September 24, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it? Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High? Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins?“

(Lamentations 3.37-39)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

Jeremiah, as did Job, recognized the sovereignty of God. Regardless of popular opinion (the Temple rulers for Jeremiah and Job’s friends for Job including his own wife), both men stayed focused on the priority of God in and through all things. We might assign to it the word “justice.” I do not think for a moment that God relishes the struggle and the hardships, the cruelty and the violence waged on His people and experienced by His people. There was and has always been a solution to the problems we face in life. Solution is trusting and believing in the sovereignty of God and seeking to love Him first above all else. It is when our eyes, our heart and our mind take time to consider our own solutions that we experience the greatest trouble. Have we spent time seeking out the instruction of God in His Word? Have we spent time in prayer abiding by the Holy Spirit who communicates the truth between God and humanity?

One of the elements of this communication we may miss in the heart of laments is the “listening” factor. There is little doubt that Jeremiah is aware of his surroundings as he provides a journal of the experience. It includes his view of it all and the impact the enemy has had on the land, the people, the city, the Temple and the nation as a whole. Throughout his commentary and statements of faith are included the prophetic words which look to the future. The word prophecy is often misunderstood as “seeing the future.” True prophecy is not a look into the crystal ball, casting lots, turning cards or murmuring some incantation intended to control the gods and entice them to reveal themselves and the future. Rather, prophecy is truth-telling and laying out before the listeners the consequences of right and wrong in real time events. Such prophetic words are the result of listening to the Word of God. Some things become obvious and serve as warnings of obvious truths such as “if you walk outside in the rain, you will get wet.” That is not prophetic. That is common sense. But those words given against the backdrop of looking back at not following wise counsel and understanding the truth of the path into danger which resulted are prophetic. Only God can see the course of every person. God offers course corrections, such as in the story of Balaam’s ass. There are times when God executes interventions such as the deliverance of Israel from her enemies with unexpectedness. There are times when God sounds the warning of letting His people choose their own course and allows that choice to run its course; as in Pharaoh ordering the death of all first born in Israel after being told his own word would come back to him. It is and the first born of Egypt were struck down while God intervened with the blood of the Lamb over the doorways of all who believed the word of the Lord. We even see it in the course of life for Judas of Kerioth whose desire for justice and vindication became treachery and a death sentence for himself. There is even Peter who was told he would deny His allegiance to the Lord he loved three times before the rooster crowed the breaking of dawn. The word of prophecy is spoken whether we listen to it or not. The word of prophecy is heard because God does not keep secrets. He may speak with a roaring fire and a mighty earthquake. He will also speak in a still, small voice.

It is with this in mind that I believe Jeremiah laments expressing the simple truth “Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins?” While they may never admit it, even the most hardened criminal knows what they did was wrong. What they do is attempt to justify the wrong with an intention to meet their definition of justice. It is not our definition of justice that really matters. It is God’s sense of justice that will win out. Are we aware of God’s sense of justice, mighty ones of God? Are we listening to the word of God that is spoken to us and discerning its message of correction, instruction and prophetic conclusion? We can’t really do that without the presence of the Holy Spirit given the freedom to search us out so that we may be whole again.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.