We are often warned to be careful who we place our trust in, especially in today’s world. When some problems arise, we might turn to a few choice friends, putting our trust in them to help us out in one way or another. If we are facing financial troubles perhaps we turn to our bank for a loan, or even go to one of the lending agencies we see advertised on TV. When we need advice about an important decision, who is the first one we turn to? Is it another fellow human, do we think to turn to the Lord God, or might we even check the horoscopes and psychics to get so-called “good” advice? The prophet Jeremiah brings us today’s Scripture message from the Lord, where he warns us about who we are trusting with both our important issues, and our day-to-day decisions.
Our Scripture today begins with some very strong words. God, speaking through His prophet, tells us that whoever trusts in his fellow man, trusting him before he would think about trusting God, is cursed (vs. 5). His heart has departed from God, and he doesn’t think about trusting Him when there is a decision to be made, or things are getting difficult. Instead they go to the world for its reasoning, relying upon worldly guidance and answers, or they trust in their own selves, rather than God. Jeremiah proclaimed that God would bring His curse, or His judgment, upon such a person. They would be like a shrub that is out in the desert, withering away from lack of water and nourishment (vs. 6). They may still survive, but they will just be hanging on. That is the fate of those who don’t put their primary trust in Yahweh. They may still be surviving, but they are not spiritually thriving. They are spiritually dry and withered in their hearts and souls.
In contrast, those who trust in the Lord, not only for salvation, but also trust in Him for everything throughout their day, will be blessed by Him. Jeremiah likens them to a tree planted by a source of water, with roots that eagerly bring in nourishment (vs. 7-8). Such plants do not fear the hot summer, for its leaves remain full and green. True security and prosperity comes from a deep and abiding trust in God.
Jeremiah concludes this portion of Scripture with the declaration that God has stated that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (vs. 9). A lot of people like to say and believe that mankind is basically good. However this verse from the Word of God states just the opposite. Ever since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, since the days of Adam, man has carried original sin, and our hearts are not inclined to good, but rather to wickedness. When we are trusting in our own heart and mind, and those of others, we will be deceived. Satan uses that to deceive us, just as he did with Eve.
We often try to keep things secret and hidden about ourselves from other people, even from those in our family. We don’t want others to know a lot about our thoughts, or about some of the not-so-pleasant things we may have said or done in the past. However, we can’t keep them hidden from the Lord. He searches our heart, and tests our mind (vs. 10). There is no one on earth that can keep anything private or hidden from the Lord (John 2:24-25). He knows us inside and out. He knows our thoughts, our words even before we say them, and everywhere we may ever go (Psalm 139:1-10). We can’t hide anything from Him, and He will reward or punish us accordingly.
In closing, Jeremiah reminds us of how important it is to place our trust in Yahweh, rather than in our own or someone else’s human strength or wisdom. The true blessings and stability of life come from being rooted in trust and dependence on Him. Knowing that our heart and mind are deceitful we need continual self-examination, and to rely solely on God’s judgment and guidance. Only He can heal a sick and wicked heart, and plant it by streams of living water, making our lives fruitful.
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