Prayer
Heavenly Father, let us never play loosely with your patience, but see it as a call to glorify You with all that we are. Amen.
Today’s Hymn
Words: James Montgomery, Songs of Zion, 1822, alt.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
Click here for tune.
The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know;
I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest;
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wand’ring, redeems when oppressed.
Through valley and shadow of death though I stray,
Since Thou art my Guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, Thy staff be my stay;
No harm can befall, with my Comforter near.
In midst of affliction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er;
With perfume and oil Thou anointest my head;
O what shall I ask of Thy providence more?
Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,
Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above;
I seek, by the path which my forefathers trod,
Through land of their sojourn, Thy Kingdom of love.
Thought Provoker
Have you ever been cheated by someone at the very time that you were trying to do good to them? That kind of experience deeply troubles and grieves us. In this chapter, we will see God’s reaction to those who sinned against His patience and goodness.
Dad’s Study
This is a fearful chapter. It teaches us that there is a time at which God’s patience reaches an end, a point where He determines destruction on those who have turned away from Him. Jeremiah is pleading for his people, just as Daniel did for Israel when he saw the coming years of sorrow for them that Jeremiah had prophesied about (see Daniel 9). But the Lord tells Jeremiah not to pray for this people (v11). This is an astounding thing, and it is a rare sight in the Scriptures. But, there are indeed times when God leaves a people to their own devices. The flood of Noah was such a time. The turning away of Christ and the apostles from the stubborn unbelief of the Jews was such a time. And so is this time in Judah’s history. There is a time in the lives of individuals, and in the existence of nations, at which God’s patience reaches an end. This is a fearful chapter. It teaches us that there is a time at which God’s patience reaches an end, a point where He determines destruction on those who have turned away from Him. Jeremiah is pleading for his people, just as Daniel did for Israel when he saw the coming years of sorrow for them that Jeremiah had prophesied about (see Daniel 9). But the Lord tells Jeremiah not to pray for this people (v11). This is an astounding thing, and it is a rare sight in the Scriptures. But, there are indeed times when God leaves a people to their own devices. The flood of Noah was such a time. The turning away of Christ and the apostles from the stubborn unbelief of the Jews was such a time. And so is this time in Judah’s history. There is a time in the lives of individuals, and in the existence of nations, at which God’s patience reaches an end. God’s patience is astounding. Our very existence is a testimony to His patience toward each of us individually. But the very frequency and greatness of God’s patience can be responded to sinfully. Judah was responding that way when the message of this chapter about the drought came. Perhaps they thought they were special, and immune to judgment. Perhaps they were hanging on to a few rituals and believing they were righteous and good before God. Whatever it was, the Lord has given them over here. After years, or rather, generations of patience, the time has come for God’s wrath to come on Judah. Jeremiah’s prayers will not help; even the prayers of Moses and Samuel (who both interceded for obstinate and disobedient people) would not have helped. They have pressed beyond the boundary of God’s patience. It is an eerie and fearful thing to consider. There is such a boundary, such a line, after which the judgment of God is certain against those who go on in their sins. Perhaps nothing is more offensive to God than an arrogant, scornful attitude toward grace and patience (see Romans 2:3-6).
Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Truth in Practice
The application of this chapter is simple: Beware of attempting to take advantage of the patience and goodness of God. It is an unusually evil heart that takes advantage of someone’s kindness and acts wrongfully in return for good done to them. It ought to greatly convict us if we have ever treated someone wrong because we knew they were patient and good, and we could get away with it. But also, we must realize that no one “gets away with it” when they deal with God this way. God is never taken advantage of. If you despise His grace, you will see His wrath. Take to heart these statements of God about Judah: “When they fast, I will not hear their cry; And when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them.” God have mercy on you if you are responding to God’s patience as Judah did! Pray for God to change your stubborn heart!
Catechism
Question 52
Q. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
