God told the prophet Ezekiel to remind the elders of the people about His dealings with the nation. He said that generations before them, He “took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness” (Ezekiel 20:10).

When God led them out of Egypt, He delivered them from bondage. Yet He was not just removing their oppression; He was also providing them with something good: “I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live” (Ezekiel 20:11).

The devil wants people to see God’s law as oppressive and overly restrictive. Yet God said He provided His law so that they could have life. Unfortunately, they “rebelled against [Him] in the wilderness,” so God “resolved to pour out [His] wrath on them in the wilderness” (Ezekiel 20:13).

Today, Jesus has the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Satan wants us to think His word is too rigid, restrictive, and onerous to follow. Yet “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).

So remember that God gave His word that we may live. Let us not accept the devil’s lie that we cannot or should not obey the Lord. Instead, let us allow the Lord to deliver us from the bondage of sin and then use His word to guide us in all we do throughout our lives.

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After explaining that He would reward the righteous and punish the wicked, God addressed the people’s complaint about this. They said, “The way of the Lord is not right” (Ezekiel 18:25).

Incredibly, God’s people would protest against God graciously rewarding the faithful and justly punishing the wicked. However, if we consider this from the perspective of those who wanted to continue in their sin, then it makes sense that they would complain. God’s statement indicted them.

This principle can be extended much more broadly. When it comes to any matter in which our opinions might disagree with what God has revealed, God is always right, and we are always wrong. The people were saying, “The way of the Lord is not right,” yet God was answering, “Are my ways not right…? Is it not your ways that are not right?” (Ezekiel 18:29). Indeed, we must remember this whenever we are tempted to argue with what God has plainly taught us in His word.

So remember that the way of the Lord is always right. Rather than stubbornly holding onto our opinion when we find that it is contrary to God’s will, we need to humbly accept what God has taught in His word. Doing this will keep us from facing the punishment reserved for the wicked and instead enjoy the blessings that God extends to the faithful.

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Throughout the history of the Old Testament, the people of God had trouble with idolatry. They repeatedly adopted the idolatrous practices of the nations around them, and God constantly had to issue calls like this one: “Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations” (Ezekiel 14:6).

However, even though they embraced idolatry, they wanted to hold onto God somehow. When they realized they needed guidance and help, they would ask a “prophet to inquire of [the Lord],” yet God would “set [His] face against” them because of their sin (Ezekiel 7-8).

We often think about the idolatry during Old Testament times involving the worship of graven images, yet it was about more than that. God condemned the one who “sets up his idols in his heart” (Ezekiel 14:7). This is particularly important for us to notice today. It is unlikely that any of us are tempted to fall down before a carved statue of a “god,” yet we are often tempted to allow the things of this world to take the place of God in our hearts. This is idolatry, and when it exists, we need to restore God to His rightful place.

So we must remove idols from our hearts. We cannot divide our allegiance between God and the things of this world. We must be wholly devoted to Him.

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Ezekiel received a vision of the brutal destruction of Jerusalem and its people. The ones who groaned over the sin being committed in their midst would be spared, but the rest would be killed without pity (Ezekiel 9:4-5). The temple would be defiled, and the courts would be filled with those who had been killed (Ezekiel 9:6).

God explained why this was happening: “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!’” (Ezekiel 9:9).

When the people faced calamity, they believed that God had forsaken them. In reality, they had forsaken God, and He was bringing “their conduct upon their own heads” (Ezekiel 9:10). They chose to ignore the law of God and act wickedly. They had no one to blame but themselves.

This same principle is true for us today. God has given us His word that shows us what He expects of us. He allows us to choose whether we will follow that or not. But He has also warned that failure to follow His will leads to negative consequences in this life and eternal misery in the next.

So we cannot blame God when we choose to sin. He has shown us the way that is right and has done all that is necessary to motivate us to follow His will. If we reject this, we can only blame ourselves when trouble comes because of our decisions.

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When God called Ezekiel to prophesy, He sent him “to the house of Israel” in order to “speak…My words to them” (Ezekiel 3:4). God told the prophet that they were not “of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand” (Ezekiel 3:6).

