To Understand and Know Him

Jeremiah 9:17-26 

17 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
"Consider and call for the mourning women,
That they may come;
And send for skillful wailing women,
That they may come.

18 Let them make haste
And take up a wailing for us,
That our eyes may run with tears,
And our eyelids gush with water.

19 For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion:
'How we are plundered!
We are greatly ashamed,
Because we have forsaken the land,
Because we have been cast out of our dwellings.'"

20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O women,
And let your ear receive the word of His mouth;
Teach your daughters wailing,
And everyone her neighbor a lamentation.
21 For death has come through our windows,
Has entered our palaces,
To kill off the children—no longer to be outside!
And the young men—no longer on the streets!

22 Speak, "Thus says the LORD:
'Even the carcasses of men shall fall as refuse on the open field,
Like cuttings after the harvester,
And no one shall gather them.'"

23 Thus says the LORD:
"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

24 But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight," says the LORD.

25 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised— 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart."

The people mourned in facing judgment for their sin, but not for their sin against Him.  They mourned the loss of the blessings and hired wailers to mourn the losses and shame at no longer being seen as the prosperous people of God to the nations around them.  Death and punishment had come inside their doorsteps now to humble them and turn them in repentance to be thankful and appreciative of the grace and goodness of God’s love and discipline.  The LORD used the prophet to give them His rebuke and correction.  He told them not to rely on their own riches, wisdom, or power but wholly in the LORD’s.  They should have gloried in understanding and knowing Him, acknowledging that He is loving and patiently kind, and that He judges fairly and righteously.  He ended by pointing out the uncircumcised nations around them who He pulled them out of (Micah 7:18), yet still humbled them by reminding that they were not circumcised in their hearts yet (Jeremiah 4:4, Romans 2:28-29, Galatians 6:15)  as cleansed from sin and pure within.  We need a new heart cleansed by God’s grace to truly know and understand Him and His will according to His word.  Then we know who he is and can glorify Him for all He is and does!  If we are circumcised in our hearts, then what is cut away are those things that cause spiritual infection.  To be circumcised in our heart means we glory in God, knowing Him and understanding His character, finding joy in Him - not in our own wisdom, strength, or wealth.  He then finds joy in us as we give Him glory in our words and actions, lifting up His mercy, judgment, and righteousness (Colossians 2:11).