JEREMIAH 9:1-11

The restoration wrought by God is available to everyone. Yet it is often we ourselves who refuse it, feeling that our lives are just fine. Meanwhile, those around us deeply regret our choice to refuse to be embraced and restored by Him. It is only then that we realise, too late, the outstretched hand of God’s love that strengthens us. 

In today’s reading, we see Jeremiah’s response as he grieves over the downfall of his people. Judah is like someone who is seriously wounded, yet refuses to be treated. Moral and spiritual decline are seen as the cause of Judah’s wounds. Oppression is rife, lies are commonplace, sin runs rampant and is simply taken for granted. The path to Judah’s restoration is, in fact, always available: God’s forgiveness. Yet they refuse to cry out to God and return to Him. 

Are we not often like the people of Judah? We groan because our lives are in ruins—perhaps due to fractured family relationships, or anxiety that we are not on the path He has set for us; in other words, when peace has vanished from our hearts. We ask, like the people of Judah, “Is the Lord not here?” Yet perhaps it is we who do not allow Him to be present and to act more deeply in our lives. We allow ourselves to be swept away by sin and ignore His decrees. So return quickly to His path and experience His love and help.