MEDITATIONS
FROM JEREMIAH
June 11 , 2008
Reading: Jeremiah 14:1-22
“Do not pray for this people, for their good” Jeremiah 14:11
Throughout the history of the Israelite people God had made covenants to
establish a lasting relationship with them. He founded them as a nation and
loved them as a Father His son. Covenants were broken, not by God, but by His
people. Time after time God showed His compassion for them and gave them, yes,
pleaded with them to repent of their sin, rebellion and backsliding. As often
as He gave them the opportunity to turn from their wicked ways they returned
once again to their idols.
Now, to put it into human terms, God had run out of patience. The
people had rejected Him one time too many. At the very beginning of Jeremiah’s
ministry God told Him “I am ready to perform My word” Jeremiah
God had made up His mind that it was time to begin His threatened
judgment on His people. “Do not pray for them” He told His prophet.
“When they fast, I will not hear their cry;
and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them.
But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the
pestilence" Jeremiah
But Jeremiah did continue to pray for them. He could not believe that
God would say such a thing. He pointed out to God that the prophets were
promising them that God would give them peace in the land (13). He asked God
blunt questions (19), He confessed the sins of the people and begged God to
give them another chance (20,21). He pleaded with God
not to “break Your covenant with us” (21). But God
meant what He said—“I am ready to perform My
word,”—“Do not pray for this people,”—“I will not hear their cry.”
Fellow Believer in Jesus Christ, things have changed. There is now a
New Covenant in place, one ratified by the blood of God’s only begotten Son and
guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. That same Son is not only our Savior but our
Great High Priest whose ministry in the heavens is to pray for God’s people.
“It is Christ who died, and furthermore is
also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also makes intercession for us” Romans 8:34.
Can you imagine God turning to His Son who dwells at His right hand and
saying, “Do not pray for them. I will not listen even if You
do?” The blood of Jesus has satisfied His Father for ever.
“Because of God's oath, Christ can guarantee
forever the success of this new and better arrangement” Hebrews
The message of the New Testament contains words like “New,” “Better,”
“Everlasting,” “Guarantee,” and “Secure.”
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2
Corinthians
One thing remains the same—God is ready to perform His word. All that
He has promised in Jesus Christ is guaranteed; guaranteed never to fail and to
never pass away.
“But Christ came as High Priest
of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not
made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and
calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all,
having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the
ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the
flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:11-14.
Heavenly Father, we rejoice today in the
glorious New Covenant of which you have made us a part. We thank You for Jesus who at this very moment is interceding for us.
We praise Your Holy Name that our Living Savior Himself is our Security and
Guarantee. We love You for all that You have done for
us.