Ezekiel and the people he spoke to shared a common background and language. There would not be a cultural or communication barrier. God said, “I have sent you to them who should listen to you” (Ezekiel 3:6).

However, there was another challenge Ezekiel would face in carrying out his commission: “Yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate” (Ezekiel 3:7).

We share a common background and language with most of the people we interact with on a daily basis. Because of this, we might expect that they would be interested when we talk to them about the Bible and try to help lead them to the truth. Yet most are not interested for the same reason that Ezekiel’s audience was not interested. They stubbornly refuse to listen to God.

So remember that not everyone who should listen will listen. This can be discouraging, yet understanding this reality can help keep us from getting completely disheartened when our efforts seem to be in vain. When we realize that someone is not interested, we can move on and look for someone else who will be.

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In the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah laments over the state in which he and God’s people found themselves. He described the “affliction…wandering…wormwood and bitterness” he experienced (Lamentations 3:19).

Yet there was something he could “recall to [his] mind” that gave him “hope” (Lamentations 3:21). He said, “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses [mercies, KJV] indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Despite his hardship, he knew that God was good and still cared for him. Because of this, he could say, “The Lord is my portion…therefore I have hope in Him” (Lamentations 3:24).

He then encourages all of God’s people to remember this: “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:25-26). This reminder is just as important for us today.

So remember that God’s mercies are new every morning. No matter what trials we are facing, if we will wait for God and seek after Him, we will see His goodness. In the end, if we are faithful to Him, we will be saved because of the greatness of His faithfulness.

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God is the creator of all things. He is the only true and living God. Yet too often, instead of honoring Him as He deserves, men devote themselves to some other “god” of their choosing.

Because of this, Jeremiah bluntly said, “All mankind is stupid, devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his molten images are deceitful, and there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of mockery; in the time of their punishment they will perish” (Jeremiah 51:17-18).

At that time, it was common for men to make graven images and worship these idols as if they could help them in times of need or deliver them from trouble. We generally do not see people worship graven images like this today, but there are other “gods” that people devote themselves to, including money, careers, relationships, political leaders, and more. Yet all these will fall short in providing the help and hope we need.

However, God is different. Jeremiah went on to say, “The portion of Jacob is not like these; for the Maker of all is He…the Lord of hosts is His name” (Jeremiah 51:19). God has already shown His power in creating the universe; therefore, we can trust Him to take care of us.

So remember that God is not like any idol. He is our creator and is not a “god” made by man. Let us not foolishly put our trust in temporary things and fallible people; instead, let us put our complete faith and trust in the one who is “the Maker of all.”

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Toward the end of the book of Jeremiah, the prophet revealed God’s judgments against various nations. One of these nations that would soon face “disaster” was Moab (Jeremiah 48:16).

Notice what the Lord said concerning this nation: “‘The horn of Moab has been cut off and his arm broken,’ declares the Lord. ‘Make him drunk, for he has become arrogant toward the Lord; so Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he also will become a laughingstock’” (Jeremiah 48:25-26).

This was a rather graphic depiction of the pain and humiliation they would face. Yet they would not receive sympathy from others; instead, they would become an object of ridicule and mockery.

The reason they got themselves into this condition was because of their sin. They became “arrogant toward the Lord” and rejected His ways. Eventually, this happens to anyone who follows the way of sin long enough. Of course, all of this can be avoided by repenting and turning back to the Lord. But often, in one’s arrogance, he does not believe the consequences of sin will ever catch up with him. Yet it can happen to anyone – including us.

So remember that sin will cause us to become a laughingstock. Rather than having to endure the merciless taunts of those who take pleasure in our calamity, let us humble ourselves before God who is merciful toward us. This will help us escape hardships in this life and enable us to avoid “eternal destruction” in the end (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

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After Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem not to flee to Egypt, the “arrogant men” (Jeremiah 43:2) opposed him. They said, “You are telling a lie,” and insisted that God had not given him that message (Jeremiah 43:2).

