June 10, 2011

• Jeremiah 30:3 For behold, the days are coming...

  I've been reading in Jeremiah, and at times It's been difficult to continue to read since the state of God's people in Jeremiah's day is so reminiscent of what we see in much of the Church today, and that can be really distressing and depressing. However, God's intent in giving us these books is that they might serve as a gracious warning to us to examine ourselves and to spur us onto prayer. If you've not read in the Old Testament in a while, particularly the prophetic books, I'd recommend you do so.
  
  The reality is this: apart from the grace of God, the continuing propensity of men is to water down, distort and discard God's truth for lies. Books like Jeremiah serve as a solemn reminder to us that we must return to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit without compromise. And we must persevere in prayer to appeal to God to be gracious to us, not to be a stranger, but to be zealous and put on strength, to return and rend the heavens and revive His people again, just as He has done numerous times throughout Church history. (Please also see my post "Is it not written...?" Mark 11:15 | the Biblical means of revival.)
  
  Throughout the first 29 chapters of Jeremiah, there is very little relief. It seems the LORD God is continuing to make His case against His people, showing them time and again their sinfulness, heaping it up as it were, much as Israel and Judah had heaped up her sin against Him, with Israel already carried off by Assyria and Judah's exile to Babylon imminent. And, time and again, we see Judah not heeding God's gracious warnings, and God's grief over His people's continuing sin and disobedience and hardness of heart. However, in chapters 30-33, there is a change in tone, as we see God's promised mercies breaking out, with His plan of restoration and revival for Israel and Judah revealed.

  As I read Jeremiah 30:3 last night, my heart rejoiced and trembled, and I felt a great sense of relief as I read: "'For behold, the days are coming,' declares the LORD, when I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,' says the LORD, 'And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it...'"
  
  For behold ...

  The days ARE coming! I WILL bring back from captivity My people! I WILL cause them to return! They SHALL possess it!

  Is there any doubt there? Who is it that is declaring these wonderful promises?

  The LORD Himself!

  Who WILL accomplish these things?

  The LORD Himself!

  When we are tempted to doubt and despair over the state of the Church, may God give us grace to fix our eyes on Him and appeal to Him in prayer, and recount His promises, power, persevering grace to and everlasting love for His people. Can our Good Shepherd ever forget or forsake His sheep? We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

  Isaiah 49
  14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me,
        And my Lord has forgotten me.”
  15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
        And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
        Surely they may forget,
        Yet I will not forget you.
   16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
        Your walls are continually before Me.

  Jeremiah 30:3 'For behold, the days are coming,' declares the LORD, when I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,' says the LORD, 'And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it...
  
  31:28 'And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,' says the LORD. (quotations from NKJV)

  O, LORD God, we confess we have strayed far from You and Your ways in a similar manner to what we see in the time of Jeremiah. We have not guarded or heeded Your Word. We have exchanged Your truth for lies. Forgive us our iniquity and do not remember our sin, for Jesus' sake. We confess we have refused to hear Your Words, we have not obeyed Your voice, we have forgotten You, we have walked after the imagination of our hearts. Be gracious to us for we are Your people purchased with Christ's precious blood. Cleanse us from our unrighteousness and evil.

  Thank You, LORD God, for the continuing reminders throughout Your Word that Your covenant mercies in Jesus Christ will never fail. Thank You for the reminders that in Your sovereign time, there is no doubt that the days are coming, that You will move to bring back Your Church from captivity, that You will turn us, so we might repent and turn back to You, that You will give us a heart to seek Your face and walk in Your ways and embrace Your truth and then possess all the blessings You have made available to us through Your Son Jesus Christ, that we might once again be a praise in the earth and no longer a reproach to Your holy name.

  Apart from this knowledge of Your continuing covenant mercies and love for Your people, we would have no hope. Turn our eyes to look to You and Your character and promises, and impart to us a greater concern for Your glory and for the honor of Your Name. Fill us with Your unrelenting love, grace and mercies for Your people so we might be faithful watchmen as we persevere in prayer and give out Your Word until You establish us once again, so we might go forth as brightness and a burning torch to all the nations. You have promised that those who wait for You will never be ashamed. Just as You watched over us to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, we look by faith to the day to come when You will watch over us to build and to plant, for Your praise, honor and glory.

  * Please add your PRAYERS as the Holy Spirit leads you. *

  • 10:05 PM
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