The Warning from Jeremiah - a podcast by Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

The book of Jeremiah was written during a time when Judah had a chance to repent. Jeremiah wrote it between 630 to 580 BC. His main purpose was to convey God's warning that if Judah will not turn away from its wicked ways, it will be destroyed.

Jeremiah was called a weeping prophet because he would cry his heart out just to convince the people to repent.

They did not accept the message of God, and because of that, they fell into destruction and captivity by the forces of Babylon.

So we read Jeremiah 17:5 to 8 with the help of history. We already know that the people of Judah did not listen to Prophet Jeremiah.

So what the prophet wrote here, the people did not follow. So this is the same with us, as proven in history, that if we do not follow what God says, it will also result in our downfall.

Let us learn from history so that we will not repeat what the people of Judah did.

What is the warning of Jeremiah to us? What is the instruction that he wants us to do?

First, Jeremiah warns us not to trust in human strength only.

Jeremiah wrote that those who put their trust in humans only will be cursed. This does not mean that we should not trust each other anymore. What Jeremiah meant is not to trust in people whose hearts have turned away from God. These people are those who say that there is no God, and we should just rely on ourselves.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we are helpless without God. Even powerful governments all over the world are still scrambling on what to do. In our country, we can still see a lot of politicking and bickerings.

Jeremiah wrote a graphic description of people who trust in themselves only -- "They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives."

If we put our trust in ourselves, then we are bound to fail. That is what happened to Judah, and will continue to happen to those who rely on themselves only.

Second, Jeremiah is pleading us to trust in the Lord.

Yes, we need to put our complete confidence in God. It took about 70 years during exile when the Jews were able to return to their homeland.

They were stubborn and their captivity was the event that opened their eyes. Hopefully, the pandemic will open our eyes too!

Jeremiah describes a person whose trust is in the Lord -- "They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Now, it is up to us to choose. Should we rely on ourselves only? Or Should we put our complete trust in God?

May God bless us all! Amen!

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