Meditations in Jeremiah
This meditation is a companion to one that was presented previously from this passage:
We Acknowledge Our Wickedness - Jeremiah 14:7-9, 20-22
The message of Jeremiah the prophet primarily proclaims our Lord’s rebuke against the sin of His people and pronounces our Lord’s judgment against His people for their sin. Yet in Jeremiah 14:7-9, 20-22 we find an expression of humble repentance. Even so, this passage reveals the ingredients of true, Biblical repentance before the Lord our God.
In the previous meditation on this passage (found here), we considered that such repentance begins when we acknowledge five things: (1) Our sinful behavior; (2) Our self-willed departure; (3) Our stubborn rebellion; (4) Our spiritual guiltiness; and (5) Our singular hope. In this meditation, we shall consider four further ingredients of true, Biblical repentance, each concerning our relationship to the Lord our God as our singular Hope:
This meditation is a companion to one that was presented previously from this passage:
We Acknowledge Our Wickedness - Jeremiah 14:7-9, 20-22
The message of Jeremiah the prophet primarily proclaims our Lord’s rebuke against the sin of His people and pronounces our Lord’s judgment against His people for their sin. Yet in Jeremiah 14:7-9, 20-22 we find an expression of humble repentance. Even so, this passage reveals the ingredients of true, Biblical repentance before the Lord our God.
In the previous meditation on this passage (found here), we considered that such repentance begins when we acknowledge five things: (1) Our sinful behavior; (2) Our self-willed departure; (3) Our stubborn rebellion; (4) Our spiritual guiltiness; and (5) Our singular hope. In this meditation, we shall consider four further ingredients of true, Biblical repentance, each concerning our relationship to the Lord our God as our singular Hope:
Seeking for Our Lord’s Revealed Glory
True, Biblical repentance requires that we seek for our Lord’s glory to be revealed in His gracious forgiveness and cleansing of our sinfulness. Yea, we must seek as our highest priority, not that we be delivered from the troubles of our sinful corruption and divine chastening, but that such be done for the sake of our Lord’s name and glory. Even so, in the opening portion of Jeremiah 14:7, this priority was expressed, “O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake.” Again in the opening portion of Jeremiah 14:21, this priority was expressed, “Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory.”
Seeking for Our Lord’s Restored Fellowship
True, Biblical repentance requires that we seek for our Lord’s fellowship to be restored in order that we might walk with Him again. Yea, we must seek as our second highest priority, not that we be restored unto daily comforts and divine blessing, but that we might walk again in moment-by-moment fellowship with our Lord. Even so, in the closing line of Jeremiah 14:9, the request was made, “Leave us not.” Again in Jeremiah 14:21 the request was made, “Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.”
Trusting in Our Lord’s Abundant Faithfulness
True, Biblical repentance requires that we trust in our Lord’s abundant faithfulness “to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Yea, we must trust that our Lord will indeed be faithful unto His promise to forgive us our sins and to restore us unto His fellowship thereby, all according to His grace and mercy. Even so, in Jeremiah 14:8-9 the assurance of faith was expressed, “O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.” Yea, it was on the ground of this very assurance that the request for a restored fellowship was made – “Leave us not.”
Trusting in Our Lord’s Almighty Power
True, Biblical repentance requires that we trust in our Lord’s almighty power to deliver us from the troubles of our own sinful corruption. Yea, we must trust that our Lord is indeed able to deliver us from all our troubles; and thus we must wait trustingly and patiently upon Him. Even so, in Jeremiah 14:22 the assurance of faith was expressed, “Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Art not thou he, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.”
True, Biblical repentance requires that we seek for our Lord’s glory to be revealed in His gracious forgiveness and cleansing of our sinfulness. Yea, we must seek as our highest priority, not that we be delivered from the troubles of our sinful corruption and divine chastening, but that such be done for the sake of our Lord’s name and glory. Even so, in the opening portion of Jeremiah 14:7, this priority was expressed, “O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake.” Again in the opening portion of Jeremiah 14:21, this priority was expressed, “Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory.”
Seeking for Our Lord’s Restored Fellowship
True, Biblical repentance requires that we seek for our Lord’s fellowship to be restored in order that we might walk with Him again. Yea, we must seek as our second highest priority, not that we be restored unto daily comforts and divine blessing, but that we might walk again in moment-by-moment fellowship with our Lord. Even so, in the closing line of Jeremiah 14:9, the request was made, “Leave us not.” Again in Jeremiah 14:21 the request was made, “Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.”
Trusting in Our Lord’s Abundant Faithfulness
True, Biblical repentance requires that we trust in our Lord’s abundant faithfulness “to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Yea, we must trust that our Lord will indeed be faithful unto His promise to forgive us our sins and to restore us unto His fellowship thereby, all according to His grace and mercy. Even so, in Jeremiah 14:8-9 the assurance of faith was expressed, “O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.” Yea, it was on the ground of this very assurance that the request for a restored fellowship was made – “Leave us not.”
Trusting in Our Lord’s Almighty Power
True, Biblical repentance requires that we trust in our Lord’s almighty power to deliver us from the troubles of our own sinful corruption. Yea, we must trust that our Lord is indeed able to deliver us from all our troubles; and thus we must wait trustingly and patiently upon Him. Even so, in Jeremiah 14:22 the assurance of faith was expressed, “Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Art not thou he, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.”
Posted in Meditations in Jeremiah, Repentance of Sin, Forgiveness of Sin, Faithfulness of Our Lord, Trust in God
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