Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of Shalom, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end."
People will often quote that to someone going through a particularly rough time. Some will remind themselves of that one particular scripture as a way of bolstering themselves.
What they don't realize is that when you find that particular section in Jeremiah, you find certain things that is conveniently left out. Some of these things include:
- Jeremiah told to not pray for the people, for G-d would not listen. (Jeremiah 7:16)
- G-d called the Heathen Nations from the North towards Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 1:15)
- The Prophets prophesied falsely giving the people "false hope". (Jeremiah 5)
- This false hope just covered a seeping wound. (Jeremiah 6:14)
Jeremiah 2:19, "Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backsliding shall reprove you: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord, the Lord of Hosts."
The Priests and the Prophets alike had given the people false hope. They knew there was a gaping wound in the Nation as a whole. They applied only false hopes and delusions of Goodness. The People didn't want to listen to the words that Jeremiah was called on to say. In the end, according to tradition, the Prophet Jeremiah was stoned to death by his own countrymen. The words of Jeremiah had been proven right. The false hopes they relied on had withered away. They were faced with stark reality of a world that hated them! Where were the "feel good" sound bites to get you through the day? Those sound bites must have been awfully bitter!
Sincerely,
David A. Kitchens
No comments:
Post a Comment