Year 9, Day 69: Jeremiah 16

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Once more we hear about the destruction of the Hebrew people and their lands.  The Lord will forsake them.  He has already.  He is actively bringing the Babylonians from their home to the land of Judah.

Once more we hear God speak about why.  There are several main reasons that the Lord gives.  They usually involve something about the people turning away from the Lord, His ways, or the abuse of the defenseless.  Today’s chapter is no different.  The reason that the Lord gives in this chapter is that the people have turned away from Him and are pursuing other Gods.  We know that the Lord calls Himself a jealous God in many places in His Word.  Chapters like this prove it.

The Lord is patient.  He is slow to anger.  He is gracious in His forgiveness.  But when His anger is aroused, He is a jealous God, too.

That being said, God says that He plans on restoring the Hebrew people.  He says that He will no longer be called the God who brought the people out of Egypt.  He will be the God who brought His people out of the countries to the north.  He is the God who brings His people out of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia.

Ultimately, this is what this chapter – and the last chapter – are about.  God is a jealous God for certain.  However, He is a restoring God even more.  He wants to be remembered more for His restoration than His wrath.  He wants to be the God who frees people from oppression, not the God who oppresses.

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