“ Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD. . . ” Jeremiah 8: 7, NKJV.
Merciful God and Savior, please lead us in the study of Your Word, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
Today as we continue to meditate on this verse, let us turn our attention to the last statement of the text: “But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD.” What is the judgment of the LORD? The Hebrew Scriptures is replete with statements of God’s judgment. The problem seems to be that we do not recognize it.
In human reckoning, judgment always seems to have a punitive component. Let me share with you, a well known text that shows, what I believe, God’s judgment, as spoken of in this text, refers to, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6: 8)? God’s people did not know what He required of them, because, they did not know Him. In keeping with the thought that we discussed yesterday, let us look at some instances in Scripture that shows what our behavior looks like when we know God, in contrast to how we behave, when we do not know Him. Let us begin, “in the beginning.”
“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3: 8). Because they did not take the time to know that God “love[s] mercy[,]” they ran and hid themselves from Him. While His mercy did not overlook, or condone, their sin, He did provide them with a Savior, and a covering – suitable for their needs (15, 21).
“But Samuel said, ‘ “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” ‘ . . . So Samuel said, ‘ “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel” ‘ ” (1Samuel 15: 14, 15, 17)? Saul obviously did not take the time to know that it was important to God that His people “walk humbly” with Him. So he offered God a sacrifice, in the place of obedience (22).
“Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes” (Judges 16: 28). Even though Samson departed from God’s plans for his life, yet He knew that God’s love and His mercy far exceeded his sin. He obviously knew that God hates sin, but loves the sinner. So he called upon the LORD, and God heard him. For a time he forgot that God had called him “to do justly, [and to] love mercy[.]” That cut his life short, upon this land.
” ‘ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘ “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants” ’ . . . ‘ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry” (Luke 15: 17-19, 22-24).
The prodigal son, knew his father. He knew that even though he had left home haughtily, he could humble himself and come back to the father. He was received with rejoicing. Beloved, knowing the Father, is the difference between life and hope, – death and despair. The judgment of the LORD, is that we love justice and righteousness, and that we live accordingly. May we become acquainted with Him and His judgment today, and spare ourselves the pain that results from a lack of knowledge.