God Sees Everything

Jeremiah 16:1–21
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Back in 1989 the missionary: Gene Dulin wrote: A Romanian Christian told me of a communist government restrictions on baptisms. One restraint was that baptizing someone from a non-church family - was forbidden. Another law required that the names of all who were to be baptiz … More

Restriction

In order to get the attention of the people, God sometimes asked the prophets to do unusual things. In the case of Jeremiah, the Lord forbade him from participating in three activities:

The first restriction was not to marry (vv. 1-4). God’s purpose for this was to show that the coming catastrophe would disrupt all relationships. Keep in mind that all Jewish men were expected to be married by the age of 20 and the rabbis pronounced a curse on any who didn’t.
The second restriction was not to mourn for the dead (vv. 5-7). The purpose for this:
1. Was to show that God had withdrawn His blessing, love, and pity.
2. Was to show that those who die during the fall of Jerusalem would not be mourned.
The third restriction was not to enter a house where they were feasting (vv. 8-9). The purpose for this was to indicate that times of feasting and happiness would soon cease. How could people celebrate with such a cloud of destruction hovering over their nation?

God revealed to Jeremiah the message for judgment. However, God clearly indicated that this judgment was not permanent (vv. 10-14). Ultimately Israel as a nation would be restored to her land and enjoy God’s blessing (v. 15). (This will happen during the millennium.) He would hunt the people down and repay them for the way they had defiled the land (called His land, not theirs) with their detestable idols (vv. 16-18). He would hunt the people down and repay them for the way they had defiled the land (ironically called His land, not theirs) with their detestable idols (vv. 19-21).

Application

Do I have a sinful attitude or habit in my life that I hope God won’t notice? God sees everything and the first step to repentance is acknowledging that He does.

Jeremiah 16:1-21 (English Standard Version)

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