Proper 8: Old Testament, Jeremiah 28:5-9                              

Jeremiah 28:5-9

I spend a lot of my time preparing lessons for Bible instruction. Mostly for adults. But on the issue addressed in our reading today, the age of the recipient isn’t the issue. The issue is what is being given to any audience in the name of God. And Jeremiah seems to run into folks who just don’t have a “good connection” to the Heavenly Voice. There are many who craft their own messages and attempt to “sell” them to Gods’ people.  It’s not new to Jeremiah’s day. Nor is it strange to our own.

The message of good times coming from our Lord is always welcome. But the “kick” is not to decide whether we like the message from a prophet, but rather the issue is this: “is this true?” Jeremiah has conversation here with one who had promised a quick and easy fix to the Babylon problem. But no such aid and deliverance is planned by the Lord. Rather, Jeremiah’s message of a massive outpouring of judgment is God’s remedy for His wayward family. No ears are set to hear that.

Funny today there are many promising the greatest revival the world has ever seen. A great outpouring of the Spirit is on its way and a great ingathering of souls on its heels, say the media prophets in our midst. But similar to Jeremiah’s day the truth is that God has ordained a great falling away from the faith just prior to the end of all things of the old order. What do your ears and mine do with a message like that? Do we receive it? Do we even give it a listen?

How we hear difficult truths from the Lord is always a good indication of where our hearts are truly set and consequently what our ears will allow “in.” I know you’re listening but just what can you hear?