Jeremiah Appointed as Examiner
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Jeremiah 5:14-6:30, Psalm 95:1-11, Micah 6:6-8
BY Rebecca Faires
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).
75 thoughts on "Jeremiah Appointed as Examiner"
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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.
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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.
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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 ;)
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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.
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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).
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I was thinking the same thing as I was reading, too.. it definitely does sound like the US
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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