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Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Jeremiah 32

Under even the best of circumstances, we find it hard to believe the promises of God. In the worst of times, we need absolutely every prop to hold our weak hearts in line. This is true of us as individuals, but it especially is true of us together as the people of God. We have an impact on one another. One man of fear in the wrong place can destroy the courage of an army. On the other hand, one man of faith can help a whole field of soldiers fight valiantly against terrible odds.

Jeremiah’s prophecy in this chapter does not take place during a good time in the life of Judah. It is the worst time that any could have imagined. An invading army is besieging Jerusalem. There remains little doubt now that the events that Jeremiah has been speaking of concerning the victory of the Babylonians and the coming exile are surely very near. Jeremiah himself is shut up in the king’s prison for his prophesies, since they have been deemed treasonous by Zedekiah. Is this a time for the prophet to buy land in Judah?

It is the perfect time to do so, in terms of God’s purposes. With men this seems to be an absurd and foolish action. Who can know how long this foreign domination will last. It would seem that the days of Israel and Judah are now completed. Other competitors for control seem to have won the day. Why should we think that the Babylonians and those who will replace them will only have 70 years of authority here? Would anyone expect that the people will actually be brought back into the land?

Jeremiah expected it, since God had given Him this Word. He was meant to buy this piece of land at this very moment as a testimony to the certainty of the Word of the Lord. This action was a statement of faith. What was the content of the statement? The prophet was professing belief in God’s Word that a remnant would be brought back in to the land after a set period. In that day, ownership of land would again have meaning. This would be a good investment, because the future was certain in the plan of God.

The Lord had already testified to this fact, but now His prophet was living out this statement of faith as a public witness. The buying of the land required the observance and certification of witnesses. This all happens as the property is transferred from Jeremiah’s cousin to the prophet himself. This is an act of courage. We need courage like this to stand firm in the faith, and we need leaders in the church to have this kind of courage, so that others can see the decisions of faithful men, and be helped on the day when it may seem that all is lost.

“Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” Though he takes this action and is an agent of this forthright public testimony, Jeremiah himself considers before the Lord the character of the God of Israel and prays for divine assistance. God is not weak. Nothing is too difficult for Him. God is both great in all His plans, and mighty and sure in the execution of His every decree. Has He said that the purchase of property by a citizen of the soon-to-be vanquished Judah will have some meaning? Then it will have meaning, and no person, no matter how powerful, will be able to take that meaning away.

If the people of Israel and Judah had listened to the Word of God with faith, then the day described in this chapter may perhaps never have happened. But this day needed to come. We needed to see the problem of our sin, and the hopelessness of winning eternal life through any supposed arrangement of works righteousness. Jeremiah had to put his money on the line. The shekels needed to be measure out. Even he seemed to have some struggle doing what he knew he had to do. God reminds Jeremiah of the fact of the Lord’s omnipotence, a fact that the prophet has just been celebrating. God says, “Is anything too hard for me.”

God assures him of His everlasting plans to bless His people. He speaks again of a day when the people of God will have a new heart and a unity in the courage of godliness forever. He speaks of an everlasting covenant. He compares the certainty of the coming mercy with the certainty of the imminent destruction which is already at the gates of the city. He plainly says, “I will restore their fortunes.”

Centuries later the Son of Man would come to save sinners. The promise of God was known to Him. He believed the Word that He had spoken concerning a coming Kingdom. Merely stating His belief in the truth of the promises of His Father would not be enough. When the final moment came of covenant faithfulness, the Mediator of the covenant would have to seal His faith in the Father’s Word with a purchase. The cost of that purchase would be the precious blood of Christ. He would buy the deed to Zion for us and would measure out the cost in His own blood.

This statement of faith means everything to us in times of our own struggle. Can we really count on the Word of God? Will we be brought back into the land on the day of resurrection? Rejoice and be glad. Our debt has been paid through the blood of Christ, and the payment of that price is itself a supreme testimony of faith that should never be forgotten.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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