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| Not speeding too much... |
I’ll write some of my thoughts
after the verses (ESV); this really made me think.
Jer
9:2 …Oh that I had in the desert a
travelers' lodging place, that I might leave my people and go away from them!
For they are all adulterers, a company of treacherous men. These are God’s people (the
Jews). Are we not also God’s
people? The adultery is figurative (of
idolatry) as we know they weren’t all cheating on their spouses. Idolaters, violators of the covenant, devoted
to earthly things and deceitful.
Jer
9:3 They bend their tongue like a bow;
falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from
evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the LORD. Falsehood
increases even among ‘Christians’. It is far more acceptable today. We easily
and without remorse go from one sin to another, justifying our actions. It is bad enough the world doesn’t know Him,
but do we?
Jer
9:4 Let everyone beware of his neighbor,
and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every
neighbor goes about as a slanderer. Trustworthiness is no longer a
valued trait. Lying and cheating with work, neighbours, buyers… Many bear tales
in attempts to make others look bad, etc. and give out private information.
Jer 9:5 Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one
speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary
themselves committing iniquity. We learn and exercise lying instead of
truth, to others and ourselves. We work harder at the pleasures of life
justifying our lack of self control and party hardy or build up earthly
treasures.
Jer 9:6 Heaping oppression upon oppression, and
deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the LORD. Literally ‘your
home is in the middle of deceit.’ Being powerful is desired. Oppression,
deception is commonplace even in North America. Most
people here refuse to accept God and Jesus Christ.
Jer
9:7 Therefore thus says the LORD of
hosts: "Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do,
because of my people? This is what will happen to these nations.
Jer
9:8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it
speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in
his heart he plans an ambush for him. Speaking nice to the face and
stabbing them in the back, speaking evil about them to others. Put others down
to look smarter, morally better, richer, more important, to be liked more, to
get the job, promotion, pay raise, cause them to lose their good reputation…
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| Extra breaks, longer time is stealing from work! |
Jer
9:9 Shall I not punish them for these
things? declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as
this? Again, the Lord will punish those who mistreat His creation.
Jer
9:10 "I will take up weeping and
wailing for the mountains, and a lamentation for the pastures of the
wilderness, because they are laid waste so that no one passes through, and the
lowing of cattle is not heard; both the birds of the air and the beasts have
fled and are gone. The Lord seems to still be speaking here. Weeping, wailing…
Jer 9:11 I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals, and I will make the
cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant." Judgment-
destruction.
Jer 9:12 Who is the man so
wise that he can understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken,
that he may declare it? Why is the land ruined and laid waste like a
wilderness, so that no one passes through? Are
we wise? Can we hear His questions of us?
Jer 9:13 And the LORD says:
"Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not
obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it,
Jer 9:14 but have stubbornly
followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers
taught them. …There will be
God’s judgment. Be warned!
Consider our fourfold sin (as a
nation and even His children):
-forsaking God’s law He gave us
-not obeying His voice or walking in it
-stubbornly following our own hearts,
ways, paths…
-idolatry
(today mostly found in the form of
devices, games, tv, money, possessions…)
Oh Lord, please have mercy on us your children, for the poor examples we may be displaying... and for not speaking out in this country for Your truth!