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 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.
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“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.
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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.
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❤️
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I am in the same boat and agree 100%!
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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!
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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.
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Yes! These passages couldn’t be anymore fitting to our current day.
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Amen. Thank you for this much needed reminder and word today, Rebecca!
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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.
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