Jeremiah

Jeremiah Chapter 17

• Jeremiah 17:1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

We see here the very heart of God. Do we ever stop to think of how God must feel when He gives us so much and we give Him so little honor and praise. Judah had it all at one time. God chose Abraham from the land of Ur which was in modern day Iraq near the Persian Gulf.

I don't know why God chose Abraham but he became a man of faith and believed in God. The majority of the world at that time served other gods or idols. Abraham was chosen by God and the land of Canaan was promised to him and his descendants. God even made a place for the children of Hagar who beget Ishmael. There is really no reason the two descendants cannot get along to this day but they do not.

God had a plan to bring into the world the supreme sacrifice for sins. He planned to send part of Himself; His only Son, to become the perfect sacrifice without spot or blemish. Animal sacrifices could not give cleansing from sin, they only pointed the way and were imposed on Israel until the perfect way came. That sacrifice was none other than Jesus Christ.

God chose Abraham. Perhaps He saw something in Abraham that other men didn't have at the time. God also chose his son Isaac then Jacob instead of his twin, Esau. After Jacob had twelve sons, came the time of Joseph who was sold into slavery and became a ruler in Egypt. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and isn't it ironic that the descendants of those same brothers became slaves in Egypt many years later. We certainly reap what we sow.

God by the leadership of Moses brought them out of Egypt with many signs and miracles, even feeding them in the wilderness. He parted the Red Sea so they could cross and when Pharaoh's army tried to cross, the sea came back again.

How God must have felt when Moses, Joshua and the Judges died and Israel soon desired to follow after the evil nations around them instead of after God who gave them this good land.Then later those in authority rejected the Son of God, Jesus Christ who had come to show the true way to God. Through their rejection, the gospel of salvation and eternal life was preached to the Gentile nations. The church was born but we must remember that the first believers in Christ were Jews also. Many believed on Him and over 3,000 were born again on the day of Pentecost. 

• Jeremiah 17:2 Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.

Our children follow after our ways eventually. Unless a generation repents and turns to God, each following generation gets further and further away from God.

Our conscience acts in the same manner. If we talk ourselves into doing something that we once thought was wrong, at first we feel guilty. The second time we sin, it is easier. After a while the guilt goes away. We can then sin without any guilt feelings. That doesn't make that a good thing.  We are still living in sin, we just have become hardened to it. This is a very dangerous place to be in.

I pray that my conscience will always be sensitive to wrong doing. Years ago sexual immorality was not open like it is today. People that lived that way kept it hidden. Why? Because it wasn't acceptable. People thought it was a sin. Sexual immorality brings disease because it is unnatural and was not the way God created us. This is sex without making a commitment of marriage  between a woman and a man as God ordained. 

Anything outside of the bounds God sets is very dangerous to our souls and to our health.  Unnatural sex acts are included in this. The bible warns, pleads and instructs us how to live clean and holy. God even covers healthy eating in the Old Testament. Romans chapter one describes how living outside of the bounds God sets will destroy us. It also explains the cause of these things. Adultery is also sexual immorality. All these sins can be forsaken and forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ but to continue in them and say they do no wrong will bring national destruction eventually. We are destroying our own minds, our hearts and our nation. 

Through the years as God was considered unconstitutional, these sins have become open and more acceptable. Does that make it right? No. We are in danger of accepting the very thing that is abomination in God's sight. This is not the way God created us to be. We are going against nature and against the law of God. As a result more disease and incurable diseases will be among us. Our minds get worse and worse. If there is no repentance you can see people start to do things that are very evil and will hurt innocent children. In fact that is already happening. Once the mind goes and we loose our conscience, nothing but the merciful hand of God can stop it.

• Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Once sin gets so far advanced, God gives them up to it and they automatically reap what they sowed.

• Jeremiah 17:3 O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.

This is speaking of Judah here but it really reminds me of many nations today. It's strange that the nations to whom God gives the most are the ones that reject Him the greatest. 

• Jeremiah 17:4 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.

This is why Judah lost its nation at that time. Will it happen to us? I pray that every believer in the United States would begin to pray for this country that we turn from sin and turn back to God. There are some that do not even want the name of God on our coins. Stupid people are objecting to the 10 commandments on the courthouse walls. I call them stupid because that is exactly what that are.

It is crazy to reject God like that. It's stupid. Without His protecting hand, our nation is history. Is that what they want? All we have to do is read what happened to Israel in the Old Testament to see that no one gets away with ignoring God's beautiful plan for His creation. He allowed His Son to pay a high price to save us from sin and offer us the gift of eternal life. If we continue in sin and ignore this gift, we will have no other way out. It is stupid. Throw God out of schools and you have children killing other children. Allow mothers to abort their babies and you will have them also kill babies after they are born. Those that are fighting to keep God out of the public arena are blind, ignorant and stupid. They don't realize what they are doing.

I read in the paper not long ago when a mother allowed her baby to starve to death because she was tired of it throwing up all the time. This is a result of the lack of moral values that this country once had. We listened to the feminist voices instead of God's voice.

Like I said before, I am a woman and I can say things a man may not get away with saying. I do not identify anyway with the modern feminist movement in the United States. It is deadly, it is ungodly and it is evil to allow a mother to abort (kill) her unborn child.

