We used to own a truck with over 300,000 miles on it. I loved driving it. The leather was cracked and most of the dashboard lights were burned out. But easing it down a country road with all the windows down made me feel like the wind was at my back and things were going just my way.
There was one light, however, that wasn’t burned out: the check engine light. I took it to our favorite mechanic and he looked me square in the eye, “Stop driving this vehicle immediately—one wrong bump and the whole chassis is going to collapse off the axle. This truck will fail disastrously, and soon.” Driving home that afternoon, I considered his words: How soon? How ‘disastrous’ are we talking? How big of a bump? He was probably exaggerating—what even is an axle anyway?
Things can look just fine on the surface, but rumbling beneath, the true worth will eventually reveal itself. In the case of my truck, it was a catastrophic failure waiting to happen. I thought I could depend on that old truck, but it couldn’t stand up in a way that mattered desperately. In the case of Israel, God appointed Jeremiah as an “assayer” to determine what they were made of—and if they would be able to stand up (Jeremiah 6:27). An assayer is a “refiner,” one who tests the composition of minerals and determines their value. The Lord goes so far as to declare they are so stubborn that they “are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt” (v.28). But no amount of blasting with fire will reveal valuable metals because the people have rejected the word of the Lord (v.17).
The culture described in these chapters is a startling reminder of my own: “they have grown powerful and rich… fat and sleek… [and] excelled in evil matters… and they have not defended the rights of the needy” (Jeremiah 5:27–28). God is calling us to listen to His words and turn from the enticements of this world. He warns that we will be measured and the truth of our hearts will be revealed.
Who can stand in the face of such an examination? Even though my friendly truck seemed fine to me, it’s impending disaster could not be hidden from the experienced eye of a mechanic. If we persist in not using our eyes to see or our ears to hear—if we refuse to listen to the Lord, our devastation is sure. Indeed, it is our own sins that withhold the Lord’s bounty from us (Jeremiah 5:25).
If you are determined not to listen, you cannot stand up to a close examination. But set your feet in obedience to the Lord and He will change the quality of your heart, and deeper examination will reveal the value of His own shining goodness in you. Today if you hear His voice—in His word, in His creation, through His people—do not harden your heart, but listen and worship (Psalm 95:8).
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75 thoughts on "Jeremiah Appointed as Examiner"
I am determined to listen! ❤️
Justice. Kindness. Walk Humbly. Today’s reading hit home hard. Are we truly following the Lord? Are we listening? Actually hearing His words? Are we seeing? Actually opening our eyes? He is the only one, the only thing, we can depend on 100%. He is were our every move should come from. We are these people in the story that the Lord is angry with. We are no different than them. We are sinners. If we turn away from God, we turn away from what is good and holy and just. Let’s focus on turning back toward God. This past year was rough + we all felt lost at some point. We all lost hope and faith at some time or another. It’s a new year. Let’s fill it full of hope, kindness, justice, faith, and walk a little more humble (okay-a lot more humble!). God bless you all & much love!
And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Amen
Wow, this passage is hitting so close to home in the midst of this quarantine/pandemic. How easy it is for me, when I feel lonely or restless, to resort to idols as a form of temporary comfort in the moment to moment when God is the real, true resource that I need.
I pray that He would really grip each of our hearts in a very specific way during this time that will strengthen us and give us powerful new perspectives
Old Testament text can be a lot for my finite mind this ending statement from today’s reading settled my heart –
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
17I set watchmen over you, saying,
‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’
16Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Here is God’s judgment on our world. He has proclaimed to all of us the ways of repentance and peace but our hearts are hardened and we refuse him. Pray earnestly for our world in the midst of a disaster that will expose all the weaknesses of the Tower of Babel we have built. Lord, as Easter approaches, have mercy and flood our troubled world with a spirit of humble contrition and repentance. Have mercy on our world for Jesus’ precious sake.
Reading about God’s wrath was a little scary at first but then someone reminded me that because of Christ’s sacrifice we don’t have to experience the judgement we deserve. This makes me appreciate the cross even more. Yes we will receive judgement but we have a chance to get right by remembering the cross.
I love the instruction in Micah 6:8. I’m memorizing that verse this month!
