Today’s Reading:
Jeremiah 12:14-17
“Now this is what the Lord says: “I will uproot from their land all the evil nations reaching out for the possession I gave my people Israel. And I will uproot Judah from among them. But afterwards, I will return and have compassion for all of them. I will bring them home to their lands again, each nation to its possession. And if these nations truly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people. But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the Lord have spoken!” (Jeremiah 12:14-17 KJV)
The four last verses of Jeremiah 12, which is our reading for today, concern an important aspect of Jeremiah’s commission (1:10). Judah’s wicked neighbours whom God used to punish them, and who led them to the worship of Baal, although, they had hurt Judah severely, in the future would be converted (9:26; 25:14-32; Chaps. 46-51). They would have also suffered the same fate as Judah, that is, deportation as captives to Babylon (v. 14). But if they would believe, obey, and repent, the Lord will have compassion on them, and will cause them to return to their land (v. 15).
In which case, they would have to learn the way of the word of God’s principles (v. 16). Because this is the only way they can be saved, if not they too would have to taste of God’s wrath and destruction. The fact that Israel’s faith moved within the confines of narrow nationalism, and despite God’s justifiable anger over their sin, His sovereignty still included His deep desire for their welfare. His desire shaped His plan for their future return to the land. It includes His desire also for the salvation of even the worst enemies of Israel, peradventure they would repent (Ps. 67). The Lord is a God of great compassion and kindness.
Facts that we should take note of about the compassion of God:
Of all the inhabitants of the universe, no evil nation would evade the punishment of the wrath of God. Not even the nations God used to punish His children. God would uproot them all (v. 14).
God uproots His people in His compassion, and their restoration is tantamount to their deliverance and transformation.
God is a compassionate God, He would also have compassion on the wicked unbelieving nations, and they too would be restored after being punished.
To experience God’s compassion, the unbelieving nations would have to first be converted from their idolatry ways, and learn the ways of the believing nations and the principles of God. The said conversion would require a public surrender to the terms of the Sinai covenant which includes the words like, ‘surely as the Lord lives’. Also, they would need to renounce the covenants and oaths they have been living within the name of their gods like Baal, in whose name they had persuaded Israel into worshipping foreign gods.
‘I, the Lord, have spoken!’ This statement indicates the sovereignty of God and also gives God’s declaration the force of divine decree. If these other nations fail to obey the Lord, they will be uprooted and destroyed.
OLUFUNMILATYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.” If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fulness, the world, and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
O Lord, you are the portion of my inheritance and my cup. Maintain my lot and secure my waters. It will never be polluted, contaminated or wasted, in Jesus’ name.
O Lord, create in me a pure heart, renew a right, humble and teachable spirit within me, in Jesus’ name.
O Lord, fill me to overflow with Your love and empower me to love others around me, in Jesus’ name.
O Lord, grant me the enablement to say the truth about Christ and stand my ground, in Jesus’ name.
O, Lord reconcile Christian families and homes for the purpose for which You have established it, in Jesus’ name.
O Lord, our Saviour, and Redeemer, rescue the captives of the mighty, and deliver the prey of the terrible, deliver even the lawful captives, in Jesus’ name.
O Lord, you are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest; You are the Wellspring of the joy of living, the Ocean depth of happy rest! You are our Father, Christ our brother, and all who live in love belong to You. Teach the body of Christ how to love each other, and lift us all to the joy divine, in Jesus’ name.
King of glory, the Lord strong and mighty, make the leaders of our nation to be sensitive to the plight of the masses they govern, in Jesus’ name.
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