Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 4 – Remember The Devotion Of Your Youth, But What Is It Now? Series

LESSONS FROM JEREMIAH – PART 4 – REMEMBER THE DEVOTION OF YOUR YOUTH, BUT WHAT IS IT NOW?

PART 4 – Jeremiah 2:1-3

CHAPTER 2

{{Jeremiah 2:1-3 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I REMEMBER CONCERNING YOU THE DEVOTION OF YOUR YOUTH, THE LOVE OF YOUR BETROTHALS, YOUR FOLLOWING AFTER ME IN THE WILDERNESS through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the LORD, the first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty. Evil came upon them,” declares the LORD.’”}}

[A]. THE RECALL OF FAITHFUL DAYS

This would be the first task God gave to Jeremiah and it is a lot gentler than some of the messages that the prophet had to deliver from the Lord later on. Firstly the message had to be given in Jerusalem, and I would imagine it was not directed at any particular part of that society, and is probably one of those cases where the word is proclaimed widely that whosoever might hear will respond.

The message given to the people was to take note of former days – to recall the goodness of God, and the way their ancestors responded in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, even though we know many of them were not that faithful. That was in extreme contrast to the ones of Jeremiah’s time who were absolutely unfaithful, grossly wicked and reprobate.

If I can digress here for one moment, there is also the same truth that applies to Christians. When a person is saved all things are new and the life in Christ is wonderful. However for some, the mundane things of the world mount up and can choke out the fullness of the life in the Lord. We forget what it was like when there was a spring in our step and it was so joyous but that has faded.

John wrote to the Ephesians about this condition among them – {{Revelation 2:4-5 “but I have this against you, that YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, AND REPENT and do the deeds you did at first, or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place - unless you repent.”}}

Too many Christians are living second rate lives when they ought to be walking in the freshness of their youth, meaning when they first were converted. The things of God were real to you and your joy knew greatness but now . . .? As Jeremiah asked of the people to recall, THE DEVOTION OF YOUR YOUTH, THE LOVE OF YOUR BETROTHALS, YOUR FOLLOWING AFTER ME IN THE WILDERNESS,” then maybe you need to remember and repent. God loves you and wants the freshness of your devotion.

[B]. THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE WORLD IN REJECTING GOD

Often the leaders, and especially the proud spiritual leaders, who think themselves a class above everyone else, often reject the message without consideration, if it does not come from themselves, whereas the common person, especially the hurting and downtrodden and the poor and wretched, are among the first to respond to God’s call. The Lord announced a parable to the people showing the response of the first strata of society. A big dinner meant important guests, but they shunned the dinner as explained here – {{Luke 14:16-22 but He said to him, “A certain man was giving a big dinner and he invited many, and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now,’ but they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it. Please consider me excused.’ Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please consider me excused,’ and another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ The slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here THE POOR AND CRIPPLED AND BLIND AND LAME.’ The slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’}}

There will always be room at the Lord’s reception. Often it is the well to do, and the leaders, and those who move in what is considered “important society”, be it political or entertainment or religious or academic, who do not know their need of a Saviour and will refuse the message; actually refuse the invitation to attend, but it is often Mr and Mrs Average and Mr and Mrs Not Important, who respond.