God is righteously angry at his unfaithful people. God is worthy of all honor and glory. He alone deserves worship and so after generations of unfaithfulness God is finally bringing judgement upon his unfaithful people.They have broken the covenant he made with them. They have forsaken him for lesser gods. In order to be a just God, he must punish sin. Yet even in his justice, he is merciful. He promises to restore and preserve a remnant, even though their actions do not warrant it. He promises the hope of a new covenant, which points to Christ, one of inward renewal. The message of warning Jeremiah gives is repetitive. God is merciful to warn his people over and over again that judgement is coming. Additionally, in the original Hebrew, Jeremiah was using poetic repetition as he recorded these warnings, something that’s lost a bit in the translation to English.
This is so good.
I don’t know the History, but I can at least say “me too”. The first few chapters made me think about how our culture has some of these same attributes.
Y’all this study is hard for me. I feel like as I’m reading all I am getting is that God is mad and it’s gone on for 6 chapters now. I don’t know the history and it is confusing. It feels like he’s saying the same thing over and over with different analogies :,0( Any help?
I have felt the same … I see His continued grace too though and desperation for His people to turn back to him. Most of Old Testament to me is seeing how much God chases after us.. He continuously says come back to me and I will bless you… when you leave me I’m hurt, saddened and angry …
Callie, Jeremiah is a difficult book for sure as it focuses on God calling His people back to Himself. The story of Israel is one of many ups and downs. God makes Israel His people and then they keep falling away from Him. They disobey the covenant they have with God and so God must remind them that He is holy and cannot be linked with such unholy living, so He tells them ahead of time to repent so that destruction and discipline don’t have to come, but Israel usually struggles to repent and has to go through a time of difficulty. Jeremiah focuses on just the “Israel has done wrong and will suffer if they don’t repent” part of the story arc… hang in there and then find a study next to help give context! There’s a beautiful one written by Angie Smith called Seamless. Praying for understanding!
Callie, I try to look at the repetition of this as a sign of how important this is for us to all hear because it is so applicable to our own lives!
It really is so encouraging to know, just like with Israel, how much God is trying to call us back to Him in our current lives as our flesh has the tendency to choose in our day to day to ignore Him and put other things before Him, even as Christians.
It’s really showing me the importance of incorporating continual repentance into our lives and how much POWER that has to free us from the evil that is trying to consume our generation. I have to remind myself daily that He is the answer and anything I put before Him will just set me up for disaster.
I think your discomfort is exactly the point. God needs us to understand the depth and gravity of our sin. Though some of our sins in 2020 might look a little different than what Israel and Judah were dealing with, this emphasis on punishment allows these ancient times to still carry that foreboding weight even all these years later. Yeah, it can feel really repetitive and is a super downer, but only through understanding how hopelessly lost we are can we cling fully to God’s promises to find us, to care for us, and to save us.
16Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Thank you for sharing! Yes, this totally feels like our culture and even within our families and churches. Turning back to the powerful truth of God and His word can allow healing. It’ll be painful and uncomfortable, just like cleaning a wound, but that’s the way to get rid of the disease of sin that eventually leads to death.
God please set my feet in obedience to your word. Change the quality of my heart. I need it today. Desperate for it.
Lord help me to listen and worship.
May my eyes be open to the good way so that I might walk in it today
I was really struck by chapter 5 verse 25 – their sins had held back good things from them. When I sin it is a barrier to receiving good things from God. We receive blessing when we walk in a right way and in obedience to God.
Sometimes I feel as if I can’t hear God’s voice even though I know deep down it is truly there…how do you ladies really empty your thoughts and hear Him?
“It is our own sins that withhold the Lord’s bounty from us.”
This really stood out to me. The only thing holding me back from all the joy and goodness that God has to offer… is me. I must be willing to listen to what He lays on my heart and willing to follow the path He lays out before me. When I walk in obedience, He will change me.
❤️
I am determined to ‘see’, to ‘hear,’ and most importantly to obey. Yesterday’s reading, written so very long ago, but looks so much like today it’s scary. It’s a sobering reminder to me to make kingdom choices in my life. Very grateful for this Lenten study to remind me of the consequences of persistent disobedience and God’s great love for me.
The verses in Jeremiah made me cry this morning. Feeling the weight of my own sin, grieving it. Grieving also for the people of Israel and what they experienced, seeing myself in them. Grieving for all the ways I see our world today in these passages. Feeling my brokenness and it makes me long for the hope and joy of Easter. Grateful.
