Jeremiah (1-31) 8:7 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

Jeremiah (1-31) 8:7

Comments

‘Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle’ – that is the sea turtle – ‘and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming’ – three birds and one sea turtle, all famous as migrating creatures, covering huge distances. The migratory birds and the sea turtles know when it's time to go. They prepare for the long passage in the way they eat and fatten up to get the energy stores for the huge journeys. They prepare for the time of departure, and the great migration, even between continents they prepare themselves. And my people, people trained in the things of God, people in England, even modern United Kingdom people with the privilege – even if they don't know much about it – of a Christian heritage, don't know that life is a journey into eternity, and they don't prepare. The migratory birds and the sea turtles are, in their own way, much, much smarter. Everything is geared up to prepare for the great departure and to strengthen them. They know their migratory times and what is good for them, but people don't know, and they embark on a life of materialism and sin, knowing that it leads nowhere and cannot satisfy the deeper needs of their being. Next, he shows how groundless was their confidence. They told themselves that they were wise, and the reason they did so was that they possessed the law of Moses, the law of the Lord and the word of God in all the Scriptures. But what was use was that, when they did not study it, or obey it, or take it seriously? ‘Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.’ God seems to say, I have given my word in vain; I have sent the scribe to write it out for no profit, because the people do not take a blind bit of notice of it. What is the result? ‘The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?’ In spite of being the one nation on earth that possessed the word of God, they have gained nothing from it. The wise men are ashamed, because when they are in trouble and they really need to call on their wisdom, they discover that they have none. Having rejected God’s word, they are left only with their own solutions which are useless.

Application

Perhaps someone feels it is all academic. Why are we so insensitive to God’s pleading with us? When it comes to our life policy, it doesn’t matter how intelligent we are, we can be more foolish than a migratory birds ruled by instinct. They know when it is time to head off. They keep to those patterns, century after century. Humans in modern life do not seem to follow this. They have thrown away things that are precious about human relations. Even migratory birds stick to what instinct tells them is good for them, but not the unbeliever. The birds know the land will freeze. They moves away, and prepare to accept the change. Here you are. You will get to the end of life, long after the bird would have taken off for another place. You will cross the threshold of eternity and, with a terrible chill, you will know that you face God.

The United Kingdom is a nation which at one time had churches in every city, in every town, in every village, and it was uncommon to find a household without a Bible. The people knew the word of God and respected it. From Britain missionaries went out into many other parts of the world and took the gospel to the four corners of the earth. The nation was strongly influenced by the Bible, and the law of God formed the basis for many laws of the land. Today, there is great ignorance of Scripture, and many could not begin to find their way round the Bible. They would not know where to turn to find instruction on this or that particular issue. What have they put in its place? Do they have an alternative to Christian marriage? Are they able to build strong and lasting relationships? How rare that is today among those who have rejected God!

Jeremiah gives two reasons for this behaviour. We have rejected God’s explanation of life. I convince ourselves that the whole world is here by chance. God explains why we are as we are. Bible says we are a rebel race: we have a conscience, but we cannot live up to it. If we reject God’s explanations about our world, of course we will be insensitive and stubborn. If there is no God, or moral standards, why not live as you like? Once you reject God’s explanation, there is no constraint over your heart at all. If I am unconverted, but I believe in God, then I may hold back from evil to some extent, but if I reject him altogether, then I am utterly unrestrained.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Jeremiah (1-31) 8:7 Commentary and Bible Study