Jeremiah: Model Pastor or National Doormat?

Listen and pay attention!
Do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken.
Give glory to the Lord your God
before it is too late.
Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you,
causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains.
For then, when you look for light,
you will find only terrible darkness and gloom.
And if you still refuse to listen,
I will weep alone because of your pride.
My eyes will overflow with tears,
because the Lord’s flock will be led away into exile.

-- Jeremiah 13:15-17

This passage is especially eye-catching to me in light of a discussion we had in Bible class regarding forgiveness. After announcing in rather dramatic fashion the corruption that was rampant in Judah (i.e., the famous linen loincloth prophecy) Jeremiah goes on to announce God's judgement upon the nation. Notice this is the same nation that in the previous chapter contained considerable elements scheming against Jeremiah. (see Jer. 12:6)

Despite all of this, I'm struck that Jeremiah pledges that if Judah continues to ignore his message from God, the prophet will "weep alone because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears." (Jer. 13:17)

In all honesty, I'm still not where Jeremiah is. I'd like to be...I have ambitions of being so...but justice is awfully important to me. I think the wicked ought to be punished...and yes, I contend that there is a major difference between sinners and "the wicked". It seems to me that Scripture even reflects such a dichotomy at times. I'm thinking of writing a longer post in the future (TBD) on the doctrine of forgiveness that seems to be gaining popularity in the American church today.

In anticipation of that, I ask that you begin thinking through what the word "forgiveness" really means. What are its implications? How is life different in a climate of authentic forgiveness?

Heart Problems

The book of Proverbs intones: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. – Prov. 4:23 Tragically, the Judah of Jeremiah’s day failed to attend this most basic instruction.

Despite being murderers, idolaters, thieves, deceivers, (etc.), it would seem that God considered Judah’s fundamental problem to be one of the heart. Five times in this chapter, He addresses the people’s “heart problem.”

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! – Jer. 4:3
…surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the LORD. – Jer. 4:4
…put on clothes of mourning and weep with broken hearts… - Jer. 4:8
…cleanse your heart that you may be saved. – Jer. 4:14
Your own actions have brought this upon you. This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart! – Jer. 4:18

Jeremiah was desperately pleading with his people to let God break the shells they had constructed around their hearts to hide their sins and protect them from godly criticism and amendment. As I reflect on the message of this text, I recognize that there is such a shell around my own heart. Like the ancient Judeans, I say that I want God to use me and be present in my life; But is that even possible? What can God really do with an unmalleable heart? What can anyone do with people who refuse to change. How do you teach someone who has already made the decision that they do not want to learn what you’re trying to teach them?

It is far too tempting for us to dismiss our heart problems as regrettable—but not life-threatening. I have frequently heard chronic sin in Christian lives (my own included) excused with the refrain: “Well, what’s it gonna’ hurt? That’s just [insert name here] being [insert name here].” According to Jeremiah—quite literally, everything.

If we repeatedly refuse to address our heart problems, at some point, God will step in and address those problems for us. In Jeremiah 4:23-26, He announced to the people of Judah:

I looked at the earth,
And it was empty and formless.
I looked at the heavens,
And there was no light.
I looked at the mountains and hills,
And they trembled and shook.
I looked, and all the people were gone.
All the birds of the sky had flown away.
I looked, and the fertile fields had become a wilderness.
The towns lay in ruins, crushed by the LORD’s fierce anger.
-- Jer. 4:23-26

Discussion Question:

1. Is there anything significant about the destruction imagery Jeremiah uses in 4:23-26? (Hint: Compare this language to Genesis 1)
2. In what (if any) ways are you hard-hearted?
3. What reason(s) might God have for telling the people to “put on clothes of mourning and weep with broken hearts?” (4:8) Is there anything good that can come of mourning and being broken?
4. Who was responsible for bringing this destruction upon Judah?