September 29th | Jeremiah 22

Jeremiah is a prophet who pronounced judgment on God’s people for straying from God's ways. Chapter 22 is filled with warnings for the people as Jeremiah pronounces woes and warnings on various kings of Israel. He begins in verse 3 by highlighting the standard that God sets for kings and all those who would pursue God rightly. 

V.3, “3 Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.” 

When reading the prophets, it is sometimes difficult to perceive God as anything but vengeful or angry. However, we see God’s heart in this verse is for righteousness, the outcast, and the hurting. His anger toward Israel is that they knew how to act in righteousness, yet they chose their sin instead. 

V. 13, “13 “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages,” 

These kings, who were sons of Josiah, were awful kings who selfishly built large houses for themselves, failed to pay laborers, and spurned God’s grace and heart for righteousness by pursuing their own selfish desires. Jeremiah pronounces woes upon them, then in verses 15 and 16, he shows them how a true king, their father Josiah, ruled rightly. 

V. 15-17, “Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord. 17 But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain,” 

Their father, Josiah, upheld the call of God, as seen in verse 3. Because Josiah did well, it says, all was well with Him. Then we see the phrase from the prophet, “Is not this to know me? declares the Lord.” God doesn’t want our good works just to make us moral creatures. He wants our actions and good works because that is how we know Him. God isn’t calling you into morality but into a beautiful relationship with Him. Jesus himself knew this when he said in John 14:21. 

“21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

To know God is to obey Him. Praise God that we live after the cross and resurrection. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can KNOW God rightly. In our own strength, we would pursue sin and unrighteousness just like Josiah’s sons. Yet through the Holy Spirit, we are made new and can experience God rightly. 

Seek the Lord today. Don’t just obey Him because you want to be moral or a good person. Obey Him because you want to know Him. Do justice and righteousness because that is what your father in heaven cares about. Be about your father’s business and seek to know Him more today.