Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 (NRSV)
Read Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name's sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you. Verse 8O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night? Verse 9Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us!
Verse 10Thus says the Lord concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. Verse 19Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead. Verse 20We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you. Verse 21Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us. Verse 22Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this.
Devotion
Can we boldly question God’s love for us, even though we have sinned against him? The prophet in today’s passage, responding to the Israelites’ questioning God’s presence and love for them, says “yes.”
It reminds me of my little grand-nephew, Caleb, and his mom. Whenever Caleb deserved punishment for his disobedience, he crawled to his mom in tears, not questioning that he would be forgiven. Caleb was sure his mom’s anger would be quenched when he asked for her pardon, for he knew in his little heart that his mom was loving.
As children of God, what a privilege it is that we can trust our heavenly father like little children trust their parents. In spite of the fact that our sins are like scarlet, he doesn’t despise us. He cleanses all our sins and keeps his covenant with us forever.
Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, we give thanks for your only son, Jesus Christ, who saves us from our sins. Through your faithfulness and your everlasting love in Christ for us, we can boldly come to you even though our sins testify again us. For you are the only hope and Savior in times of our distress. Amen.