Jeremiah 8:18 - 10.25 "Grieving for His people".

READ: Jeremiah 8:18 - 10:25 “Grieving for His people”.

Verses chosen for meditation: Jeremiah 8:18, 9:1.

¹⁸ My joy is gone; grief is upon me, my heart is sick within me. Jer 8:18.

¹ Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Jer 9:1.

 

REFLECT

Can you agonise with the coming destruction of Jerusalem when reading these 3 chapters? How do we react when famine, destruction, siege and exile happen to our city and people?

Jeremiah's early messages consist largely of condemnation of Judah's apostasy and earnest pleas for repentance while there is yet time before judgment falls. Throughout chapter 8 and 9, prophet Jeremiah poetically expressed his laments over Judah in exile. Hear the intensity of his grief, “My joy is gone; grief is upon me, my heart is sick within me” 8:18), he was downcast over his people's sins!

On the other hand, there is seemingly no remorse or grief on the part of the people. Earlier verses 5-6 have indicated so; “the people held fast to their deceit”; “no man relents of his evil, saying,” What have I done?” Although the prophet called the people to repentance to save themselves, they refused to heed the message. Indeed, Jeremiah was overcome by a deep sorrow that broke out in the lamentations of grief because their hearts were hardened.

Together, these chapters also captured God’s disappointment and anger on the people. Here, the Lord asked who is wise enough to understand His plan that He has to uphold justice as a Holy God. As consequences of rebellion, God said He will scatter them among foreign nations (9:12-16).

Not forsaken and with His new faithfulness, (being new every morning), God graciously offered His mercy and hope. Despite the doom and gloom preached by Jeremiah, the turning point here is the promise of a New Covenant with God. This covenant is one of ultimate restoration, between God and man through Christ as our Redeemer and with His Holy Spirit residing in the hearts of man (“I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts”, Hebrews 8:8-12).

RELATE

Jeremiah had warned his people and nation that, because of the severity of their sins (including the false prophets and priests who deal falsely, 8:10), God was going to bring judgment upon them.

Seeing how the people treated their sins (“not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush”, Jer 8:12) and their abominations, Jeremiah wept day and night. This attitude reminds us of the warning in 2 Tim 3:1-3;” For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, … “. Godlessness instead of godliness prevail in the last days.

Do we ever acknowledge our human depravity, so much so that we would grieve and turn to God for mercy? Today, family values and morality are eroding, hatred, lies and violence are increasing; these are all around us! Each time one family breaks down, God is sadder but “people keep on sinning by clinging to lies”. It is godlessness and godlessness! Do we ever grieve for our iniquities and for our loved ones? 

May we be like Jeremiah, to be able to recognise the condition of our rebellion for repentance. In remorse, may we choose life and blessings but not death and destruction, by following God’s ways and commandments (Deut 30:9). We too pray to God for His mercy to relent his punishment on us and the nation.

Finally, Jeremiah’s message was ultimately one of repentance and restoration based on forgiveness (He forgets too). God was quick to remind his people that although there would be consequences for their sin, He still had a plan to save. This is not that they deserve righteousness, but it is all about God’s mercy and grace. God is a covenant keeping God, meaning that He has to keep His promises in faithfulness to carry out justice with the iniquities of the people. In His final plan, the Lord Jesus came as the promised Redeemer in Jeremiah, who in turn translate this grief to unspeakable joy!

 

REST

Dear Lord, thank You for the new covenant through our Messiah Jesus Christ. Cause me always to be aware of my sinful nature and the need of God. Remind me that if I turn away from Jesus, I am turning away from Your goodness. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Vincent