The prophet spoke of coming judgment upon Judah; of the Lord’s working in their lives to draw them to Himself; of His prophets and their continued messages of repentance. But the people would not consider the past and listen to the words of the Lord; they would not return to following the Lord. “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for our souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention’’” (Jeremiah 6.16-17). They blatantly refused to listen; they deliberately rejected the Lord and replaced His truth with their idle idolatries; they turned from walking in the ancient paths of righteousness for the muddy roads of their sinful desires; they neglected the Lord’s peace and rest for the weary attempts at fulfillment and satisfaction; they refused to hear the trumpet for the blaring sounds of their stagnant sins which only provided them with unending dissatisfaction.
The people refused to walk in the ways of the Lord and refused to listen to His Word. Has not the Lord continued to reach out to us through His Word; does He not still desire for us to respond to His Spirit and follow Him; has He not shown us through His Word the warnings of judgment to come; has He not told us of blessings which come from obedience? Do we listen; do we pay attention; do we walk in His ways? Or do we selfishly turn to make decisions based on what we think is right, what makes sense to us in our sinful conclusions, or what fits with our selfish desires; do we daily live in obliviousness to the will of God as we seek to meaninglessly satisfy ourselves with what will not satisfy? May we firmly resolve to “walk” in His ways and “pay attention” to His Word, knowing He alone is able to give us true purpose in life, full peace, and lasting hope for today and eternity.
Being given God’s Word – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 