Todays readings.. 1 Kings 6, Jeremiah 32, Mark 6
The above words form the start of Jeremiah’s prayer after “the LORD of hosts” had said to him “Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’ [ch.32 v.15] It obviously needed a miracle for this to happen. Let us now meditate on the ‘power’ behind the words of v.17!
‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. You show steadfast love to thousands, but …” [v.17,18] The word “but” in God’s word is, what we might call, a ‘pivotal’ word that we often feel tempted to gloss over! Let us read on in this verse “but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts…”
The “guilt” of Israel was dealt with in Jeremiah’s time – as Jerusalem was destroyed – and again when they rejected and killed Jesus, and they and the children of those that killed him suffered as Jerusalem was destroyed again in A D 70. But – let us think deeply – what of the “guilt” of the whole world today!!
The LORD told Jeremiah “This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them” they are “good for nothing.” [13 v.10] Now, let us reflect on what the LORD must think of people today! Does he consider them as being “good for nothing?” Well, when they fail to say, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power …” we cannot but fear that the Creator will act – and how soon now? But the ultimate outcome will be utterly wonderful!
A final thought jumps out at us from the book of Revelation – of the time coming when there are loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” [11 v.15] The true believers who are there will say, , ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made all this!
Let us make sure we believe what is true, we must read – and prayerfully absorb – God’s word every day.
