Jer 13:1-14 — The Ruined Loincloth, The Jars Filled with Wine
Jer 13:15-27 — Exile Threatened
Jer 14 — Famine, Sword, and Pestilence
Jer 15 — The Lord Will Not Relent, Jeremiah’s Complaint
Jer 16 — Famine, Sword, and Death
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
In this section, Jeremiah makes no friends with his words. He starts out with a parable of “a linen belt” where God concludes, “For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me…to be my people…but they have not listened” (Jeremiah 13:11). He goes on to reveal his nature as the weeping prophet, “If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride…because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive” (13:17). And continues to reveal how far gone God’s chosen people have become: “It is because your ancestors forsook me…but you have behaved more wickedly” (16:11,12). Blame you ancestors, sure, but look in the mirror at your own unrighteousness.
Jeremiah 13:23, “Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots?” is heard in many settings, but perhaps the second part of that verse is not referred to so much: “Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” This is one of those truisms for which I hope the opposite can become true: those who trust in the Lord and are accustomed to doing good will have much fruit for his kingdom. My prayer and hope is to be far from that which is accustomed to doing evil, distant from those that perpetuate sinful behavior.
One of the most startling statements is seen in the beginning of chapter 15, “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!” (15:1). It is my hope that we will avoid this kind of judgment by learning from our ancestor’s speckled past, but studying and learning from their mistakes. Lord please help me to be one who is accustomed to going good, who’s ways are your ways!