Nuggets in Jeremiah – God delights in showing mercy

God is the same yesterday today and forever. That is from a very well-known verse in the Bible. And it is a truth that must be true because God is not flawed. He is perfect. All of His attributes are in perfect balance with Himself. His Love, mercy, forgiveness, holiness, and Judgment. For Him to change would mean that He either was not perfect before or that He is less perfect now than He was.

God truly is the same yesterday today and forever. God has dealt with man in different ways thru time, but that is the working out of His plan. The different ways that God dealt with man over time has nothing to do with Him changing.

So when we look at God’s dealings with man in different ages and we see a characteristic of His character in how he dealt with people in the past, we can be sure that the attribute of His character that we see then is still the same today.

O’ the method of dealing with man may be different, but the heart of God is the same. We can see something about the heart of God in Jeremiah that is wonderful. And what we see then absolutely applies to His heart today. What we learn from Jeremiah tonight has application to exactly what we are going thru today.

Jer 7:26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

Jer 7:27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.

God told Jeremiah go speak all these words unto the people. They will not hearken to you. They are not going to listen. And Jeremiah you will call unto them, but they are not going to answer. But Jeremiah I want you to go to them anyway, I want you to tell them my words anyway.

They are going to ignore you, but Jeremiah I want you to give them a chance anyway. Why? Because of God’s attributes of Love, mercy, and forgiveness. God delights in showing mercy.

Mic_7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

God always wants to show mercy. He actually delights in showing mercy. And it is God’s very nature to forgive. We see both mercy and forgiveness offered from the lips of Jesus on the cross.

Luk_23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

There was also His attribute of Love on display for all to see that day. These same attributes that we see at the cross are the same attributes we see in Jeremiah.

We also see the attribute of Justice at both the cross and in Jeremiah. Judgment was poured out upon Jesus for our sin. And in Jeremiah God was judging Israel and Judah for their sin.

Jer 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

Jer 3:7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

Jer 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Jer 3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

God loved them dearly. He took them from Egypt and put them in a wonderful fruitful land. He protected them and sent them the rains so they could prosper. They were to love God back. I mean it is pretty simple. God loves you, does amazing things for you, the right, good, moral, correct response is simply to love God back.

And God was to be their only love. But they left God, an illustration is used of marriage. They were to be faithful to God and Him alone. Just like a husband and a wife are to be faithful to each other.

But they went after other gods, who are no gods at all. And not just a little bit. Upon every high mountain and under every green tree. The worship of false gods was often done on the tops of mountains and in what was called groves. They would put false god’s altars in stands of green trees. Upon every high mountain and under every green tree tells us just how prevalent their false god worship was.

It was an unthankful, treacherous, ungrateful, horrendous thing they were doing to God. God has every right to judge them. And God’s attribute of Justice is going to demand it. God cannot turn His back on their sin.

But look in verse 7. After she (Israel) had done all these things God said turn thou unto me. He is still asking them to return. That is the love, mercy and forgiveness of God being offered.

Even when Judgement must come, God is still offering love, mercy and forgiveness.

Jer 3:10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

The country was split into two after the death of Solomon. The north was called Israel, the south Judah. The north’s kings were worse. Ahab for one, and Jezabel his wife. God tried and tried to bring them back to Him but they refused and killed His prophets.

God finally (keeping with the illustration) wrote her a bill of divorcement. God had let them be taken into captivity. Israel, the northern kingdom, is called the treacherous sister in verse 10.

You would think that watching what happened to the north, and with God continually calling out to them to return, you would think that they would return.

With watching what happened with their very eyes, you would expect repentance. But they only faked returning to God.

Jer 3:11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

Jer 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

Many times God would tell his prophets to do something odd. It was a way to get people to set up and take notice. He does that here. Jeremiah go and proclaim these words toward the north.

The ten tribes of Israel are gone by this time. They have been taken away. God tells Jeremiah to turn toward where they used to be and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel. Anyone standing within ear shot would know that this was really directed toward them.

If it was me standing there, it would be like, I am standing right here. Hello, I know you are talking about me. And then God has Jeremiah say.

Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

Only acknowledge your sin. Acknowledge that what you are doing is against the Lord. Acknowledge that you have not obeyed my voice.

Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

Just turn. Just come back. Wow. Even after all they had done. God still loves them. He still has mercy and forgiveness for them. Just come back and I will bless you.

Even after all they done? Yep. But they left Him and were unfaithful, and put stone and wood statues above God. Would He really take them back and treat them like before. Yep. What we see here in this plea to them is a New Testament truth that we see clearly stated in 1^st John.

1Jn_1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God is the same yesterday today and forever. Back then He just wanted them to return and admit their wrong. Come back to Him for cleaning and restoration of fellowship. It is the same for us today.

If we confess our sins, if we return, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. All of it. Back to our text in Jeremiah. Verse 15 he tells them something that He will do for them if they admit their wrong doing and return.

Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Simply admit you’re wrong, come back to my love, mercy, and forgiveness and I will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Come back and I will give you Pastors that are according to my heart.

Obviously if He is going to give them Pastors that are according to God’s heart, then obviously they did not currently have Pastors according to God’s heart.

If He was going to give them Pastors that feed them with knowledge and understanding, then they did not currently have Pastors feeding them with His knowledge and His understanding.

They had Pastors that were after their own heart. Preaching for their own status, and power, and money. They had Pastors that were telling them what they wanted to hear. They were teaching their own thoughts and their own human wisdom.

And why did they have Pastors like that. Because they wanted Pastors like that. And I think it is inferred here that God allowed them to have no good Pastors that fit their no good hearts.

This is not what God wanted for them. He very clearly says come back and I will give you Pastors that are according to my heart.

We have a little preached truth here. God gives people pastors that they want and deserve (very bad) according to their itching ears, and God gives people pastors according to His heart. That is always what is best.

And this happens according to the heart of the people. So what did they do? Did they return to God so they could receive His blessings?

Jer 3:20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

Jer 3:21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God.

No they did not return. Even after all the object lessons, even after what they saw happen to the northern kingdom. Even after the pleading of Jeremiah and the promises of blessings.

They still dealt as a wife treacherously departs from her husband in their dealing with God. And yet still God says.

Jer 3:22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.

God’s arms are still open wide even if they do not want Him and do not listen. He is still pleading and He still wants someone that is willing to be used. God is still calling out to our wicked nation. Return. He is still offering His love, mercy and forgiveness.

This is why even if no one listens or responds, we are to keep on offering the Love of God to people. God truly loves people and wants to show them love, forgiveness, and mercy.

See more nuggets from Jeremiah