So they “did not obey the voice of the Lord to stay in the land of Judah” (Jeremiah 44:4) but instead went to Egypt, where they thought they would be safe from the Babylonians. When they arrived, Jeremiah told them that the king of Babylon would strike the land of Egypt and bring death and captivity with him (Jeremiah 43:9-11).

This is what happened. As the Lord told Jeremiah, He was going to “take away the remnant of Judah who have set their mind on entering the land of Egypt to reside there, and they will all meet their end in the land of Egypt” (Jeremiah 44:12). In this case, it did not matter what the popular consensus was. What God said would happen would be fulfilled, even if everyone wanted to believe otherwise.

Unfortunately, it is the same today. People want to go along with the majority or conform to the culture around them, even when the Scriptures teach something different.

So remember that God’s word is true, even if it is unpopular. Therefore, if we want to determine the right direction to go, we need to follow what is taught in the Bible. It may not be popular, but it will help us avoid the destruction the Lord has warned us about in His word.

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As the people of Jerusalem wondered what to do after many of their people had been taken into Babylonian captivity, they asked Jeremiah what the Lord would say (Jeremiah 42:2-3). They vowed to “listen to the voice of the Lord,” regardless of “whether it was pleasant or unpleasant” (Jeremiah 42:6).

This attitude was good, but unfortunately, they did not follow through with this stated commitment. God told them not to be afraid of the king of Babylon because He was going to restore them to their place (Jeremiah 42:11-12). He specifically warned them not to go to Egypt (Jeremiah 42:14).

The Lord warned them that if they went to Egypt, calamity would only follow them there: “So all the men who set their mind to go to Egypt to reside there will die by the sword, by famine and by pestilence; and they will have no survivors or refugees from the calamity that I am going to bring on them” (Jeremiah 42:17).

People often think they have a “better” plan than God’s plan. Rather than keeping His instructions, they follow their way and think they will be better off than if they did what the Lord said. The inhabitants of Jerusalem would be safe in Jerusalem, but they foolishly thought they would be safer in Egypt.

So remember that we are safe when we are where God has told us to be. Regarding our spiritual well-being, salvation is only in Christ (Acts 4:12). If we want to be saved, we must make sure we are in Him (cf. Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27).

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After the city of Jerusalem was under siege for over a year, the inhabitants began to get desperate. “The famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land” (2 Kings 25:3).

King Zedekiah had previously rejected Jeremiah’s counsel to surrender to the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 38:17-24). By this point, it was too late. However, the king made one final attempt to escape when he led his men of war out of the city through a breach in the wall (2 Kings 25:4). However, the Chaldeans pursued them, the army was scattered, and Zedekiah was captured (2 Kings 25:5-6).

After refusing to avoid trouble by heeding the words of the Lord, he had to watch his sons be killed before his eyes, after which his eyes were put out, and he was carried off to Babylon in bonds (2 Kings 25:7).

This graphic account is meant to serve as a warning for us. When God tells us how to avoid destruction, we need to listen. If we refuse to obey, we will not be able to escape the punishment that will come for our sin.

So remember that we cannot escape God’s judgment. Thankfully, He has told us how we can be saved through Christ (Acts 2:37-38; Hebrews 5:9). Yet if we reject this, we will have no hope.

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Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem, “This city will certainly be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and he will capture it” (Jeremiah 38:3). Because of this, he told them the only way they could be spared was to leave the city and surrender to the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 38:2).

The officials of King Zedekiah did not like this message. They told the king that Jeremiah was “discouraging the men of war” and that he was “not seeking the well-being of this people but rather their harm” (Jeremiah 38:4). Therefore, they asked for Jeremiah to be “put to death” (Jeremiah 38:4). After receiving the king’s permission, they put Jeremiah down in a well and left him there (Jeremiah 38:5-6).

It is important to understand that Jeremiah was not just offering his opinion when he advised the people to surrender. He was declaring the word of the Lord to them (Jeremiah 38:2). Survival would mean going into Babylonian captivity. This was not popular, but it was the truth. Yet to the officials, it was harmful to the people. This same thinking exists among wicked people from every generation, including today. Because the word of God does not allow them to live as they please, it is offensive to them.

