Jeremiah 13 reminds me of working at a
marine hardware store as a kid. The customers ranged from very
wealthy yacht owners, to humble fishermen, but all were boat owners.
I learned to be wary of any man that wore a white belt with white
shoes. Every time, you could guarantee, they would be the most
arrogant jerk in the building. In today’s chapter, Jeremiah
illustrates a similar image. He begins with God’s
instruction, “Go and buy a
linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch
water“. I bet it was
white. He continues, “Take
the belt… go
now to Perath and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks“.
I would add, take the white shoes too. But God isn’t finished
with the picture, He says, “Many
days later… get the belt“.
Jeremiah is perplexed, “So I…
dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but
now it was ruined and completely useless“.
Why wreck a perfectly fine belt? “‘In
the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of
Jerusalem… who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the
stubbornness of their hearts“.
Listen to the heartache of the Lord; He bound them to Himself with a
tight belt to keep them close and secure. He describes all that
He gave His people, they were to be “My
renown and praise and honor“.
Instead, they were “completely
useless” because, “they
have not listened“. Do
you point to a symbol of your worth?
Next,
God teaches another principle: each of us has an intended purpose,
“Every wineskin should be
filled with wine“.
Instead of being a reservoir for God’s Spirit and refreshing, the
Hebrew people became arrogant. In an ironic twist, God says, “I
am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land“.
The wineskin is not supposed to get drunk, nor are the blessed
supposed trust in their own righteousness. God’s Sprit flows
through us, it is not for our own exclusive use. God cannot
allow His people to mock His mercy, so He will discipline them.
“I will allow no pity or mercy
or compassion to keep Me from destroying them“.
Do you think we are above His judgment?
The
rest of the chapter seems to be directed at us today. “Do
not be arrogant… Give glory to the Lord… before your feet
stumble“. Jeremiah knows
he can only watch and pray after speaking the truth, “If
you do not listen, I will weep in secret“.
The enemy is preparing to take Israel captive and God is allowing it
in order to turn them turn back to Himself. “Where
is the flock that was entrusted to you?”
Have you been trustworthy with the things you have been given?
Or are you asking, “Why
has this happened to me?”
He asks a question we still use today, “Can…
a leopard change its spots?”
And He gives the sad answer, “Neither
can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil“.
Are you tired of trying to change your spots? Remember the
leper who Begged Jesus for healing? “If
You are willing, You can make me clean“.
Jesus replied, “I am willing.
Be clean!” Are you ready
to ask? Our nation needs to hear this warning, “I
will scatter you like chaff…
because you have forgotten Me“.
If God would allow Israel to be oppressed, do we have any doubt He
will allow our pride to be buried too? He concludes, “I
have seen your detestable acts… How long will you be unclean?”
I believe the only dress code in heaven is that we remove our belt of
self-righteousness.