forget and abandon God, but we can choose whether to continue sinning. When we are tempted by sin, we can easily fall into a trap, or we can ask God to save and help us to escape the snare. In addition, Jeremiah also pointed out that those who use improper means to get rich instantly, will eventually lead to stupidity and poverty. Today, we are in a world that is even more treacherous and corrupt than Jeremiah’s time. We should never abandon our God, seek His salvation and help, and draw strength from Him, because He is the fountain of living water. And we should remember that whether it is work or study, we should all be honest. Anyone who uses disgraceful means to get promoted, pass exams, or gain fame and status will not be blessed by the Lord, nor will it bring long-term benefits.
PRAYER:
Pray for God to strengthen your heart so that you can stand firm and not fall into the traps and snares of the world. Pray for God to enlighten you and enable you to examine whether some of the benefits you currently have are obtained in a way that offends God. If so, confess your sins to God and repent, and ask God to give you strength so that you will never commit the same weakness in the future.
HYMN:
As The Deer – youtu.be/5rrXC5uKVb4
