JEREMIAH'S QUESTIONS AND GOD'S ANSWERS

PROCLAMATION

“You are always righteous, Lord, … Yet I would speak with You about Your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper?  Why do all the faithless live at ease.?”  Jeremiah 12:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the prophet Jeremiah.  Chapter twelve of The Bible Book of Jeremiah begins with Jeremiah questioning The Lord God’s justice with respect to His treatment of the wicked and the faithless.  Jeremiah was concerned as to why The Lord God planted them, allowed them to take root, and to grow and bear fruit. (Jeremiah 12:2)  He wanted them to be dragged out and slaughtered. (Jeremiah 12:3)  Jeremiah also asked The Lord God how long He was going to leave their homeland parched and barren. (Jeremiah 12:4)  The Lord God told Jeremiah basically, if this bothers you, how are you going to handle it when things get worse? (Jeremiah 12:5)  The Lord God then explains why He is going to do what He plans to do, and then He tells Jeremiah that He will handle the wicked prosperous people. (Jeremiah 12:7-17)

APPLICATION

This is not the only time in The Bible where man questions The Lord God for letting the wicked prosper. (Job 21:7, Psalm 37:1, Psalm 73:3, and Habakkuk 1:3)  If the truth be told, some of us have also wondered the same thing.  God is never wrong; we just do not understand Him or His actions.  However, we need not worry about the success of the wicked for He has a plan for them. (Psalm 37:3)  We just need to mind our own business (1 Thessalonians 4:11) and focus on our own Christian walk.  We cannot control what goes on around us, but we can control how we respond to it.  When the end of time comes, as believers we will be judged on what we did for The Lord God and on our responses to the things that happen in the world around us, on our thoughts, our words, and our actions. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)  So, let us not complain about what God is doing, or allowing to happen, but let us do our best to work to God’s glory. (Matthew 16:27)

THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR

PROCLAMATION

“Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.  It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’”  Job 9:21-22 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Chapter seven of The Bible Book of Job begins with Job offering excuses for his desire to die. (Job 7:1-6)  Then he begins to bargain with God (Job 7:7-16) and afterwards he tries to reason with God. (Job 7:17-21)  His friend Bildad then speaks up and reproves Job. (8:1-7)  He states that The Lord God would not cast away an upright man, but He would destroy the wicked man. (Job 8:20-22)  In chapter nine, Job replies to his friend Bildad.  Job acknowledges God’s justice (Job 9:1-13) but he maintains his own innocence. (Job 9:21-22)  Then Job resumes complaining about his situation. (Job 9:25-35)

APPLICATION

When we speculate based upon only part of the facts, we frequently come to the wrong conclusion.  We know that all people have sinned (Romans 3:23) and that some of them have been given over to the penalty of their sin. (Job 8:3-4)  We know that God punishes sinners.  However, we are wrong to think that everyone that suffers is being punished for their sins.  Some suffering is part of God’s permissive will, as was the case with Job. (Job 1:6-19 and 2:6)  Some suffering is due to the sins of our grandparents and great grandparents. (Exodus 20:5 and 34:7, Numbers 14:18, and Deuteronomy 5:9)  We should not judge others (Luke 6:37) because we do not have all of the necessary information.  What we should do is pray for those individuals who are suffering from whatever cause.

CURSED BY MAN FOR PRIOR SINS

PROCLAMATION

“As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there.  His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out.  He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left.  As he cursed, Shimei said, ‘Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel!’  The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.  The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom.  You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!’”  2 Samuel 16:5-8 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Because his son Absalom had become popular with the people, and had amassed himself a large army, and had declared himself to be king, David and his loyal followers and his family fled Jerusalem.  He went up to the top of the Mount of Olives. (2 Samuel 15:30)  On the other side of the summit he approached the town of Bahurim.  It was here that the man from Saul’s clan came out, cursed him, and threw rocks at him.  One of Davis’s men wanted to kill him for cursing the king, but David stopped him. (2 Samuel 16:9-11)  Even though he had not killed Saul, or his sons, or any members of his household as Shimei accused him of doing, he was a murderer.  David considered Shimei’s cursing to be part of God’s punishment for his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah and he humbly  accepted it.

APPLICATION

As believers in Jesus, The Christ, we do not lose our salvation because we sinned after being saved.  We may lose the joy of our salvation and The Lord God may permit us to suffer as part of our punishment for our sins.  Some of the troubles that we endure and the storms of life that we go through may be things that we brought upon ourselves.  It is also possible that some of the individuals who do wrong unto us may just be part of God’s permissive will as part of our punishment.  “For whom The Lord loveth He chastened …” (Hebrews 12:6)  The Lord God forgives us of our sin once we confess and repent.  However, the devil continues to bring our past sins to our remembrance in order to make us feel unworthy and to interfere with our relationship with The Lord.