“…return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” (Jeremiah 18:11)
Jeremiah was chosen to be a prophet to the nations and ordained thereunto before ever he came forth from the womb. (Ch. 1:5) He is known as the weeping prophet, and that, because of the sorrowful condition of his own beloved nation. He was met from the beginning with strong opposition from his fellow countrymen, and even from his own family. His tearful appeal went out to a nation that was headed for destruction. God’s judgments were already upon this people. This highly favored people were an astonishment to the heavens and a desolation. The Lord said, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” This Judah had done, in that, they “changed their gods;” they “changed their glory for that which doth not profit.” (See Ch. 2:9-13)
As we see what is happening in our own beloved nation, it is impossible not to see the stark similarities. Our new cancel culture is hell-bent on cancelling everything that is biblical, and every voice that speaks truth. There is a concerted effort on the part of politically motivated powerful people and groups to remove our foundations. The saddest part of all is that so much of this destruction is taking place with the cooperation and support of America’s churches and religious leaders. Rather than standing up for Divine truth they are perfectly willing to bend and compromise the Word of God in order to appease the secularists and their science, so called. Gaining approval with the secular world seems to be more important than having the favor and blessing of Almighty God.
God complained that in Judah, “The pastors transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.” What are we to expect when pastors and religious leaders, instead of proclaiming God’s law as the unchanging standard, decide that what we need is a “kinder, gentler law.” Our God is immutable, and so also is His law, which is holy, just and good. Satan has enough prophets, let all who profess to belong to our Lord stand up for Him, and declare His eternal truth. The standard doesn’t need changing, men do.
Our text is addressed to God’s people, and it tells us what we must do, and what we must call upon God’s people to do. “Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and the inhabitant of Jerusalem.” What is the first thing that is to be spoken to the Church? “Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you.” The message is not “judgment is coming,” but rather, God’s judgment is already here. We need to understand that what is taking place in America is Divine judgment. What are we to do? We are to do what the prophet here called upon Judah and Jerusalem to do, REPENT. “Return ye now every one from his evil way.”
We have conducted prayer marches, and called for days of prayer, so why hasn’t God answered? “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then, ‘THEN’ will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” As we march and pray, are we at the same time compromising God’s truth in our preaching and/or practice. It is shocking that even among “Evangelical Christians,” many do not even believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, or that the Genesis account of Creation is true. The list of denials goes on and on. God, Who has “magnified His Word above all His name” (Psa. 138:2), is not likely to be moved by the prayers of folks who deny His Word. As it was with Judah, so also it is with us, our sad state as a nation is owing largely to our departure from the Word of God. Oh God, grant us repentance; call us back to thy Holy Word.
Our text tells us that God’s judgments are framed against His people in order to bring them to repentance. Justice might slay them in their sins, but mercy pleads with the offenders to return. Repentance, however, is an individual matter. It is basically making an about face, changing direction in both heart and life.
Notice, the concluding line of the verse, raises five questions, and answers them. First, what is repentance? It is to “return.” You can only return to a place where you once were. So, in your departure, stop, consider, turn around, and hasten back. Second, when shall I repent? “Now” is the time. Every step takes us further away and makes returning more difficult. Third, who shall repent? Return ye now “every one.” This calls for personal evaluation and decision. Fourth, from what am I to repent? Notice, “from his (personal, singular) evil ways.” Fifth, to what am I to return? The return is to right paths and right actions. “Make your ways and your doings good.”
For the healing of the nations, God is here calling for individual repentance on the part of His people. May we, who are called by His name, each one of us, stop and consider. If we have strayed at all from “the old paths wherein is the good way,” let us turn around, and hasten back to the Lord.
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