In this season I am so happy to read this. Traditions and normal day-to-day thoughts are being questioned. Inpray to hear and see what the lord wants me to do, but the single answer is to love and trust in him humbly.
through the past week of this reading i have been wondering about the individuals in the city of Israel. were there a few that loved the Lord and desperately sought Him?? were they lumped together with the rest of the sinful people?
this week, i lost someone. my boyfriend, the man who had promised me a future, walked away. he was planning to propose. or so i thought. this relationship was a great blessing in my life, and truly drew me closer to the Lord. instead of pressing in, he gave into worldly temptation and walked away.
his choice has spoken a lot to me, but mostly has spoken deep into my heart, the consequences that our free will has on others.
we’re there israelites that truly loved the Lord, but because of the sins of their brothers and sisters, they were punished?
how is our sin harming those around us?
Definitely thinking about the upcoming US elections and our responsibility to defend the rights of the needy… also, Jeremiah 6:14 – “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying ‘Peace, peace’ when there is no peace.” How often have I made small attempts to make a wrong thing right, but the deeper wound remains unhealed, or worse, unacknowledged?
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Thank you for this. Father help me not to harden my heart, help me to hear You and obey. In Jesus name Amen
I love the picture of purifying silver…bringing all the impurities to the top. With Jesus, He wants to do that for me. He wants to bring the impurities out of out and wipe them away, so that I can look more and more like him. I’ll never be perfect, but each day will grow closer to his heart. Praying I would see the parts of me that need to be purified, and surrender them over to Jesus. Lay them at the cross. They were buried in the grave, and because of Christ I can live in the freedom of his resurrection and new life. Praise God!!
What a POWERFUL WORD today! This has blessed my spirit. This reminds me of 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will heal their land.” We stand in such a time such as this.
I have often thought that I’m glad God didn’t call me to me a Jeremiah. His prophecy is harsh and unyielding and made all the worse because it is deserved. God’s people are deliberate in their sin and Jeremiah called them out on it. Yes, I’m not volunteering to be a Jeremiah. But praise God that there are those in our lives who are courageous enough to call us out when we are wandering, when we are walking that dark path of blatant sin. May our minds and hearts be receptive to the Truth and may we respond with quick repentance and obedience. Who are the Jeremiahs in your life and to whom are you willing to be that Jeremiah? Let us refine one another with love and grace.
“But set your feet in obedience to the Lord and He will change the quality of your heart, and deeper examination will reveal the value of His own shining goodness in you.” This sentence struck a nerve and made me think long and hard. It made and makes me realize how important my faith and obedience is to God and Christ. I hope through this study and through my strengthing faith in God and Christ I can be a shinig beacon for God. I have been straying and putting aside my faith and Bible studies for other not so important things and so now I pray through this study and with you help sisters I can reifll my cup and even overflow it.
Love what I read Angie and Candace Bradford.
Sara Terry, I wish I could have stayed at home with my two sons. One other way you can volunteer is for you and your child to go to a long term care facility (nursing home) and visit people who don’t have many visitors. I remember when my mom would take my sons and niece to visit my grandfather in the nursing home all the residents faces lit up and my mom would have to stop to let them see her grandchildren.
Amen Bessie H., Beth H., Kara, Peyton Grace Potts,and Renee.
Prayers for all my sisters out there.
This was a hard reading today. It can be difficult to read about God bringing disaster and destruction to his chosen people, but I was reminded that He did it out of love for them. He was trying to woo them back to himself.
I am so thankful that I chose to do this study and for the first time observe the season of Lent. This study is really touching my heart and my prayer is that when this study is over I will have a deeper understanding of God’s word and a changed heart. Today’s reading really spoke to me.
❤️
I am in the same boat and agree 100%!
I am loving the scriptures paired with Jeremiah in this study. Reading the heart in Psalm 95 as the picture of what’s pleasing to the Lord, in exact opposition with Israel in Jeremiah. Makes me so thankful that we are on this side of the cross and resurrection. All is not hopeless!
Today’s reading Jeremiah 5:25-30 made me think of all that is going in the the USA right now. Will we listen to God and respond as Micah 6:8 tell us. The word of God is so eternally contemporary.
Yes! These passages couldn’t be anymore fitting to our current day.
Amen. Thank you for this much needed reminder and word today, Rebecca!
Jeremiah is a hard book to read. It really makes you look inward at yourself and ask “An I truly following God or am I falling away like the Israelites?” Chapter 6, verse 16 has always been one of my favorite verses. Whenever I come to a crossroad, I need to work on asking God which way to go not just choosing on my own. His path is always the best path.
