Jeremiah 36:21-24
The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. Jehudi brought it from Elishama’s room and read it to the king as all his officials stood by.22 It was late autumn, and the king was in a winterized part of the palace, sitting in front of a fire to keep warm. 23 Each time Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, the king took a knife and cut off that section of the scroll. He then threw it into the fire, section by section, until the whole scroll was burned up. 24 Neither the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard.
Jeremiah 36:7
Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the LORD’s forgiveness before it is too late. For the LORD has threatened them with his terrible anger.”
The book of the prophet Jeremiah now reads like a history book. The many warnings of God's impending judgements, on His people, fell on deaf ears and the land was invaded, conquered and the population exiled.
The Lord never carries out His Judgements without sending His Word in multiple warnings.
We read in Jeremiah how the prophet was sent with warnings of disaster to come in many different ways, but was met with derision and opposition from those in spiritual leadership and government.
Finally the Lord told Jeremiah to write all the warnings on a scroll and have it read out in the Temple at the time of fasting.
It was then taken to the king, who had no fear of God, he actually cut it up and burned each portion, as it was read to him, in his fire.
It puts me in mind of what's happening today. Bit by bit we are cutting up God's laws, without any fear of the consequences.
Gay marriage, gender reassignment, non-binary self identification, deifying of "mother earth", the NHS and confining our Christian heritage to the dustbin of history - all done without fear of God!
Our governments are like tiny boats adrift on the high sea with broken rudders. They are tossed wildly from one decision to another, this way and that, not knowing what to do.
That's what happens to a nation that forgets God!
If we look at the history of Israel and Judah, who ignored God's multiple warnings given by the prophets, we learn that judgement does come at a terrible cost.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God.
Hebrews 10:31
Don't be like the king who cut up and burned God's warnings.
Jesus promised that He is coming to carry out "the day of our God's vengeance" Isaiah 61:2
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