Jeremiah 11:6-8 – Faithfully hear and apply God’s Word

The covenant  God with His people had both blessings and curses. When kept faithfully blessings would be experienced, if not obeyed curses would ensue.  God one’s deep desire was for His covenant people to walk in step with the covenant. Hence   Jeremiah’s assignment was to call God’s covenant people to stay faithful to that covenant.

The prophet in Jeremiah 11:6-8 was instructed to proclaim and call the people to obey the covenant God had made with them. He was to go out into the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem to call the people to listen to the word of the covenant and to do them. Notice that they not only had to listen but also to do them. Throughout the course of the history of the covenant people since Mount Sinai, God’s constant and persistent message to them was “listen to My voice.” The people, however, had not been faithful in this regard. They did not obey nor set their hearts and ears to stay faithful. They were stubborn and persisted in their stubbornness. Hence God had to face the harsh dealing of God which He had stipulated in the covenant concerning their unfaithfulness.

God values faithfulness. A faithful person is unwavering, steadfast, and reliable. They seek to listen to God, know His instructions, and obey them. Such a person will be blessed. Psalm 1 has this to say about such a person whose delight is in the law of the Lord and upon then he meditates day and night. Hence  this person would have a flourishing life just like a tree planted by the streams of living water with flourishing leaves. And he will prosper in whatever he does. In contrast, the wicked are not so. They would be unstable and reliable. Like useless chaff, they are light and easily blown away by wind and good for fueling the fire. Such people will perish at the judgment.

In Psalm 1 we are given a definition of a godly person. He is defined by the time he spends in the Word of God. He has great delight in the Word that God has given to us, His children. His Bible is not sitting somewhere on his shelf only. He takes the time to read it and reflect on it. He does not just do it occasionally. He meditates on the Word continuously. He meditates in the morning, and he muses over it at night. He won’t start the day without it and he would end the day with it. He allows the principle of the written word to saturate his mind and fills his heart. He has deep consideration for the counsel of God’s Word. His principles in life are all derived from the Word. He spends time reading the Word, reflecting on its implication and He then acts on the derived divine principles.  Are we such a person God is looking for?  Let us be the blessed man described in Psalm 1:1-2. Don’t just listen to the word, faithfully do what it prescribes!