Jeremiah 16:1-21

The promises of God are sure.  God will always do exactly what He promises.  However, it is important to realize that not all of God’s promises are according to our liking.  God has not only promised things we would interpret as “good” or to our liking; He has also promised things we may call and consider to be “bad” or not according to our desires.  Jeremiah has been given the task of revealing both of these types of promises.  Some are good news, some are bad news but both of them are sure news.  When God promises something it will always come to pass.

GOD PROMISES RETRIBUTION: God told Jeremiah not to get married and have children because the children born in this land as well as their parents were destined for destruction.  Some would be stricken with disease, others by war and others would starve to death.  No matter how they died; they would not even be buried or mourned.  Their bodies would simply be left to decompose and be consumed by wild beasts and birds.  This is the kind of promise nobody wants to hear.  This destruction would take place because of the people’s sinfulness and idolatry.  God’s mercy and love had come to an end and He is just about ready to take retribution out on the nation of sinners.  The nation had been living in rebellion for multiple generations and now they are about to experience the consequences of that rebellion.


GOD PROMISES RESTORATION: God’s words of judgment are never given without the promise of hope.  Even before the retribution takes place; God is careful to proclaim hope for the next generations.  God promises restoration to the nation.  The people will no longer need to look back to their deliverance from Egypt because there will be a more recent deliverance from the upcoming captivity.  God’s promise is sure and He will not be dissuaded or distracted from fulfilling either of these promises.  He will be faithful to retrieve His people from their captivity but He will not turn from His decision to punish the people’s iniquities.  Justice and mercy walk hand in hand in the Person and work of God.  Jeremiah stands in awe of God’s greatness and the glory of His promises.  His response is to proclaim that the nations of the world will join him in worship of the Lord because of this display of retribution and restoration.  This was God’s purpose in creation from the very beginning and it is a promise He will most certainly keep.

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