In today’s Daily Devotional, we turn our attention to Jeremiah chapter 11, which serves as a stark reminder of God’s covenant with Israel. This covenant demands fidelity from His people, just as they expect His unwavering faithfulness. Yet, as we delve into the twenty-three verses of Jeremiah 11, we must confront a crucial question: Are we holding up our end of the covenant? To learn how to change the current course of your life in Jeremiah 9 and 10.
Drawing Lessons from Jeremiah’s Message
Jeremiah’s impassioned pleas for repentance echo through the ages, urging us to heed the call of divine reconciliation. The narrative’s portrayal of God’s justice and mercy underscores the profound implications of covenantal fidelity. In Jeremiah’s words, we find ourselves confronted with a pivotal question: Will we uphold God’s covenant, or risk facing the consequences of disobedience?
Jeremiah chapter 11 reminds Israel of God’s covenant. He expects us to keep it, as we expect Him to keep it. Are you? Please read or listen to the twenty-three verses of Jeremiah 11.
Jeremiah 11 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
In 1991, I read Jeremiah chapters 11-13 on the same day. Concerning chapter 11, I wrote, “God wants us to listen to Him, referring to verses 4 and 8.”
Stepping aside from the journal entry for the moment, let’s look at verses 4 and 8. Verse 4 says, “Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God”. Verse 8 says, “Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.”
Back to my 1991 journal. I referred to verse 11 saying, “He brings disaster upon those who refuse to listen and worship other gods.” Next, I referred to verse 14, “He tells us not to pray for certain people.”
Let’s step aside from the journal again and look at those specific verses. Verse 11, “Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.” On to verse 14, “Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.” That would be disastrous. When we cry out to the Lord, He turns a deaf ear toward us. O God, may that never happen to me.
Jeremiah 10 – 13
In 2004, I read Jeremiah 10-13 (NASB) on the same day and wrote concerning those chapters, “Jeremiah continually points the people back to God. He ridicules idol worship and begs people to come back to the one true God.” I quoted, “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. Correct me, O Lord, but with justice; Not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing” (10:23-24). “Praise God for mercy or I would be nothing.”
Can God Trust Me to stay the Course?
At times, I refer to prayers in my journals. On that day, I wrote, “Can God trust me to stay the course?” Can He trust you to stay the course?
Part of staying the course means we need to be able to be corrected by the Lord. In that regard, verse 20 says, “But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind”. To stay the course, we have to allow the Lord to test our heart and our mind. If God tested your heart and your mind today, how would you measure up? Can God trust you to stay the course?
Moving on to my journal in 2016, I wrote, “God almost begs us to listen to Him, but He won’t make us listen. Yet, we won’t because “everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart” (v. 8). Finally, God judges, even His own people, because He is just. Therefore, there comes a point where He will not listen to their cry for help anymore.
“Even prophets, or God’s messengers, are not safe. God reveals a plot against Jeremiah from his hometown. God protects and delivers Jeremiah, as He promised He would when He called him back in chapter 1. Standing for God against culture, family, friends, has never been easy. Won’t be easy now, either.”
Jeremiah 11:9-10
Why does the Lord say in Jeremiah 11, He will bring disaster upon his own people? Verses 9-11 explain it clearly:
Again the Lord said to me, “A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers. Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.
God has a covenant with us. Are you keeping it or are you breaking it? His covenant is clearly expressed in His Word. Have you turned your back on His covenant? Have you refused to hear His Words? Have you gone after other gods to serve them? Have you broken your covenant with your God? Let’s pray.
Prayer Of Forgiveness
Father, thank You for revealing Your covenant in Your Word. Thank You for instructing us as to what You want from us in this thing called life. As we read Your Word, reveal Your truth to us. And as we hear Your Word, Your covenant, help us make a commitment to You and You alone.
Forgive us, Lord, where we have disobeyed. Forgive us where we have walked away from Your Word. Forgive us if we place another god before You, some idol in our own lives. Through Jeremiah, You are warning us. We heed Your warning today. We thank You that You are a loving, forgiving God and You will open Your arms to us if we will just cry out to You before it is too late. Hear our cry, O Lord. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.
