Jeremiah 25:4 And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.
This chapter brought to mind Matt 18:21-22, where Peter asks Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother and Jesus replies that it should be an abundant, extravagant number of times. In this scene in Jeremiah, Jeremiah is recounting how God has given them chance after chance to mend their ways, but they continue to follow their own stubborn hearts.
Jeremiah 25:5 They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever.”
Jeremiah says, essentially, “God has given you all these chances and you’ve ignored them. Now He will bring you to justice.” But why does he tell them this? Why doesn’t God just bring the destruction Jeremiah foretells? It is more of God’s abundant, extravagant grace. It is one more opportunity for the people to repent and return to Him.
Jeremiah 25:6 “Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”
Lord, I do not deserve the lavish grace You bestow on me. I do not deserve chance after chance, forgiveness after forgiveness, yet I am so incredibly thankful for it. Help me to return to You when I stray. Help me to treat others with Your lavish grace. Draw me closer. Amen.
Jeremiah 25:7 “But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.”
Have a blessed day.