The prophet Jeremiah lived in a very dark period in Judah’s history. The “weeping prophet” lived through the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. His message of God’s judgment against idolatry largely fell on deaf ears.
Jeremiah 7:1–29 may be described as a summary of the prophet’s overall message. After calling the people to repentance and listing their sins, God tells the prophet to announce certain judgment, “And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips’” (v. 28 ESV).
I wonder what God would say to our nation. The United States of America is not a theocracy. God did not found this country as He founded Israel. Yet, our country traces its roots to a desire to practice Bible-based Christian faith without the fear of persecution. While we might not agree with all of the doctrines or beliefs of the colonists or the founding fathers, we can say without a doubt the desire to faithfully serve God deserves emulation.
One phrase in Jeremiah 7:28 matches up with the philosophical winds blowing today: truth has perished. Through various media, this message has become pronounced. The spirit of the age says there are no hard and fast truths; only experiences and emotions remain. These lead to darkness and despair.
Our Lord said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 ESV). The Lord’s people cannot control what happens in the world at large. We cannot expect non-Christians to behave like Christians (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:10). God has freed us from bondage to sin and darkness through His truth. We must not allow the erosion of truth in the world to influence our thinking and lead us back into slavery and despair. May God’s words in Jeremiah 7:28 never be said of us!
Clay Leonard
