"Why will you plead with Me?"
Text: Jeremiah 2:29
PLEADING WITH GOD
Judah’s relationship with God was almost “transactional”. The people largely ignored God and worshipped idols. But when the nation was in serious trouble, they would then “plead with God!” And if the LORD would heed and help them, they would offer special offerings! He responded to this approach of Judah.
“‘Why will you plead with Me?
You all have transgressed against Me,’ says the LORD.
‘In vain I have chastened your children;
They received no correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
Like a destroying lion.'”
Jeremiah 2:29-30
1. “Why will you plead with Me?”
a) Judah’s pleas to God were along the following lines:
i) Formal
ii) Ceremonial
iii) Religious
b) God’s question:
i) On what basis would they plead with God?
ii) Was this what the LORD had taught Israel?
c) Basic teachings of Moses were all but completely forgotten.
i) There should have been love for the LORD (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
ii) There should have been reverence expressed in the keeping of His laws (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).
2. “‘You all have transgressed against Me,’ says the LORD”
a) Judah had transgressed God’s laws.
b) But there had been no confession of repentance shown.
c) The thought of transgression was not even in their mind.
3. “In vain I have chastened your children; they received no correction.”
a) Chastening work of God:
i) The LORD had to chastise Judah.
ii) This work of chastening affected the children.
b) But no one seemed to have learned anything.
i) Not the fathers.
ii) Nor their children.
iii) The entire generation had not understood what God sought to teach them.
4. “Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion”
a) God had sent His servants, the prophets.
b) The people, Judah had slain the prophets who spoke out against sin.
c) Judah was compared to a fierce roaring lion.
i) A lion kills, so did Judah.
ii) A lion kills without remorse, so did Judah transgress and felt no guilt.