Sunday Morning Podcast September 28, 2014. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: JEREMIAH 8:11-22
11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
13 I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
17 For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
God still has a prophecy of reaping and sowing for His people. We read here of the results of Israel backsliding, while depending on the previous “revival” they had had under King Josiah. They had been contented with the delusional message while serving other gods saying, “peace, peace.” But while worshiping other gods, there wasn’t any peace.
Here we see Israel then “examining” their condition. They reflected on God’s prophecy of their degradation and destruction. They were made to see clearly how they had backslidden into captivity, due to their disobedient worship. A hopeless condition of bondage.
One likely will be discouraged by having turned away, for we are our own worst enemy. Mercifully this prophecy had also revealed the “seeds” of returning back through the provisions God would supply. There is a way, when there seems to be no way. You don’t need to walk away hopeless, for God sent His only Son. There is otherwise the price of allowing oneself to live in disobedience. Captivity. Today’s captivity is still from disobedience. Sin.
But God says there is a balm in Gilead, ..for all turning back to Him!