Jeremiah 22:3-5,15,16

Jeremiah speaks to the king of Judah, proclaiming his imminent captivity and destruction.

‘Thus says the LORD: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David. But if you will not hear these words, I swear by Myself,” says the LORD, “that this house shall become a desolation.”’ (Jeremiah 22:3-5)

God is clear cut. If you do this thing, then I will be with you, If you don’t, then you will be destroyed. That’s the way it is. That’s the way it is for all of us – we go to heaven or hell. We trust God or we don’t. We love God or we love the world. See again, leading from yesterday’s thoughts, that God wanted the king to do something. He wanted true repentance evidenced by a change of action.

Some of us are sitting there saying ‘but we can’t do it on our own! God doesn’t mind that we do things wrong, it’s all about a relationship with him!’. Well, yes that is quite true. We cannot do it all our own. And it is all about a relationship with Him (for instance David didn’t have the best track record when it came to being pure and holy). But let’s take a look at verse 15 and 16:

‘ “Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink,
And do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
Then it was well.
Was not this knowing Me?” says the LORD.’ (Jeremiah 22:15-16)

This is how we know God – obeying Him! That’s why James can say that faith without works is dead. That is why the Psalmist can say ‘I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts’ (Psalm 119:100 KJV). Let us not fool ourselves into thinking that we can know God in some mystical way and keep living out our own flawed lives, and that we’ll be okay. Knowing God means obeying God. It means doing righteousness and justice and helping the poor and needy. This is true religion.