God’s Glory Through the Prophets Part two

Jeremiah 31:30-40

The book of Jeremiah is one of the most interesting stories in the Old Testament. Jeremiah lived through a dark time in Israel’s history and his message is relevant for all generations who are tempted away from God. Spoiler alert: that’s us too!

Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet in the final decades of the southern kingdom of Judah. He was called by God to warn the Israelites about the coming consequences of their idolatry. 

The people of Israel had turned away from God and his ways because they believed that the false God’s of the Cannanites would satisfy their needs and their longings. They wrongly believed in glory they could understand rather than the surpassing greatness and glory of the God of Jacob – the one who is great enough to truly statisfy the longings of human hearts.

Jeremiah prophesied that Babylon would ultimately be used by God as a servant of judgement against Israel. (2 Kings 24-25)

But, he didn’t only bring a message of judgement for idolatry but also one of hope. In the middle of some of the darkest moments of Jeremiah’s life and the darkest stories in the book of Jeremiah we find a message of hope even for idolaters who have turned from God.

God, in his great glory, won’t let sin win. He will bring a redeemer who will bring redemption to his apostate people.

Glory is a funny thing. We use the word often but seldom have a good working understanding of what it means.

According to Paul David Tripp the “The doctrine of God's glory encompasses the greatness, 

beauty, and perfection of all that he is.” He says that you and I are “hardwired for glory.” We love to bask in the light of glorious things. The sun setting over the ocean, a 100-foot redwood that has outlasted empires, the cry of a newborn baby as she enters the world. We can’t help but see glory in creation because it’s created by a glorious God.

One of the ways we devalue the glory of God is through idolatry. When we elevate anything to a place of prominence and significance in our lives or our culture that only God is meant to hold.

We run to false gods and settle for their dim glory when our God is brighter than a thousand suns. We settle for stumbling around in the dark when He promised to light our way.

We settle for idols whose glory promises the life we’ve always dreamed of but can only deliver on our worst nightmares. This quote from C.S. Lewis sums up our problem so well:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

We’re so content to worship success, career, money, sex, and the ever-changing praise of other people. We’re so prone to seeking glory in lesser things.

What is it that makes you want to wander away from God’s glory?

Despite our fickle and adulterous ways God’s promises remain true. His steadfastness is one of the most glorious things about him.

In Jeremiah 31:33 we read:

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

And also again in Jeremiah 33:14-16

14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’

In Christ we find these promises fulfilled. In the coming of Christ hope for an adulterous and idolatrous people is restored. In Christ it’s not longer up to us to obey but we are given new hearts and new minds that love God by the power of his spirit.

Though we are prone to wander like the Israelites in the time of Jeremiah, we’re offered transformation and new life in Jesus. This is the hope of Advent.

Wonder:

Where do you seek lesser glory?

What is something about Jesus that you find glorious in this advent season. Reflection that truth.