Jeremiah 44:1-6: a reflection

1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who lived in the land of Egypt, who lived at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Memphis, and in the country of Pathros, saying, 2“The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have seen all the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah. Behold, today they are a desolation, and no man dwells in them, 3because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, to serve other gods that they didn’t know, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. 4However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, “Oh, don’t do this abominable thing that I hate.” 5But they didn’t listen and didn’t incline their ear. They didn’t turn from their wickedness, to stop burning incense to other gods. 6Therefore my wrath and my anger was poured out, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is today.’

God speaks to the remnant of Judah about the disaster that has come upon their land, and he does not let them forget how patiently he had warned them. Their cities lie desolate because of their idolatry; but, God says, I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate. He had warned them again and again, patiently, urgently, over many years; but they did not listen, and would not turn.

Notice the picture of God warning his people: rising up early and sending the prophets, pleading with them not to persist in what would destroy them. This is not a God eager to judge, springing quickly to punishment; it is a God who warns, patiently and repeatedly, precisely because he does not want to judge, but wants his people to turn and be spared. His warnings were the pleadings of a God who longed for them to turn from the path of ruin. Only when they persistently refused did judgment come.

That changes how we hear God's warnings. We can hear God's warnings against sin as harsh or threatening, as though he were eager to condemn. But this passage shows that God's warnings are the pleadings of one who wants to spare us, who warns because he desires our turning, not our ruin. When God warns you against some sin or path, through his word, your conscience, or wise counsel, hear it as the pleading of a God who wants to spare you, and heed it while there is time. Do not be like those who would not listen; God's warnings are his mercy, his effort to turn us from the ruin that unrepented sin brings. Heed the God who rises up early to warn you, because he wants you to turn and live.

Lord, you reminded the remnant of Judah how patiently you had warned them, rising up early and sending your prophets, pleading with them not to persist in what would destroy them; but they would not listen. Change how I hear your warnings. I can hear your warnings against sin as harsh or threatening, as though you were eager to condemn. But this passage shows that your warnings are the pleadings of one who wants to spare me, who warns because he desires my turning, not my ruin. When you warn me against some sin or path, through your word, my conscience, or wise counsel, help me hear it as the pleading of a God who wants to spare me, and to heed it while there is time. Keep me from being like those who would not listen. Your warnings are your mercy, your effort to turn me from the ruin that unrepented sin brings. Help me heed you, who rise up early to warn me, because you want me to turn and live.