I love the Psalm 95 passage after reading Jeremiah. Our God is great, and all He wants from us is to praise and follow Him. He will care for the rest.
All we have to do is – seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
I start within the community of my church. Get to know people, find out who needs what, be kind to every person I come across, young and old. If I have something to share, I share it.
This morning I was up much earlier than normal. As a matter fact 45 minutes early and I could not sleep. The first thing I did was go to CaringBridge to check up on Nathan Lewis. I knew for sure that the dad would have posted something at the wee hours of the night. Please continue to pray for this family and for full recovery of Nathan Lewis. This young man is having surgery this morning so the dad’s prayer is that he would be fever free so that surgery can be performed. I got dressed quickly and started SRT. My prayer this morning is that I will always have eyes to see and ears to hear. That I would listen to the Lord. I don’t want it to be my own sin holding me back.
I felt convicted that my heart does not break enough over my sins…you know, the “minor ones.” It is easy for me to forget that sin is sin and ALL sin puts a wedge between me and God.
Also, I realized while reading this that my heart does not break enough for the lost and the needy. I feel at times my heart has become calloused to their needs – for a Savior and the bare necessities. Sure, I try to share the Gospel when possible and give to the needy; but my heart is not in it. Sometimes, I feel I do things more out of obligation than through the hands and heart of the love of God.
This reading today really opened my eyes and convicted me to pray for that God to remove the foreskin of my heart.
Make that Jeremiah 6:15 ;)
What struck me in Jeremiah 5:15 is “They can no longer feel humiliation.” WOW. Doesn’t it feel like that’s …us? We promote fools for entertainment. Even our highest elected officials seem to show no concern over their most outrageous behavior being paraded over the news.
What does it mean for me to “feel humiliation” in a way that brings me closer to Him? I’ll be pondering this today.
SO good, Kara! So much of what we have read in Jeremiah so far feels like it could be written about our modern day culture as well. It truly breaks my heart. I pray for God to open my eyes to those things which I am not feeling humiliation over (which I should).
I was thinking the same thing as I was reading, too.. it definitely does sound like the US
Yes! This is us… horribly so. I can see it in the world around me- now I must hold up the mirror to see it in my own self- for to recognize it in others does nothing for my own soul; I can repent collectively, but I must also repent individually… a very difficult thing because I have become so good at over looking my own specific transgressions. I feel like, as a person who did not grow up in a traditional, liturgical, background, I have not enough experience with confession and repentance for specific sins… just a general “forgive us our sins” attitude. I can acknowledge that I sin and need forgiveness, but from what? And how?
Lord, when you speak I pray I listen. That I would find pleasure in your word. When I am at a crossroads and you show me what way is good I would take it. I pray that I will listen. Today, as I hear your voice let me not harden my heart for you have shown me what is good, to act justly, to love faithfulness and to walk humbly with you.
What stands out to me today is humbleness. God calls us to be humble, soften our hearts and be submissive. Our culture today doesn’t seem very different from the culture in Jeremiah’s day. Many of the descriptions in today’s reading could be written of us today. It is not acceptable to be humble and submissive. Yet, that is what God is calling me/us to do. To be His light in a dark and miserable world. May I with boldness and strength from God be a light and a cold cup of water to a hurting world.
I agree it sounds similar to how our culture is. I’ve turned off FB during lent and I’m trying to replace my scroll time with prayer time. It’s going ok. It’s not easy to separate myself but I know it’s what I’m supposed to do right now.
Some people keep a gallon ziplock bag with socks, toiletries, snacks, etc in their car to pass out to beggars. Go with your gut. God will lead you. God can use you to show love in all kinds of ways. It doesn’t have to be money. But what they do with the money is on them. Sometimes they just need some dignity. Sometimes they need a smile
Since I stay at home with my baby and don’t bring in a paycheck,I struggle with the tension of feeling like I give what is not mine to give when I give money or food away … so I honestly don’t do it much . I try to compensate by volunteering time at church, but I still feel like God wants me to do more outside the walls of the church. I pray my heart doesn’t harden when opportunities arise to do justice , love kindness , and walk humbly with my God .
Sweet Mom don’t ever feel like you aren’t doing enough or not contributing because you don’t bring home a paycheck! I went through the same raising three daughters. But time has taught me that what you are doing is the the most important job God has given you! It is hard but hang in there and know what you are doing is right!
You have time to donate that is your own.
There are local food banks in small communities that need assistance, people in adult family homes that are unvisited, nursing homes with few visitors, children’s hospitals that need people to read stories and sing songs with them, and thrift stores that need help.
