Day 208, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Jeremiah 5-6
Obstinacy and its Results
Some people are mulish and won’t listen to anyone, even those who warn them or counsel them in their best interests. This usually leads to their destruction. We don’t want them to destroy themselves, so what can we do? (Note: This is a continuation of yesterday’s Bible study on backsliding).
In the early days of Jeremiah, the Judean prophet, the people were in a backslidden condition. King Manasseh had set up idols throughout the land of Judah and led the nation to idolatry. This went on for fifty years. Although he repented and made major reforms late in his life, the damage was done.
Just after his death, his son Amon returned the nation to idolatry. There were idols on every street corner and in almost every house in Judah and Samaria. There were pagan priests and altars to serve false gods, and the people engaged in prostitution even in God’s house (Solomon’s temple). The Israelites in Judah were also offering their children as burnt offerings to Molech, the god of the Ammonites (2Kings 23:4-20).This was extreme wickedness which God wouldn’t forgive. However, He was still gracious to Judah.
God Grace Rejected
God’s grace began with a change of regency; the king's officials assassinated Amon. When his son Josiah began his reign, he purged all the land and the temple from its idols. He couldn't, however, remove the idolatry from their hearts, for the people rejected God.
A Vain Search
In today's Bible reading, God instructs Jeremiah,
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.”
[Jeremiah answered] O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent (Jeremiah 5:1, NIV).
These people are worse than Sodom and Gomorrah, for at least Lot and his daughters escaped judgment. Judah is so evil she won’t escape, even though she still swears allegiance to God.
This behavior reminds us of Christians today who are living a sinful life but still claim allegiance to Christ: “I’m a Christian,” they say, but we wouldn’t know it by the rebellious lives they live. God is looking for those who’ll worship Him in Spirit andin truth (John 4:24)—this includes our daily behavior, not just our Sunday worship.
Jeremiah searches Jerusalem but to no avail. Those who are in spiritual leadership are no better than those who are poor and uneducated—they cast off truth and service to God. They’re thankless for all God has done for them and are totally unfaithful in their idol worship (which God likens to adultery). Are we thankful, or do we cast God aside, forgetting all He has done for us?
Words like Fire
The people lie and live in denial of any consequences. They’re only interested in hearing good words from their own prophets and prefer to enjoy their wealth. They don't care for the widows and orphans. Therefore, God tells Jeremiah, “I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes” (Jeremiah 5:14, NIV). To those who’re backslidden, the Word of God is like a destructive fire of judgment. That’s why they avoid hearing it.
During the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, the nation of Judah experiences peace from foreign invaders and some measure of prosperity as Assyria and Babylon fight each other, but this wouldn’t last. Soon, because of their unfaithfulness, wickedness, and idolatry, Babylon would come with an overwhelming force to conquer them (Jeremiah 6). Although Judah would experience exile and the destruction of their nation, in future times the LORD would be merciful (Jeremiah 5:18).The Judean people are stubborn. They won’t listen to the warnings of God’s prophets, and they’ll not fear the LORD, the one who provided, protected, and nourished them for hundreds of years.
God instructs Jeremiah,
“When the people ask, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own’” (5:19, NIV).
You do not fear the LORD but are stubborn and rebellious. “Your wrongdoings have kept these [blessings on your crops] away; your sins have deprived you of good” (Jeremiah 5:25, NIV).
The Certainty of Coming Judgment
Babylon would soon decimate Judah so much that shepherds would come and tend their flocks where Jerusalem once stood (6:1-3).
Therefore, God warns her to prepare for the attack (6:4-8). God would pour out his wrath on Jerusalem because she refuses to listen and repent. Her leadership is acting with deceit and shameless conduct, ignoring the warnings of the prophets, and rejecting God’s laws but offering expensive perfumes to curry favor with Him (6:9-20). The army would come from the north to destroy them (this is Babylon). They are fierce and cruel.
Jeremiah's words from God are like a fire to test the mettle of the people, but his firey words can’t purge their impurities—they’re obstinate and won’t listen. Therefore, as worthless metal, He rejects them.
Are any of us like them? The answer to obstinacy is often to let the person experience the results of their actions. Should he come to his senses, he can find mercy like the rest of us by humbling himself, confessing his sins to God, and repenting of all evil.
The LORD takes no pleasure in disciplining or punishing people. Why should we die? God is gracious to forgive any who come to him. He wants us to live an abundant life, but we must obey him.
Discussion
What can result from being obstinate, not following God's Word? What is the ultimate cure for being obstinate? (more)
How should we treat those who are obstinate?
How was God gracious to Judah, and how is he gracious to us?
What kind of Christians is God looking for?
Focus Verse
Psalm 31:22 (NIV) “In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.”
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Looking Ahead: King Josiah finds a Hidden Treasure
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