My heart is crushed because my dear people are being crushed. I go about crying and grieving. I am overwhelmed with dismay. There is still medicinal ointment available in Gilead! There is still a physician there! Why then have my dear people not been restored to health? (Jeremiah 8:21-22)
Like I mentioned before, Jeremiah is a hard-hitting book. It is not an “easy read.” The sin of the people of Israel is confronted head-on and God is warning them over and over of the judgment coming their way. It is easy to see our own country and/or the American church in these passages. And there are some parallels.
The people rushed headlong into sin with no thought of their actions being wrong. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle. (8:6)
The people thought they were wise but they had no true wisdom because they had rejected the Word of God. Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be dumbfounded and be brought to judgment. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what wisdom do they really have? (8:9)
Material greed was the order of the day. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain (8:10).
Instead of repentance, the solutions offered by religious teachers and cultural leaders were superficial. They offer only superficial help for the hurt my dear people have suffered. They say, “Everything will be all right!” But everything is not all right! (8:11)
Sin was so accepted in society that no one even blushed when someone sinned openly. Are they ashamed because they have done such disgusting things? No, they are not at all ashamed! They do not even know how to blush! (8:12)
The parallels are there so what should our response be? I was drawn to Jeremiah’s words at the end of the chapter. My heart is crushed because my dear people are being crushed. I go about crying and grieving. I am overwhelmed with dismay. Here is where I miss the boat. It is easy to sit back and critique American society and culture. It is easy to point out the sin and obstinacy of others. But until our hearts are broken over sin (our own sin and the sin of others) we have not really discovered the heart of God.
Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet.” Though his words to the people were strong, his heart was tender. I think that is why God chose him to deliver this message. God did not want the “in your face” prophet who sort of enjoyed speaking harshly and watching people squirm. He wanted a prophet who was tender-hearted, compassionate, and emotionally tied to the people of Israel. Only such a prophet could speak such harsh truth with a heart of love.
Hard truth, soft hearts. I think that is what God is looking for in his servants today–people who know His Word, know His holiness, know the destructive nature of sin and do not soft peddle it but people who also know how to weep, how to grieve, and how to speak God’s truth with love.
Lord, forgive me for allowing my heart to become cold and cynical. Give me a tender heart that weeps for this nation–this nation that has been blessed by You so abundantly. Give me the boldness to speak Your truth in love to those who need to hear it today.