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Royalty and Ruin
nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to
destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.’”
Jeremiah 1:9, 10
.
A True Prophet Always “Builds”
Thank God for the words, “to build and to plant.” The Lord’s
purpose was to restore and to heal. Jeremiah was fearlessly to deliver
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prophecies of swift-coming judgments, yet he was to accompany
these messages with assurances of forgiveness to all who would turn
from their evildoing.
Jeremiah worked to encourage the people of Judah to lay spiritual
foundations broad and deep by thorough repentance. For a long time
they had been building with material that Jeremiah likened to dross:
“People will call them rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected
them.”
Jeremiah 6:30
. Now he urged them to build for eternity,
throwing away the rubbish of apostasy and using as material pure
gold, refined silver, precious stones—faith, obedience, and good
works—which alone are acceptable to God.
The word of the Lord was, “‘Return, backsliding Israel, ... and I
will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the
Lord, ... ‘for I am married to you.’”
Jeremiah 3:12-14
.
And in addition the Lord gave His erring people the very words
with which they could turn to Him: “We do come to You, for You
are the Lord our God.” “We lie down in our shame, and our reproach
covers us. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our
fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the
voice of the Lord our God.”
Verses 22, 25
.
The reformation under Josiah had cleansed the land of shrines to
idols, but the hearts of the multitude were not transformed. Thorns
had choked the seeds of truth that had sprung up and given promise
of an abundant harvest. Another backsliding like that would be fatal.
Jeremiah called attention repeatedly to the counsels given in
Deuteronomy. He showed how these could bring the highest spiritual
blessing to the nation. “Ask for the old paths, where the good way
is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.”
Jeremiah
6:16
.
On one occasion, at one of the principal entrances to the city the
prophet urged the importance of keeping holy the Sabbath day: “‘If