So remember that wicked people think truth is harmful. For this reason, they may oppose us for teaching the truth and try to turn others against us. Yet we must not compromise our convictions but continue to stand for God’s word no matter what.

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Much of the book of Jeremiah describes divine judgment that was coming against the people of God because of their sins. However, there was still a message of hope for the future.

God told the people, “Behold, days are coming…when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth…” (Jeremiah 33:14-15).

This phrase – “righteous Branch of David” – was used to describe the coming Messiah. Isaiah also used this same language to prophesy of Christ (Isaiah 11:1-5).

However, it was not just Jeremiah and Isaiah that spoke of this. Peter said, “All the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days” (Acts 3:24). Of course, Peter was speaking after Jesus died on the cross, was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and was reigning as king over His kingdom. Salvation was now available through Christ, and Peter explained that this was previously announced through the prophets.

Despite what was perceived as a negative message from Jeremiah, God provided hope. He declared He would fulfill His promises in Christ. Peter was able to proclaim that God had fulfilled these promises.

So remember that the Lord will fulfill what He has spoken. Ultimately, all of His promises are fully realized in Christ. No matter how discouraging our circumstances are at the moment, let us not lose sight of our hope in Christ.

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During the reign of Zedekiah, Hananiah prophesied that God had “broken the yoke of the king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 28:2). He also claimed that “within two years,” the vessels from the temple and the exiles who had been taken would be returned (Jeremiah 28:3-4).

In response, Jeremiah issued a reminder that the only way to know whether a prophet was sent by the Lord was to see if his word comes to pass (Jeremiah 28:9). Hananiah then “took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah…and broke it” (Jeremiah 28:10), dramatically reaffirming his claim.

However, God told Jeremiah to tell Hananiah, “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made instead of them yokes of iron” (Jeremiah 28:13). Jeremiah then said to the false prophet, “The Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to die, because you have counseled rebellion against the Lord” (Jeremiah 28:15-16). According to Jeremiah’s prophecy, Hananiah died that year, proving that he was not to be heeded and that Jeremiah spoke the Lord’s word.

So remember that not everyone who claims to speak for God is speaking truth. Knowing this, we need to test what we are taught by the word of God. Those who continue to make false prophecies and teach things contrary to the Scriptures are to be rejected.

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Often when we use the term “slippery slope,” it is in reference to an action or behavior that may not be wrong in itself but could easily lead to actions and behaviors that are wrong. Sometimes there is wisdom in considering this, especially on a personal level.

However, the Lord described a similar situation among His people. Yet instead of warning that questionable decisions could lead to sin, He explained that sinful behavior leads to divine punishment.

God said that “the land [was] full of adulterers” and that “their course also [was] evil” (Jeremiah 23:10). He continued, “For both prophet and priest are polluted; even in My house I have found their wickedness” (Jeremiah 23:11). What was going to happen as a result? God explained, “Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, they will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; for I will bring calamity upon them, the year of their punishment” (Jeremiah 23:12).

We are often tempted to minimize the problem of sin. When we do this, it is very easy to continue in it rather than repenting. If we do not turn from our sin, we stand to face eternal destruction for it.

So remember that sin is a slippery slope. God has provided a way for us to escape the punishment that comes because of it. Yet when we become accustomed to sin, we run the risk of continuing down the path of destruction until it is too late.

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Jeremiah was called by God to prophesy for Him, yet he faced severe opposition from others because of this. While he tried to warn the people to repent in order to be spared from the judgment that was coming, he became “a laughingstock,” was mocked, and faced “reproach and derision” (Jeremiah 20:7-8).

Understandably, this was discouraging for the prophet. He was tempted to “not remember [God] or speak anymore in His name” because even his “trusted friends” turned against him (Jeremiah 20:9-10).

However, despite all of this, Jeremiah knew he could not keep silent. He described the word of God as “a burning fire shut up in [his] bones; and [he was] weary of holding it in” (Jeremiah 20:9). Though he faced opposition from every side, he recognized that God was on his side “like a dread champion” so that his “persecutors will stumble and not prevail” (Jeremiah 20:11). Therefore, he kept speaking what God told him to say. Even though it was unpopular, it was true and needed.

