Jeremiah 34:15-16
In Jeremiah 34, king Zedekiah called on the inhabitants of Jerusalem to obey God in letting the Hebrew menservants and maidservants go free as God commanded for the year of Jubilee. This they did, but it appears that when the danger of the army they were facing had subsided, they went back on their word and again placed the servants in bondage. This reminds me of the “sorrow of the world” in 2 Corinthians 7:10.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2 Corinthians 7:10
The Importance of Staying Turned
What I would like to point out is God’s response to these men of Judah after they had taken back their servants. He says, “Ye were turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor;”
We see that God recognizes a turning away from the evil. Many have turned from some sin and for a time shown obedience to God’s words only to go back to the exact sin they struggled with before. This worldly sorrow and turning can be brought about by many different things:
- Temporary conviction that does not deal with the root problem.
- Unhappy circumstances that we wish to be removed from.
- It is in vogue to sorrow over a certain evil.
We see that God recognizes that they had done right. Sometimes, we can find that men will do what is right because of outward circumstances. It appears that Zedekiah was trying to get the people right with God because Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Jerusalem. It also appears that the men of Jerusalem did right because of Zedekiah’s challenge and their own self-preservation. In verse 22 God says He will “cause them [Babylon’s army] to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it…” As with turning from evil, there are many reasons that men may do right, but only a hearkening unto God from the heart will produce obedience that is lasting in our lives.
We see that God’s judgment will wait to see the end of a man’s actions. In verse 16, God sadly says of them, “But ye turned and polluted my name…” There turning from evil was temporary, and as Peter teaches in 2 Peter 2:22.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
2 Peter 2:22
Sadly, God’s reward for these men who showed worldly sorrow is exactly what 2 Corinthians 7:10 states. Verse 17 the LORD proclaims that he will give them liberty “to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.” Jesus said it this way:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Matthew 7:24-27
The Moral of the Story
What we can learn from this is how we ought to respond to sin and error in our lives that is revealed to us.
- Turn from our error.
- Do right in the sight of God.
- Covenant with God that we will obey Him.
- Continue on in the path of righteousness.
This post was not made with the intent of dealing with besetting sin or backsliding believers. Rather, it’s purpose is to address the vanity of seeking to obey God without a true repentance of heart. God’s Word is always right and will never change, therefore it is our job to seek out the truth of His Word and do what He commands. This must be done by faith in His power alone as we submit ourselves to His working in our lives. Please don’t be like the men of Jerusalem who did right because a man commanded it and they found it convenient. Do right because you have hearkened to God’s Word from the heart and believe that He will bless your obedience.