If we study the Old Testament we see the results when a nation stops following God. They even got to the place where they sacrificed their own children to idols. Are we any different if we kill our children because it will inconvenience us to have to take care of them. We have become a nation of  idleness, laziness, irresponsibility. Our god is fun, pleasure, entertainment, sports, and money. A little baby interferes with that.

• Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

This is a curse indeed when a nation trusts in what man says instead of what God says. Israel's sin was listening to the voices of the heathen countries that surrounded them. They turned from God and began doing as the evil nations were doing.

We have listened to Hollywood, Rock stars, liberal politicians, feminists, Planned Parenthood, and evolutionary scientists to deceive us instead of listening to God. If we sit in front of the television and watch their adultery, fornication and violence, sooner or later we will be doing the same things. If we don't, our children might.  Do you want to take that chance?

• Jeremiah 17:6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
• 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

You want to escape. You want love, joy, peace, contentment and eternal life. Trust in the Lord. Blessed means happy. Happy are those who trust in the Lord. The Lord is our hope and deliverer. He is our shepherd, our savior, our helper. These words are not written in vain. Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord. Blessed is the man whose hope the Lord is.

• Jeremiah 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

A tree planted by the water is continually fed and watered. Heat does not affect it. It brings forth fruit and even survives drought.

This is a comparison to those who trust the Lord. Psalm 1 says this:

• Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
• 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
• 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 
• 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
• 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 
• 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What a comfort to know that the Lord knows us and our ways if we are walking righteously. What a comfort to know that we shall never perish.

• John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 
• 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God didn't leave us without a way out of the mess of sin. He made a perfect way to be delivered and live a life that yields precious fruit.

• 2Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Only the body of the believers in Jesus Christ will die, the innermost soul and spirit does not die but lives eternally.

• Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

This is why we need a savior. Our hearts are wicked from the time we are born into the world. All have sinned.

• Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

All over the age of accountibility has sinned in one way or another. We are all guilty before God before coming to Christ.

• 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

By one man's sin, sin entered all mankind. Through one man's obedience, we can be delivered from that sin. The second Adam was Jesus who reversed the curse for those who trust and believe in Him.

• Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Since we will one day be judged according to our ways, we better get rid of our evil ways and that is only possible by faith In Jesus Christ.

• Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
• 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
• 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
• 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

We cannot keep the law and keep from sinning apart from Jesus Christ. That is why God had to send Him to us. To save us from our sins.

• 1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 
• 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
• 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The remedy of sin in our lives is just to repent and turn our hearts toward God.

• Jeremiah 17:11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

This is a good verse. Along with idolatry and departing from God, God hates cheating. It grieves God to see us take from others to make ourselves rich. To cheat someone and deceive them is evil. If we charge them more than a product is worth, if we con them out of money, it is stealing. Our riches will profit nothing if we get rich the wrong way. Over taxing seniors and farmers is another way of stealing.

• Jeremiah 17:12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.

God's constant care is for those who trust in Him.

• Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

That is what happens when we forsake the Lord. We forsake living water.

• John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

The very thought of living water is a comfort, a peaceful rest, and a hope. The living water is the Holy Spirit He gives to dwell with those that believe in Him (Jesus.)

• Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Jesus wants to do this to all who would receive Him even now. He will give you that living water.

• Jeremiah 17:15 Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.

Sounds like they were mocking Jeremiah and asking him where the Lord's word is if it was to come. Even today, some are saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?"

• Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

There are mockers today who use the bible to mock and stab at God and His believers.

• Jeremiah 17:16 As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.
• 17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
• 18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

Surely all will perish who lift up their hands against the ones who are trying to warn about God's coming judgment. The bible says touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm. I believe he means physical harm and very hurtful slander here. I don't believe it means we can't point out a false teaching or a person who brings false doctrine. If a preacher is warning, and preaching the truth of God's word, then we better not lift a hand against him. It's okay to ask him sincere questions if we doubt anything. Just make sure it's in the right spirit and not in a mean vengeful attacking sort of spirit.

• Jeremiah 17:19 Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;
• 20 And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:
• 21 Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
• 22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.
• 23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

Honoring the Sabbath was really a blessing to people. It gave people a day in which they could be refreshed and rest. It gave servants a rest, mothers, priests and everyone. You would think that they would enjoy that. God gave that day for their good and the good of servants. It is also a good day to worship God and renew ourselves to Him. Spiritual refreshing is a blessing.

I believe that to ignore this is hurtful to the ones that have to do the work like a servant. I also believe that we need times to pray and seek God by setting apart everything else we have to do.

If God said something, we should listen to it. He makes all things for our good.

• Jeremiah 17:24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
• 25 Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.

To obey meant that they would have God's presence with them, they would rule over the whole earth.

• Jeremiah 17:26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.
• 27 But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

This all boils down to ignoring God. For them to work on the Sabbath day was to be too busy to worship and observe the word of God. Think about it. Servants and those that work hard labor would never get any relief or rest physically or spiritually if God had not have made the Sabbath day.

Although some of us worship on a Sunday, isn't it nice to have that special day of seeking God and resting from usual activity. Going to church is nice because it brings us together with others who believe and we can worship God together. We should thank God for a day set aside for Him. We need Him more and more as the evil days approach us. DC

Study of Jeremiah 18