Jeremiah 3:3-5 - You refuse to blush with shame

3:3

“Therefore the showers have been withheld.” This happened because of Israel’s sin. We tend to baulk at the idea of judgement, of natural disasters possibly being a part of God’s judgement upon the earth. This is a deeply unbiblical view. So why do we hold to it? Because we have little understanding. First, we think that judgement and mercy are incompatible, they are not! Look at the cross, it is God’s judgement upon our sin. The cross is where you and I belong. But it is also the supreme act of mercy, because Jesus took upon Himself the punishment that should have been ours. In Micah 6:8 we are told that we should act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. If all we do is act justly, then we are neither loving mercy nor walking humbly with our God. If all we do is love mercy, then we are not acting justly and we are not walking humbly with our God. We need to act justly and love mercy, then we have no choice but to walk humbly with our God! These things happened to Israel because of her brazen sinfulness. It wasn’t the occasional slip up, but outright and persistent sin.

3:4,5

Their words were good, but their lives were evil. They prayed to God “My Father, my friend from my youth”. Their words sounded fine, and the same can be true of many a false teacher or minister. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said that not everyone who calls Him Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of the Father. Faith and life is a serious business.