Rejection or Repentance?

Jeremiah 6:16-30

16 Thus says the LORD:

"Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'

17 Also, I set watchmen over you, saying,
'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!'
But they said, 'We will not listen.'

18 Therefore hear, you nations,
And know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth!
Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people—
The fruit of their thoughts,
Because they have not heeded My words
Nor My law, but rejected it.

20 For what purpose to Me
Comes frankincense from Sheba,
And sweet cane from a far country?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me."

21 Therefore thus says the LORD:
"Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people,
And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them.
The neighbor and his friend shall perish."

22 Thus says the LORD:
"Behold, a people comes from the north country,
And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.
23 They will lay hold on bow and spear;
They are cruel and have no mercy;
Their voice roars like the sea;
And they ride on horses,
As men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion."

24 We have heard the report of it;
Our hands grow feeble.
Anguish has taken hold of us,
Pain as of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out into the field,
Nor walk by the way.
Because of the sword of the enemy,
Fear is on every side.

26 O daughter of my people,
Dress in sackcloth
And roll about in ashes!
Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation;
For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.

27 "I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people,
That you may know and test their way.
28 They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers.
They are bronze and iron,
They are all corrupters;
29 The bellows blow fiercely,
The lead is consumed by the fire;
The smelter refines in vain,
For the wicked are not drawn off.

30 People will call them rejected silver,
Because the LORD has rejected them."

The consequences of Israel’s rejection of God, His word, and His Law was impending invasion for Babylon out of the north.  They were exhorted and warned to look for the good way in which they once walked with their LORD that they might return to that clear path set before them, but they refused His rest for their souls in defiance and rejection of the old paths of righteousness which led to His way for their good.  By refusing to listen to the warning trumpet of God’s heralds the prophets Israel rejected Him and faced the consequences, making their token sacrifices mere rituals devoid of heart and soul in real worship of the LORD whom they turned deaf ears and shut eyes to.  Their sacrifices therefore were not acceptable not accepted by God because they were as the profane fire offerings of Nadab and Abihu offered in an unworthy and disrespectful manner (Leviticus 10:1-3), forgetting what God told those two, “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.”  Their continued rejection and disobedience earned stumbling blocks from the LORD God to crush them (Luke 20:18) if they did not repent and turn back to Him away from their sin.  Judgment would therefore come from the north from mighty Babylon to enact disciplining retribution to hold them to account while offering a way to turn back for the remnant He chose out of them.  The merciless attackers caused them to fear and grow faint as they attempted to hide from the coming judgment, just as it will be in the latter days (Revelation 6:16).  Repentance in the act of sackcloth and ashes was called for that they might be forgiven and reconciled.  They were being tested because of their rebellion, corruption, and slander against God and His messengers the prophets.  Most of them unfortunately were portrayed as the dross of smelters which could not be removed from the surface of the silver, for the sin had so filled the metal as to make it part of the slurry and therefore led to them being called rejected silver and not able to be refined due to the infused sin represented by the dross. The LORD rejected them because they rejected Him and His word according to the Law.  What a picture of warning to those who choose religion over repentance and faith to regeneration of the new birth!  The good news is that God Himself sent His Son to be the perfect High Priest and perfectly atoning sacrificial lamb to enable repentance to salvation from such judgment which neither God’s people then nor we can find ourselves because of our corrupt nature inherited from Adam.  Remaining in Adam is judgment and eternal punishment, but being in Christ who is the second Adam is life and peace forevermore (Romans 5:14, 17-18, 20-21).  May we then be found in Christ to reconcile with God and escape certain judgment.  Will you choose rejection or repentance?