Following the word “turn” (שוב) through Jeremiah’s prophecy.
“‘Surely, as a woman treacherously
departs from her lover, so you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel Israel
Jeremiah’s not the only prophet to
describe the waywardness of the covenant people as their greatest disease, infirmity,
or injury.
“Alas, sinful nation, people weighed
down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have
abandoned the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel
What do you think the greatest
problem is in your life? How high on that list is the progress of your
discipleship, your sanctification? I often compare our “prayer requests” with
those described by Paul in his epistles. He top prayer request is for
sanctification. He doesn’t use that word, but that’s the request. Growth in
faith, an increase in love for one another, a deepening of the knowledge of God
in Christ, a conquering grace in the proclamation of the Gospel to the
unbelieving world...these are the apostle’s requests. Paul never lost sight of
the fact that our greatest illness is the remaining sin in our lives that keeps
us from growth together in the fullness of Christ. It’s greater than financial
debt, physical complications, perceived persecutions, etc. Our sickness is
defined – by Paul and the prophets – and whatever is between us and our God.
So Jeremiah speaks of God’s promise,
upon repentance, to “heal your faithlessness.” This is our greatest
need.
“Therefore, since we have so great a
cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and
the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who
has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood
in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is
addressed to you as sons, ‘MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE
LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE
DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.’ It is for discipline
that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom
his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all
have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them;
shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For
they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines
us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the
moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been
trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not
be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and
the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no
one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless
person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know
that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected,
for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears” (Hebrews 12:1-17). I love this whole
section of text, and especially the use of “healed” here in verse 13.
The worst thing that happens to us in this world is not physical infirmity, but
any struggle with sin that causes us to walk away from the promises of God
toward those who persevere (Revelation 21:7).
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