We live in a similar environment where the word of God is derided, and those who teach it are mocked and ridiculed. It is tempting to just keep silent. Yet we must not allow a godless culture to pressure us into keeping God’s word to ourselves.

So God’s word must be as a fire in our bones. We have a message that is true and eternally important. Therefore, let us be more concerned with the souls of others than we are with their opinions, and keep holding out the word of God to try to find anyone willing to listen.

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In addressing the sins of His people, God contrasted two individuals – one who trusted in the Lord and one who trusted in man.

He first said, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant” (Jeremiah 17:5-6). By trusting in man, this individual inevitably turned away from the Lord.

In contrast with this man, the Lord said, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). The Lord is the source of strength and spiritual nourishment we need. Those who put their trust in Him will be able to weather whatever difficult circumstances they may face.

So trust in the Lord, not in man. Others will eventually fail us because they are fallible human beings (just as we are). Only the Lord can truly sustain us in a way that will never disappoint.

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Through the prophet Jeremiah, God described the wicked state of His people: “Why then has this people, Jerusalem, turned away in continual apostasy? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. […] No man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his course, like a horse charging into the battle” (Jeremiah 8:5-6).

How was this “continual apostasy” possible among those who were God’s chosen people and had received His law? God answered: “My people do not know the ordinance of the Lord” (Jeremiah 8:7). Without knowledge of God’s instructions, they could not keep their lives in harmony with His will. They “rejected the word of the Lord” and, therefore, would be “put to shame” (Jeremiah 8:9).

Those who do not know God’s word will find themselves in the same state of “continual apostasy.” Regardless of their intentions, they cannot fulfill God’s will if they ignore His word. Though they may be sincere, following the course that they have chosen for themselves will only lead them away from God and the path He has laid out for them.

So remember that we cannot please God if we do not know His instructions. Therefore, we must learn His word to know what He wants us to do. We must sincerely desire to do what is right, but if we ignore what He has revealed, we will inevitably wander astray.

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Jeremiah warned of destruction that was coming against Judah. Unfortunately, the people did not want to listen. They were content to listen to the lying prophets who told them what they wanted to hear.

The false prophets and corrupt priests were willing to comfort the people because of what they stood to gain from it. God said, “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely” (Jeremiah 6:13).

The Lord then explained what the prophets and priests were doing that enabled them to receive the “gain” they desired: “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). Jeremiah’s message of judgment and destruction was not popular. The people wanted to hear that everything was fine and supported the ones who told them so.

However, judgment was still coming. The people needed to be taught the law of God so they could follow it and “find rest for [their] souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). They needed to be warned, but they would “not listen” (Jeremiah 6:17). Jeremiah’s message was not pleasant, but it was for their good if they would have paid attention.

So remember that what we need to hear is not always what we want to hear. When we get caught up in sin and error, we need someone to point it out so we can repent. Receiving such correction is certainly not enjoyable, but it is the only way to have the lasting peace we desire.

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God told Jeremiah that He chose him to do the work of a prophet, even before he was born: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

Though we may not be specifically chosen as Jeremiah was, there is an important lesson to be learned from what God told him to do: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:9-10).

It is sometimes pointed out that two-thirds of Jeremiah’s actions in proclaiming the word of God would be perceived as “negative.” That observation is correct, but it is important to understand why Jeremiah would teach in this way. It is not because all teaching from God’s word must follow this “two-thirds rule.” Instead, it was because of the condition of the people to whom Jeremiah was prophesying.

God’s people had departed from “the ancient paths” and could no longer “blush” over their sin (Jeremiah 6:15-16). “The prophets prophesy falsely…and My people love it so” (Jeremiah 5:31). Jeremiah had to deal with their sin and error before they would be ready to hear and accept the truth. The same is true today.

So root out error before planting truth. Those who are comfortable in sin need to be made uncomfortable in order to repent. Otherwise, the truth we try to teach will be choked out of their hearts.

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