Week 4
Jeremiah 8:20-22 “Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the brokenness of the daughter of my people, I am broken; mourn, dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?”
The heart of the prophet of God is broken! He has preached his heart out, calling the people to repent of sin and return to the Lord, but to no avail. The people have not repented of their sin; they have not turned back to God for His healing and restoration. God has sealed their judgment, and their doom is soon to come in the form of the invasion of the armies of the Babylonian Empire.
Hear the wounded heart of God’s servant crying out, “My sorrow is beyond healing, my heart is faint within me! (Jeremiah 8:18)”. This is the cry of the weeping prophet. His soul wails because of the wickedness of the hour.
Many pastors and church leaders today resonate with this burdened and aching expression of the prophet of God. How often the preacher preaches with all that he has, but there is little or no response! It is as if ears are stopped up to the call of repentance; it is as if the hearts are hard and unresponsive to the tender, yet serious call of God.
Perhaps we are living in a day when there is apathy to the things of God. There may be even antagonism against God, against Jesus, against the gospel, and against the church. We may feel as though we are treated as the enemy of good, instead of the purveyors of righteousness and truth. Ours is a day that regularly experiences violent and hateful outbursts against God’s leaders and the outspoken “prophets” of righteousness and truth. It is as if the very core of reason has rotted into a state of degeneration. God’s people see this desperate time and come along side of the prophet, Jeremiah, and say with him, “Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the brokenness of the daughter of my people, I am broken; mourn, dismay has taken hold of me.” What can we to do when ears refuse to hear and minds refuse to consider all that God says? What are we to do when the very souls of people are closed to truth and right?
Every moment in history is an opportunity to declare the truth of God’s Word. Every generation requires a fresh consideration and hearing of the precious ancient gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord grant to the reader of this devotion, to preachers everywhere, and to the church of Jesus Christ courage and commitment to be a servant of the gospel of Christ to someone’s life today.
Prayer: Dear Lord, although the day feels terrible, I in this moment want to renew my faith in Christ and my commitment to the gospel of Jesus. Please use my life for your kingdom’s work and service. Amen.