Jeremiah 32:16-25, Adonai YAHWEH, Lord GOD (2)

Jeremiah and Ezekiel sought understanding from God when His instructions seemed to contradict His promises.  They used the phrase, Ah, Lord GOD, as they approached God.  To encourage us in our “conversations” with God, when we struggle to see how His purposes will be fulfilled, let us look at these passages.

·       Jer. 1:4-8: God called Jeremiah when he was very young.  Jeremiah’s first response was, Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth (v6).  God’s answer was, Do not be afraid … I am with you to deliver you (v8).

·       Jer. 4:10: Jeremiah questioned God: Ah, Lord GOD, Surely You have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You shall have peace,’ whereas the sword reaches to the heart.  Why did Jeremiah think this?  It was because it’s what the other prophets were saying (Jer. 5:12).  Jeremiah brought this up again in Jer. 14:13: Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.'  God’s response was, The prophets prophesy lies in My name.  I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them.  Jeremiah trusted God, and needed God’s perspective about the lying preachers of the day.

·       Jer. 32:16-25: God told Jeremiah to buy property from a relative after telling Jeremiah He was going to give Israel to the Gentiles.  Jeremiah wondered why: Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth … there is nothing too hard for You … and You have said to me, O Lord GOD, ‘Buy the field for money’ … yet the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans (Jer. 32:16-25).  Jeremiah did not doubt God’s ability; he knew Him as Lord GOD.  The answer came (v26-44) from God, that after chastening them in Babylon, He would bring all the good on them that He promised.

·       Ezek. 4:14: Ezekiel was the prophet of “object lessons.”  To make a point, God told Ezekiel to cook his food on a fire of human excrement.  Ezekiel objected.  Ah, Lord GOD! Indeed I have never defiled myself.  God heard and made an “arrangement” with Ezekiel.  Ezekiel never denied God’s sovereign position.

·       Ezek. 9:8: God told Ezekiel Jerusalem, the temple and His sanctuary would be destroyed.  This sounded like a denial of the covenant with Abraham.  So, he said, Ah, Lord GOD!  Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?  God’s answer was that Israel’s sin was great, and His judgment would be just.  Later, in Ezek. 11:13, having seen two leading men of Judah die, Ezekiel against asks, Ah, Lord GOD! Will you make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?  God’s answer here is to say, that though He casts them among the Gentiles, He will be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.  Ezekiel trusts in God, and knows His covenant promises.  His plea brings understanding from the LORD.

·       Ezek. 20:49: Ezekiel was obedient, speaking all that the Lord GOD told him to say.  But at one point Ezekiel heard what the “crowd” was saying, and called out to God, Ah, Lord GOD!  They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’  No answer is needed.  Ezekiel, as we said, was obedient.  He continued to speak God’s word regardless of the less than friendly response from the people.

Here are two prophets with difficult ministries, being told by God that their messages would not be received.  Yet, they were faithful.  Along the way, they had such a relationship with the Lord that they could approach Him in reverence (Lord GOD) and seek His comforting perspective on their difficult ministry.  Do we have this kind of bold humility in approaching our Lord?