Hard Hearts and No Fear of God

DAY 223
5-12-10
JEREMIAH 34-36


Good Morning!

We see it, but not that often, purposeful, in your face rebellion against God. We expect that from someone in the world; but not by someone who should know better. When God told Jeremiah to write down his words to present to the people, he said, “Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin." (Jer. 36:3) God was willing to try everything to get his people back. If blessings, miracles, and preaching don’t work, maybe the written word will.

King Jehoiakim didn’t care one little bit what God had written down. Think of the audacity of the King’s reaction and the reaction of his court…

Jer. 36:23-25 Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes.

This is just one more bit of evidence of how far God’s people have fallen. I am reminded of David’s words regarding those who do not fear God…

An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong. (Psalm 36:1-4)

This is the very description of a hard heart. David wrote in Psalm in 95:7, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Good advice.

Barry