SOAP 08/22/2015; Jeremiah 30:14

Today's reading: Jeremiah 28, 29, 30; 1 John 3

S) "¹⁴ All your lovers have forgotten you,
They do not seek you;
For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,
With the punishment of a cruel one,
Because your iniquity is great
And your sins are numerous."

Jeremiah 30:14 (NASB)

O) This is the LORD, speaking to the people of Jerusalem. The lovers that God mentioned are certainly the idols that the people had been worshiping, but also the culture that they had adopted. Once Jerusalem fell under Babylon, they were stricken by God; that was their wound. When they were smitten, their idols were useless (the first type of lover), and their relationships with nearby nations evaporated as well. When they were wounded with this deep would, as from a cruel enemy (righteously wounded, because of their transgressions), only the LORD could heal them.

A) When times get really tough, we learn who our real friends are. The lie of sin, of idolatry, is false hope, false help, false healing. When I am stressed, and tempted to sin, the enemy is selling me a lie. If I reach for that idol, I will quickly discover that lover is a liar, and when my wound becomes real to me, and that false-lover will be gone. When my pride is swollen, my flesh becomes the idol and I am my own lover. Then, when haughtiness and pride leads to my stumbling, I quickly discover that loving myself is fruitless. In every case, sin hurts me. In every case, the only true lover I have, is the LORD my God, the lover of my soul. Only in Him can I find the healing I need. It should only ever be Him, whose love I seek.

P) Father, Your love is so pure, so good, and so complete, that it is all I truly need. Sin deceives me, and temptation sells me lies. Too often, I still buy the false-advertising of false-lovers. Nothing about sin pays off they way it boasts. My sins hurt me, and sometimes I don't even see how deep those wounds are. Open my eyes to see all of this clearly, Father. Open my ears, to hear Your voice in the midst of temptation. Heal me, from these self-inflicted injuries, from the wounds that my sins deserve. Be glorified, in the gospel being manifested in my own brokenness and need. Let me be unashamed at my deep, deep need for Your healing and restoration. Let Your will be done, and receive all of the honor, glory, and praise. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.