Why do you not revere me?

Jeremiah 5:20-31 (New International Version)

20 "Announce this to the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: 21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: 22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? 
I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. 23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, 
who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.' 25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good. 26 "Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch men. 27 Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful 28 and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor. 29 Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? 30 "A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?

I. Message

Content

1. God points out that the people of Israel have eyes but do not see, and have ears but do not hear. (v20-21)

2. The boundaries set in the natural world cannot be crossed, yet the people of Israel have trespassed in their disobedience. (v22-23)

3. The disobedience of the people caused erratic climate thus deprived them of harvest and good. (v.24-25)

4. Wicked men are among God’s people (v26-28)

5. God will administer punishment (v.30)

6. The prophets and the priests are full of selfish ambition, corruption, and the people indulged in the wicked way. (V.31)

Theme

1. Why do you not revere me?

2. Have eyes but do not see, have ears but do not hear

II. Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit?

1. The God to be revered (v.22)

2. The creator God (v22)

3. Sovereign God (v22)

4. The God whom his chosen people rebelled against (v23)

5. God, the source of all blessings (v.24)

6. God avenges and punishes sins (v. 29, 31)

III. What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?

1. Deaf and mute (v20-21)

"Announce this to the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: 21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear" The prophet Jeremiah relays God’s will, in sighs he utters the stubborn rebellion and ignorance of the people of Israel. The prophets preached the will of God and the message of truth, thus the people were knowledgeable and aware. The problem was, though the Israelites have heard but they refused to accept; they have seen, but refused to believe. That is, the people pretended to be deaf and mute in doing what they pleased. When Jesus Christ preached the gospel on earth, again and again, he urged all people to open their ears and listen carefully. In the same way, he also urged those who had ears should listen. (Mark 4:9)

Reflection: Have I tried to engage the scripture with diligence, accepting the words of God and His will, and act accordingly? Or have I been discounting the gospel by being blind and deaf?

2. More unruly than nature (v22-23)

Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. (v22-23)

When God interrogated his people, He evoked the example found in nature. How natural boundaries between the sand and the ocean cannot be crossed. The waves may roll and roar but they cannot cross. However, being stubborn and rebellious, the Israelites turned against God. Evidently, in God’s eyes, the wicked acts of the people made them more unruly than the natural world.

Reflection: As opposed to the cycles and rhyme of natural world, how have I been unruly or disobedient?

3. Wicked ways of the people in power (v26-28)

"Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch men. Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor. (v 26-28)

The society at Jeremiah’s time was full of injustice. This passage specifically mentions the wicked men living among God’s people. These people of power were corrupt and evil, not only did they failed to help the fatherless, and restore justice to the poor, they became forces of oppression. The prophet Jeremiah described them as people who set traps and snares. They are house are full of deceit just as the catches and preys of hunters. They are fat and sleek, powerful and rich.

Reflection: Consider our society today, do we still find these type of people?

4. Corrupt spiritual leaders (v31)

The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority (v31)

The prophet’s job is to remind God’s people lest they fall away. However, the prophets of Judah, spoke dishonesty in order to please the crowd, and for selfish gains. They prophesy lies, causing the people to lose vigilance in their hearts. Furthermore, priests were mediators between God and people, entrusted to instruct the laws of God. Unfortunately, they deeds aimed to strengthen their personal objectives and to benefit themselves.

Reflection: Do I regularly pray for church leaders at various level of service?

5. The indulgence of God’s chosen people (v31)

My people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? (v31b)

Confronted with the wickedness of the authority and spiritual leader, the people should have rebuked and even despised these acts. Instead, regrettably, the people of God accepted with complicity these rampant injustices, wickedness, corruption and lies. Causing the entire nation to fall. It is no wonder that God must avenge and punish!

Reflection: Faced with injustice, as a Christian, do I remain silent? Do I become complicit or do I, based on my Christian faith, conscience, and moral, courageously expose the injustice?

IV. Prayer/ Life Application

Translated by Daisy T.