Jeremiah 4:1-4

‘’God must first do a work in us before He can do a work through us.’’ I heard a well-known preacher utter these words in an Easter time sermon given many years ago.

My wife, Jill, and I were talking about this passage in Jeremiah earlier today. We reflected on the fact that it contains many ingredients of a ‘gospel’ message. More of the ‘good news’ has been revealed to us since Jeremiah’s day. Nevertheless, there are elements here that we would see as essential in presenting the message of Jesus now. Notably there is a clear cut call to repentance, with a promise of blessing to (and through) those who do turn to God, and a warning of judgment for those who will not.

‘’If’’ is a word you find three times in (1,2a) followed by ‘’then’’ in (2b): ‘’If…then…’’ This is a message that comes repeatedly in the Bible. God calls His people to do certain things. ‘If’ they do them, ‘then’ there are certain consequences. So much is contingent on our positive response. In the last chapter we saw and heard people promising to return to God. He says in effect in these verses, ‘If you will do that, here’s what will happen.’ Someone observed that ‘’we make our decisions, then our decisions turn around and make us.’’ Like Israel of old, the church is in the world to bless it (see Genesis 12:1-3). So much hangs on our faithfulness. We have to fully get right with God if we are to have that impact on the world He desires. Only ‘if’ we repent will there be an unleashing of that blessing that the Lord wants to pour through us. ‘’And the godless nations will get caught up in the blessing and find something in Israel to write home about.’’ The Message.

The same call to repentance is heard in (3, 4) although using different language, and specifically directed to Judah and Jerusalem. There are three figures of speech employed:

  1. ‘’Break up your unploughed ground…’’ e. soften your hard hearts;
  2. ‘’…do not sow among thorns.’’ e. avoid worldly entanglements (Matthew 7:13, 22);
  3. ‘’Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts…’’ i.e. purify your hearts and dedicate them to God. The Jews placed confidence in external religious rituals and did not let God operate on their hearts. But He desires ‘’truth in the inner parts…’’ (Psalm 51:6). God wants something that goes deeper – the devotion of the whole being. Ritual and ceremony will never be enough to satisfy Him.

‘’God must first do a work in us before He can do a work through us.’’ Will we heed His call to turn to Him today?

‘’You must get rid of your stinking sin paraphernalia and not wander away from me anymore.’’ The Message.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to turn away from everything you detest.