And, have a conversation with the person who brings home the paycheck. Share what’s on your heart and ideas for helping the disenfranchised. You may see another’s heart moved as well.
Time is also difficult with a baby—don’t feel judged if you don’t have much of it. I feel this tension, too. I’ve been considering what I can do with what I have. Pray. Donate or sell my things (because I have plenty) and use what I get to give.
I love how God intersects so much of our lives when we ask for eyes to see, the little things amaze me most.
Referencing what the Holy Spirit gave me on Wednesday is an example-my grandchildren’s bear hunt story, applied to today, and my God hunt. Eyes and heart open, marching forward on this journey to find more of Him, He is faithful. Even using a child’s story book.
Little things:
God has given me specific verses each day to keep in the front of my mind and heart. I’m also reading E.M. Bounds book on prayer. In what I read last night, BOTH verses were referenced.
Today’s SRT ends in Micah vs. 8 – which is one of my favorite! The verse printed was, “…to act justly, to love FAITHFULNESS, and to walk humbly with your God.” I’ve always read it as, “…to act justly, love MERCY, and to walk humbly with your God.” Which may not seem like a big deal but, on my “More of God Hunt”, He presently has been speaking to me about prayer and FAITH!
Bounds says, “True godliness is just as important in the realm of FAITH as it is in the area of prayer.”
Which leads right back to the problem with God’s people in today’s SRT readings. They had turned away from God and were serving/worshiping Him in appearance only, not in heart purity or obedience.
In, He Reads Truth, (which is great today), John says, “Would you drink a cup of coffee if one drop of it was something less than good—a spot of bubonic plague perhaps, maybe just a little bit of paint thinner, or a dash of DDT? Probably not. Whether it’s coffee or something else we hope to enjoy, we want purity, plain and simple. Even if ninety-nine percent of the thing is perfect, a little bit of nastiness will ruin the whole batch.”
God’s people were like the old truck Rebecca shares about. They are like the cup of coffee John mentions only with a lot of DDT, not just a drop. It looked like they were doing what they needed to be but, the insides weren’t right, and consequences were coming.
Oh Lord, when the world sees us, may they see You-and may You draw them in like a pure, untainted, sweet latte or a bold, rich coffee (whichever they prefer). Thank you that in this old junker (me) truck’s engine (heart) is being rebuilt by you, and fueled by the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit a little bit more each day. Until the day I come Home and am fully new.
Day 3 for me Lord on this glorious more of You, “God hunt!”
Great Word pictures! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Day 5✅
I have been recommitting my time with God starting in Lent and Satan has been putting the craziest desires for the wrong kinds of shows, moodiness, etc in me. Stuff I am not usually very tempted with… Lord, help me to surrender all of me to you and help me to resist temptations as you refine me during this wonderful season. I think I was like that old truck and maybe didn’t realize how much refining I really need!
Me too Ali. I was listening to a new podcast and in the middle of it the Holy Spirit convicted me to turn it off. I have been excited about this season of lent for weeks, but I’ve been so moody this week, wondering why God doesn’t seem close. Maybe satan is working harder to tempt me because if I resist him and and soften my heart to God’s voice this could be a season of growth. Praying for this for all of us during this season of lent!
Sameeee… I think my will and my discipline is being challenged.
Praying for you Ali!
I am in the same boat as far as moodiness goes. It’s not the right time of the month for me to be so grumpy and short towards everything and everyone, especially my husband.
I’m in the same boat as far as moodiness goes. It’s not the right time of the month for me to be so grumpy. I didn’t think of my poor attitude being from satan but that make perfect sense.
You are not alone in resisting temptation- I think anytime we move towards God, the enemy is there trying to push us back. I know the experience well. Praying for you as you stand firm in the Spirit and let Him refine you.
I usually give if it’s laid on my heart and let God be God. When I give even if they ask for food or something I don’t worry if the take the money and do something different because I gave and gave from a good place. A lot of times if I see a sign for food I will just buy it for them.
I have heard the same comment from many people but I agree if we ignore and do nothing, how are we showing God’s love? I applaud ur tea and food offer!
I usually ask what they need. If they say booze or pot or some nonsense I tell them I can’t in good conscious buy them that but I’m more than happy to help with food. Just be safe wouldn’t want you to be hurt. Some people on the streets are unstable. It’s best to travel in twos when helping them. Good luck!