Searching His Word Saturday

It is late in the day (it's night here) but I didn't forget... As I was driving to our eye appointment this morning (at 7:30am ack!) I was thinking about it. I didn't have a verse in mind but I was trying to recall ones that I have read. Usually I cannot recall the verse but I know either the words or the gist of it. When I was looking for the picture for this post, I came across a photo of my Bible open to Jeremiah. And honestly, I've not read Jeremiah other than a verse here and there and most likely while at church. So my Searching His Word Saturday will be in the book of Jeremiah.

In chapter 22, Jeremiah is going to speak to the house of the king of Judah. In these verses  God is telling Jeremiah what he shall say to this person (or people). When I think of Judah, and the nation of Israel really, in the Old Testament, it seems to me that there is a recurring pattern: obedience, murmuring, disobedience, God's wrath, Israel's begging to be forgiven, God's anger subsides and the Israelites are again obedient- repeat. But each time the nation of Israel does something to provoke God's anger, it is something that they should have known better than to do. In the book of Jeremiah, we see again this cycle repeating. But it is coming to an end.

In verse 3: Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgement and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. But in verse 17 God says: But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. Verse 21: I spake unto thee in thy prosperity: but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyest not my voice.

I know what happens at the end but reading these again makes me wonder and yet feel so glad. I wonder how often I've been disobedient, how often I've murmured, done what I know is wrong. God's anger does not rain down on me as it did for the Israelites and the house of the king of Judah. But at the same time, the anger I stir up is real and it can be felt. I feel it in a change of my attitude- when God has been disappointed in me, I no longer search for Him. He is always there. Always. But when I've done something wrong it's like a child hiding from a parent when they know they will be punished. But I do feel glad. I feel glad that God does forgive and that He gave His son to die for our sins. I am human and I do sin. I do not revel in the fact that I am a sinner; born that way and it can't be changed. No, I strive to be better. And pray for forgiveness when I fall short. When I come to Him in prayer- repentant- when I do not run and hide like the child, I know He hears me. That is why I am glad.

I think I will have to start at the beginning of Jeremiah. If you have anything to add to this bit about Jeremiah, please feel free to in the comments or even by emailing me. Have a wonderful Sunday!