'What Have I Done?

"Moreover you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: "Will they fall and not rise? Will one turn away and not return? Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return. I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, 'What have I done?' Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle. "Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD. Jeremiah 8:4-7

It would be wonderful to prophesy that all of God’s people will be saved, healed, delivered, blessed and prospered in the current time of life but then it would a lie from the pits of hell? Not all of God’s people walk in His ways and are obedient to His voice. Many hold fast to deceit and speak untruthful things and they refuse to change. So how can God bless those who have gone astray or are backslidden? He cannot! Instead they receive the judgments of the Lord. Instead of peace they receive war. And instead of a time of health, there have trouble! They proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know the LORD! They deceive their neighbors, and do not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity. They reap what they have sowed and it’s not what they had expected because they have not obeyed God’s voice, nor walked according to it, but have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24

Yes, the LORD exercises loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. And those who walk in His ways understand all this! They also walk in the blessings and victories of God no matter what is going on around them:

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 317-19:

Yes, those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. They will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." As a result He shall deliver them from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover them with His feathers, and under His wings they shall take refuge; His truth shall be their shield and buckler. Hence they shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at their side, and ten thousand at their right hand; but it shall not come near them. Because they have set their love upon the LORD therefore He will deliver them; He will set him on high, because they have known His name. They shall call upon Him, and He will answer him; He will be with them in trouble; He will deliver him and honor him. With long life He will satisfy them, and show them His salvation.

For His trusting ones the LORD is not only their rock and their fortress but He is their mighty Deliverer who proved His deliverance power at the Red Sea where He delivered the children of Israel from the hands of their oppressors and destroyed them in the same sea. He also proved His deliverance on Calvary where by His death and resurrection He redeemed His people from all the curse of the laws including sin, sickness, diseases, poverty and lack ( Deuteronomy 28:16-68, Jeremiah 11:1-5 ) And He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:11-17, Revelations 3:15-22).

[ September 20, 2003, 04:38 AM: Message edited by: greatday ]