Follow Orders - Jeremiah 40 - 45

If you are a parent, then you know that children are rebellious at an early age and really find it difficult to follow orders. Most adults can remember the day when it was difficult for them to follow orders especially when they did not fully agree with the orders being given…and in some cases that wasn’t too long ago. May be it is not so hard to understand why God’s People, [the Jews] were reluctant to follow the orders of God whom they had never seen or heard, but only knew about through the Priest and Prophets who proclaimed that they got their orders from God in a vision or dream.

I will be first to admit that God has never spoken to me in an audible voice; and, to my knowledge and remembrance, never in a dream or vision. However, I truly believe that He has given us His Word [in Holly Writ] so that we know what His orders are for us in 2011. It is imperative that we read His Word, study it and know what He would have us say and do. In a nut-shell, that is to BELIEVE, REPENT and OBEY HIM.

I must divert from the bible lesson for a moment to say that I have always thought that officials who are elected by the people are supposed to listen to the orders that the people give them. However, it is very obvious that the house, senate and president of the USA have refused to hear the public cry for them to cut spending and balance the federal budget. As a result, it seems to be imperative that the American people are about to find out, first hand, what it is like when the elected officials refuse to FOLLOW ORDERS. In government [just as it has always been in spiritual matters] there will always be a PAY DAY SOMEDAY. Now that leaders have refused to FOLLOW ORDERS again, our ‘pay day’ may come before 2011 is completed. The legislation that has just been adopted is only ‘patch work’ and will not solve our problems. It is only a beginning, and we have no assurance that things will change for the better.

The leaders, including the kings, and many of the priests, refused to FOLLOW THE ORDERS given by God, through the prophet Jeremiah, in about 627 to 586 BC. We are now studying the effects of their refusal in chapters 40 to 45, even after they have already seen God’s hand at work for several years. One would think that after the invasion by Babylon, loosing the battle, many being taken captive and even more starving from lack of food, that there would no longer be any resistance to the ORDERS OF GOD. However, it is just not human nature to submit to Spiritual guidance. It has always been almost impossible to get political leaders to admit they have failed when their ideas are no longer working in a positive way.

“The Northern Kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians in 722 BC. The Lord had announced through such prophets as Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah that He would send a similar disaster on the Southern Kingdom of Judah if the people did not turn from their sins and return to Him. In the late 600s BC, Assyria fell to the Babylonians or Chaldeans. The Lord repeatedly warned that He would use the Babylonians as His instrument of judgment on His people’s sins if they did not change their ways.” See footnote [1].

The Bible tells us that “All have sinned’ and that we must “Repent and turn from our wicked ways” or suffer the consequences. He tells us in [Jer. 40: 1-41:18] that failure or refusing to learn from past failures will be devastating. He also says in [Jer. 42:1-43:7] that we must request and follow the Lord’s guidance. And we know that persistent rebellion will bring spiritual sorrow and physical devastation when we study [Jer. 43:8-44:30]. Since God is a loving and just Heavenly Father we can always feel secure and know that He will reward our faithful service [Jer.45: 1-5]. The question keeps arising—why will we not FOLLOW ORDERS? The answer must be either ‘disbelief’ or out-right ‘rebellion.’ Do you believe what God tells you in his Word? I do, and that is why I know that we must trust Him.

The number one sin has always been, and is now, the worship of ‘other gods’ instead of the True God—and that is idolatry. Stated in another way, it has always been man’s failure to accept Jesus Christ as the One and Only Savior. Ancient people are noted for their devotion to other things such as a golden calf, the sun, moon and stars, and various graven images. I believe that some people dream up or think about an imagined God. He is not a god in our head, but must be the God of our heart [soul]. Finally, there is no doubt that accepting or holding a false doctrine of God is a form of idolatry. One can not commit idolatry and receive salvation from it. When we create a mental image of God we have created an idol. Idolatry is much more prevalent today than many of us realize. Even though the common sins like greed, gossip, and hatred are most grievous; and adultery, stealing and misuse of drugs are common—the sins of idolatry and unbelief are still even more important.

Idolatry is commonplace and must be identified and removed from our lives. The Lord has declared judgment on those who engage in idol worship. Do you play golf, go fishing, or visit Aunt May on the Lord’s Day—instead of going to church to Worship God. There is nothing wrong with any of these activities—unless they replace God in your life, and then they become idols. Oh yes—you can even worship God while you fish, hunt or play; but remember he warned us “Not to forsake the gatherings of his people to-gather in His temple to worship.”

I feel compelled to talk to parents of children and teen-agers for a moment. Do you take your children with you to worship? Do you insist that your teen-agers attend Sunday school and adult church, hear the Sunday message and gain the knowledge and background they will need to take our place when we are too old to lead? Where are the teen-agers on Sunday mornings at the eleven o’clock service? Are they sleeping in, playing ball or skiing on the lake?

And one more personal question: do you miss church to go watch them play ball? Do you accompany them to the lake on Sunday morning, share their fun-time, drive the boat, and feel that you are needed to help them stay safe. If you do—you are worshipping a very serious idol. You are putting your own children before God. What a shame because God loves children, before he loves adults; and it is imperative that you love and support them. You just can not afford to do it and leave God out. I plead with you to make sure that you have your priorities in the right order—the order that Christ would use. If you are not in Sunday school and Church, how can you expect your children to believe it is important?

I plead with you to study chapters 40 through 45, and see for yourself what happened to a people that that refused to put God in first place in their lives.

[1] Explore The Bible, Adult Commentary Summer 20111, LifeWay