Jeremiah 8

Jeremiah continues in 8:1-3 the prediction of the coming judgment from the end of Ch. 7.  But in Ch. 8 he notes that the judgment will be directed to the leadership of the nation: the kings, princes, priests and prophets as well as the inhabitants of the capital city of Jerusalem.  The reason for this judgment is “obvious” (v4-6) although these supposed wise men are clueless as to the gravity of the situation.  God has found the same sins as previously: covetousness, deceit and a replacement of God’s word with the entertaining message of “peace” (v8-11).  Since they have no shame (v12) God will consume them (v13), and when it happens they will be caught completely off-guard (v14-17).

As Jeremiah preaches he is overcome by compassionate sorrow for his people.  This lengthy passage (8:18-9:11) shows us why Jeremiah is often called “the weeping prophet”.  His heart is faint with grief (8:18).  He hurts for what hurts his people (8:21).  They have a disease for which there is no cure (8:22).  He is so overcome by their rebellion he wishes he could have a place to live far from them so as not to witness their shame (9:2).  The response of God to all this is that He must and He will refine His people (9:7-11).  God also weeps but for the land that will lie ruined when the people are removed.

What a remarkable difference between the leaders of Judah and God’s man Jeremiah.  The former speak an attractive message of peace in the land.  To them what matters is their following.  Jeremiah, on the other hand, actually loves the people.  That love is evident in his commitment to the truth, no matter how unpleasant.  And it is evident in his “shepherd’s heart”, the true sorrow he has for the doomed people.

As a child growing up, I heard the same preacher Sunday after Sunday.  It was my father.  He was a wonderful pastor, loving and compassionate, with a true heart for the people entrusted to him by the Good Shepherd.  And you never confused his ministry in the pulpit with entertainment.  With integrity, serious and soundness he spoke the word of God (Titus 2:7-8).  On occasion, when vacationing, we would hear others preach.  Such was the case one year at an open-air worship service in a campground in the Sierra Nevada’s of California.  One Sunday the visiting preacher was extremely entertaining.  He read something from the Bible, and then interspersed words of wisdom with one hilarious story after another.  As we left I mentioned to my father how funny the man was.  My father, not a judgmental man, but one who knew what was at stake, responded in some fashion that indicated it had been a waste of time.  

Paul warned about having “itching ears” (2 Tim. 4:3) so that people would drift from teacher to teacher trying to hear pleasing or easy messages.  The warning was for us.  We must take heed to this fact: there are many false teachers who are preaching for a following.  To whom do you listen?