10/03/2007
Jeremiah 50:19-20(NRSV)
19I will restore Israel to its pasture, and it shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead its hunger shall be satisfied.
20In those days and at that time, says the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and none shall be found; for I will pardon the remnant that I have spared.
For many years, Jeremiah had been prophesying against Israel for her disobedience. The people had turned their backs on God; trusting in idols. But Jeremiah now prophesies of the deliverance of Israel back to their homeland. Babylon will be destroyed after it has punished the nations that have oppressed Israel. The remnant of Israel will return home and Jeremiah speaks these words from the Lord.
Verse 20 is a wonderful picture of the grace of God. It shows us how His forgiveness is so thorough. “20In those days and at that time … the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and none shall be found.”
Remember that for generations, Israel has sinned, but now God declares “none shall be found.”
We too are full of sin. This sin is what prevents us from coming to God directly. His Holy nature cannot co-exist with sin. But He also provided a way for us, even in our sin, to come to him. Jesus was our sacrifice – the one (and only one) that can cover our sins, so that when God looks at us and searches for our sins, they cannot be found.
This is no simple thing. Jesus said
Mark 12:11(NRSV)
11 this
was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’?”
The idea that Jesus can (and does) take away our sins is an amazing thing and sometimes we oversimplify it.
Reflect on what God has done through His son and give Him the reverence He is due.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2007 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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