An Astonishing and Horrible Thing

Jeremiah 5:20-31

20 "Declare this in the house of Jacob
And proclaim it in Judah, saying,
21 'Hear this now, O foolish people,
Without understanding,
Who have eyes and see not,
And who have ears and hear not:

22 Do you not fear Me?' says the LORD.
'Will you not tremble at My presence,
Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea,
By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it?
And though its waves toss to and fro,
Yet they cannot prevail;
Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.

23 But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart;
They have revolted and departed.
24 They do not say in their heart,
"Let us now fear the LORD our God,
Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season.
He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest."

25 Your iniquities have turned these things away,
And your sins have withheld good from you.

26 'For among My people are found wicked men;
They lie in wait as one who sets snares;
They set a trap;
They catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit.
Therefore they have become great and grown rich.

28 They have grown fat, they are sleek;
Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked;
They do not plead the cause,
The cause of the fatherless;
Yet they prosper,
And the right of the needy they do not defend.

29 Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the LORD.
'Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?'

30 "An astonishing and horrible thing
Has been committed in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end?

There was an astonishing and horrible thing among God’s people which continues to the present day because of our sin nature.  Jeremiah’s words here were echoed by Jesus that His people have no working eyes or ears to perceive His word with understanding and act upon it.  Yes, if they and we would stop and see His mighty works of creation to keep the world from flooding again by His word alone, would we not fear Him and tremble at His presence?  May we learn from their bad example (1 Corinthians 10:11) not to rebel and defy Him and His word as if the fear of God is gone from our hearts and minds, and furthermore learn to follow good examples (Romans 15:4) for patience and comfort in following His word.  Unrepentant iniquity in our hearts and continuing sins committed in word and deed turn away God’s goodness from us.  May we not only beware of those who set traps for those who seek to follow the Lord as the evil ones mentioned here, but not allow ourselves to unwittingly do so to others either.  May we not be deceitful or store up only for ourselves and not help the helpless as Israel was called out for by Jeremiah and the prophets.  God does hold us accountable for these things.  The astonishing and horrible thing above all else was their false prophecies and self-rule over others as the Roman church did across Europe for centuries and which some continue to do to rule others instead of shepherding them by leading in humility (1 Peter 5:2-3, 6).  The people are as sheep and too easily like to have themselves ruled over by any except God with whom true accountability lies.  What will we do in the end if that is allowed to continue is the question we are left with here.  May we instead lead and follow truly under the authority of Christ as examples and not in our own power for our own glory or gain.