Jeremiah 13
Off Track
In Jeremiah 12:14-17, we read that the neighboring nations of Israel and Judah had corrupted them to the point that Israel and Judah became like these nations. They started to worship the neighboring nation’s idols, and live as they lived rather than follow God’s plan for them. God’s plan for His people was that they were to live the law of God and be a witness to these nations of God’s love and blessing. Israel and Judah were to be a godly influence on these nations. Sadly, just the opposite happened.
We have been reading of God’s repeated warnings to Judah of the judgment about to come on Judah. Israel had already fallen. We see in this passage that Judah will not be the only nation facing judgment. All of these neighboring nations that led God’s people into abandoning God and following idols will face the same judgment. God is showing these nations that He is God. To reject the message of God by corrupting the nations of Israel and Judah was really to reject Him. They will go into exile and they will return but there is a lesson to be learned. The question is, will they learn the lesson that God is God and their idols are worthless.
In Chapter 13 we see what Judah was doing that got them off track. The waist band symbolizes pride. To mankind pride is very important, but to God it is like a small cloth that rots away in this world.
God tells Jeremiah to buy a waist band and take it to the area of Babylon and bury it by the Euphrates River. Later he is to go back and dig up the waist band but by this time it is ruined and worthless. This is a picture of the nation being overpowered by Babylon. The people who were once prideful will be taken into exile to Babylon for 70 years. During that time their pride will be broken and they will learn that God is God.
We can see from these two examples that God has a plan for this world. His plan for His people is to bring the Law of God to the world and thus show the world that there is one all-powerful God who loves the world and wants the people of the world to live, and live for Him. John 3:16
In Chapter 13 Judah is off track. They have been derailed by their pride. God is going to get them back on track. For the next few days we will be reading some Psalms. In these Psalms we will see what it is going to take to get them back on track so they can accomplish God’s plan for them. Ephesians 2:10
God has a plan for the neighboring nations and the nations of the world. God is going to take the neighboring nations through what they need to go through for them to be willing to be willing to listen. As always they have free will and can choose to accept the message or reject it. One thing is clear though, they will have heard the message and they will be responsible for their choice.
As we look back to these events we must realize that God is trying to get the message to us as well. The devil will try to deflect the message with deception. He seems to be working overtime presently because he knows his time is short. How much time is left before Jesus returns is up to God and not us. One thing is certain though, our time on earth is short. God continues to communicate the message of His love for the world which includes us. He sent His Son Jesus to show us the cost of sin and to pay the penalty for our sin. That is the good news of the Gospel! What we choose regarding the Gospel of Christ Jesus will have eternal consequences, so choose well!
When I think of that waist band I think of Isaiah 64 which I recommend reading with this study. The waist band clearly illustrates the message.
Pastor Dave