November 10, 2022 – Thursday
Still More on Repentance
Jeremiah 5:3 NIV
3 Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
Comment
An interesting question for all of us, what would happen if we refused to repent? What would bring about such a judgment upon Jerusalem? Verses one and two tell the story with God speaking through His prophet Jeremiah, 1“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. 2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.”
God is asking Jeremiah to look for a single man who was upright (deals honestly and seeks the truth) and if he could find such a man He would spare His judgment upon Jerusalem. Also, God was aware of the empty ritual or saying As sure as the Lord lives, as no one said this with any real earnestness from the heart. It was a time of not only swearing falsely, but false religion.
Jeremiah, begins an intercessory prayer for Jerusalem in our verse of the day, 3 Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. While God is looking for truth, Jeremiah is both shocked and grieved over the complete absence of any repentance in spite of their sin. They were afflicted, but they refused correction. Would that be our country or community today? It was today that I saw a billboard advertising the need to be tested for syphilis without any admonishment to correct such behavior that would lead one to get such a disease. Today as then, despite all the correction they would have to endure, they are refusing to change their behavior and repent.
Jeremiah thought the cause of all this might be due to the people being poor and not knowing any better so he said he would speak to leaders of Jerusalem. Sadly, what he discovered was it was the same with them for, with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds (verse 4-5). The leaders likely even led their people into such terrible behavior and rebellion against God. The rest of the chapter deals with their punishment and lists further wrongs that reflect the hearts of the people.
It is interesting how Proverbs wisdom teaching addresses like circumstances. In Proverbs 1:22-23 we hear the following question, 22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. Repentance has a promise of renewal, 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. There is also a strong hint of a promise for the future restoration of Jerusalem in verse 10 of Jeremiah 5, Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Leave some for the future.
Bottom Line: We live in a culture today that seems to reward opposition and rebellion against God. We are not to be of this world and its false rewards, but only to be in it while we wait for renewal (if it is to come) and wait to join the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in heaven with other believers.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Please help us not to be a part of the world in rebellion against You and Your word. Help us to stay close to You and not to any false idols of this fallen world. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek