Faithful Justice

Jeremiah 3 and 4 today.

At some point, warnings run out and justice must be served.  We are warned daily of speed limits; if we ignore thee posted signs, there might be a police car visible to serve as an increased warning.  When you shop, typically you will see a warning sign against shoplifting.  On one hand, such warning signs are meant to be deterrents, yet on the other, there are specific consequences to disobedience.

God did not all of a sudden decide to send Judah into exile on a whim.  He gave them so many warning signs, verbally communicating with its leaders.  Solomon was promised a never-ending throne, if he would remain faithful and not turn to the idols of the world around him.  Saul, two kings before him, was told to obey in his handling of the Amalekites, and he responded by doing things his own way, and expecting God to be pleased anyway.

Jeremiah, in chapters 3 and 4, calls on Judah to remember the expectations that were set by God.  IN verse 1 of chapter 1, His people sin and return to Him on their terms, not His.  They do so unashamedly, just like a harlot shows her forehead (verse 3), telling the world who she is and what she does.  God asks them to show Him a place that has not been affected by their idolatry, and they cannot.

Judah SAW what happened to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  It could have served as a valuable object lesson, but it did not.

So, if you are God, what do you do?  Wipe them out, right?  Hang on, check verses 12 and 13 of chapter 1.  God says "Return...acknowledge your iniquity".  He pleads with them to repent.  Yet He knows they will not do so.

Fast forward to chapter 2, verse 19-26.  Either Jeremiah or the people, or at times both, cry out in anguish over the coming siege and battle in Judah.  Jeremiah either sees it coming and is watching it, or he knows how it will go down well enough to describe it.  God describes the scene as a sort of de-creation (Holliday) regarding the ultimate destruction and desolation of Judah.  He wanted to forgive them, and yet when they would not repent, He had to carry out His justice.

But God is so ever faithful, He states that He will not execute a complete destruction.  There will remain a remnant, He has near future (70 years) and far future (Tribulation and Kingdom) in view regarding His care for His people.  For now, Jeremiah knows they need to learn a lesson, as painful as that is going to be. 

Like a parent uttering empty threats, God would deserve no respect if He did not carry out both His promised blessings and just punishment.  We, just like Judah, can make ourselves vainly look acceptable to God, but we also know what His expectations are, both for salvation and holy living, and that he sees through what others cannot.

Will we listen?  Will it be too late?