November 11, 2022 – Friday
Yet, Still More on Repentance
Jeremiah 15:19 NIV
19 Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.”
Jeremiah 15:19 NET
19 Because of this, the Lord said, “You must repent of such words and thoughts! If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me. If you say what is worthwhile instead of what is worthless, I will again allow you to be my spokesman. They must become as you have been. You must not become like them.
Jeremiah 15:19 EXB
So this is what the Lord says: “If you change your heart and return to me [L return/repent], I will take you back [L return to you]. Then you may ·serve me [L stand before me]. And if you [C Jeremiah] speak things that have worth [are precious], not useless words, then you may ·speak for me [L be like my mouth]. Let them [C the people of Judah] turn to you, but you must not ·change and be like them [L turn to them].
Comment
Many versions of the Bible have return instead of repent in this verse. That is why I included the Expanded Bible (EXB) above as it shows literally return and repent are the same in this verse. The return here is not from some place, but from behaviors that reject what God has called them to do or to be.
If we were talking about a Christian, we might say he is or she is a lapsed Christian or backslidden. We find the same language in Jeremiah. Consider 2:19, Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty. The future looks miserable for the unrepentant backslider in 5:6, Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many. What awaits those who insist on continuing to rebel? The answer is in 15:6, You have rejected me,” declares the Lord. “You keep on backsliding. So I will reach out and destroy you; I am tired of holding back.
Turning to our verse of the day, we find God telling Jeremiah of his need to repent! And if he did, then he could continue to be God’s prophet. Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.” Jeremiah’s need to repent seems odd as he had spent years preaching repentance to all of Israel. Even Jeremiah needed to repent of his negative thoughts of God. And once that was done he was to move people to repentance and not join them in behavior that would need repenting of.
If Jeremiah would do that which God has directed him to do, the God makes the following promises to him, 20 I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the Lord. 21 “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.”
Bottom Line: There is a promise of forgiveness if we will repent of our sinful ways, but not so for those who refuse to turn from their sinful practices.
Prayer: Almighty God, Lead us, help us to live in such a way as to please You and You alone and not those in the world we live in at this time. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek