Jer 7 — Evil in the Land
Jer 8 — Sin and Treachery
Jer 9 — Jeremiah Grieves for His People
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
My prayer is for you to join me on this journey. Subscribe to this blog below to get an email when a new post is available.
Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
Jeremiah recants the story of Israel’s ridiculous ways how “they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward” (Jeremiah 7:24). Going backward and not forward is such a troubling phrase. There is no option to stand still for we are always moving, we have to make a choice to move forward (or backward), our actions reveal our hearts even as did our ancient ancestors.
Jeremiah asks, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” (8:22) (referring to the infamous medicinal spices in the region), “is there no healing for the wound of my people?” This brings back fond memories of the song, “There Is a Balm in Gilead.” As a young follower of Christ, I looked forward to the Easter service when the song would ring out the truth that Christ is the real balm of Gilead. The verse of the song I remember well, “There is balm in Gilead, To make the wounded whole; There is balm in Gilead, To cure a sin-sick soul.” In our uber-modern culture, choirs are all but gone and hymns have faded, but my heart was touched by the tenor solo (that I could never sing) as Earl Lebeau sang those words. God please keep saving my sin-sick soul!
“‘The days are coming’, declares the Lord, ‘when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh…even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart'” (9:25,26). It’s always been a matter of heart. We’ve been given symbols and rituals to remind us of God’s great love, but it comes back to a heart condition. Lord fill my heart with the wonder of your amazing grace!