Jeremiah 12

August 1, 2022

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Reading along with us in Jeremiah? Here’s today’s reading:

Jeremiah 12 (NIV)

Jeremiah’s Complaint
1 You are always righteous, Lord,
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease?
2 You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts...........Continue Reading

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This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. How fitting to read this chapter after Pastor’s message on contentment yesterday and the fact that so many elements are outside of our control we need to a place where we accept “it is what it is” and look for the lesson or the message from God in the circumstances we find ourselves in.
    Jeremiah wonders here why if he is doing right why does his life seem so difficult when others doing evil seem to be doing so well and God reminds him that He is preparing Jeremiah for what is to come….maybe not great news to hear it will get worse before it gets better but that there is a reason for his current situation. a plan God has for him and this step needs to happen first. God has a plan for each of us and that will often involve being uncomfortable but we need to trust and find contentment in knowing God is in control when we are not.

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  2. Lots to unpack in this chapter

    * Jeremiah complains to God about false believers prospering and asks Him to judge them
    * God responds that if he can’t handle such small trials, how can he deal with the real trials that are coming
    * God says that He will punish His people and give them over to their enemies
    * But it ends with a promise to punish the enemies of Israel and restore a remnant from Judah back to the land

    Verse 5 jumped out at me and the difficult lesson of perseverance. That trials are often preparation for something more difficult that God is preparing me for.

    “If you have raced with men on foot
    and they have worn you out,
    how can you compete with horses?
    If you stumble in safe country,
    how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

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  3. Just reading chapter 11 can’t imagine God saying although they cry out to me. I will not listen. That would be hell to not have God to intercede for us daily. And listen to our prayers!! Chapter 12. Jeremiah asking. Why the wicked prosper. He would be comforted by promises like. All things are laid before the eyes of God and everyone will have to give an account. Hebrew 4:13? Your life is but a mist that appears for a little while then vanishes. Vs 5. Sounds like things are gonna get worse for Jeremiah. Yikes. Reading these chapters is hard to believe. All that God did for his chosen people and they turn their backs on Him. God’s chosen people. Also reading these chapters reminds me of the 7 churches in revelations. Today and what’s to come

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  5. How good it is that we have examples in Scripture (found in the Psalms as well) of people addressing concerns and emotion to God for Him to handle and respond to. What a statement about the kind of God He is: patient and understanding, willing to condescend Himself to us, and most of all caring. And it is tempting for us to do as Jeremiah does to assess the action of God on what appears in circumstance. There is certainly more than meets the eye when wicked people seem blessed and the righteous are given a hard time. It is important to know that nothing is outside of God’s purview and He will deal with everything with what is right and just in His time. No one is truly getting away with anything and no righteous act will not be rewarded. And so God assures Jeremiah and us that evil people will face the music….for the Jews here, it will be sooner rather than later, but in all goes to show that God is always in control….and He cares that justice is done… And yes, the chapter would not be complete, after telling Jeremiah that the evil people will get their judgement, that God in the end will return His people to the land.

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  7. Reading chapter 12 reminded me of 9-11 that Gods hand of protection will not be with the nation / people that refuse to follow Him

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  8. Jeremiah asks God why the wicked prosper and when is He going to execute judgment.
    God’s answer, they will do even more wickedly to you. 🙁
    But God will execute judgment and pluck out a remnant from where they have scattered.

    I am glad that Jesus told us to pray and not lose heart.

    Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

    6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

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