Take Warnings From God Seriously

The entire book of Jeremiah was built around warnings from God. In chapter 21, the Babylonians had the city of Jerusalem completely surrounded. And the message delivered to the king from God was not an encouraging one.

This is what the Lord says to the dynasty of David: “Give justice each morning to the people you judge! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Otherwise, my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.”  Jeremiah 21:12

In this chapter, Jeremiah issued two warnings from God. Our verse for today is the second warning. The first one came from a request by the king asking for help.

Please speak to the Lord for us and ask him to help us. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking Judah. Perhaps the Lord will be gracious and do a mighty miracle as he has done in the past. Perhaps he will force Nebuchadnezzar to withdraw his armies. Jeremiah 21:2

Zedekiah was the king of Judah at the time and is listed as an evil king. God did not help them. In fact, God said He would fight against Judah if they didn’t surrender.

The Warnings of God Included their Surrender

Messages like the following one made Jeremiah very unpopular with the people of Judah.

• I will make your weapons useless against the king of Babylon
• I will bring your enemies right into the heart of this city.
• He said, I myself will fight against you with a strong hand and a powerful arm,
• I will send a terrible plague upon this city, and both people and animals will die.
• I will hand over King Zedekiah, his staff, and everyone else in the city who survives the disease, war, and famine.
• He continued, I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their other enemies. He will slaughter them and show them no mercy, pity, or compassion.’ Jeremiah 21:4-7

The Lord went on to say whoever surrenders to the Babylonians will live. Their reward will be life! The city though will not stand.

For I have decided to bring disaster and not good upon this city, says the Lord. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will reduce it to ashes. Jeremiah 21:10

A Second Warning

Then seemingly out of nowhere different warnings continued from God. This next warning, directed to the kings who were decedents of David, addressed how they needed to care for people.

• This is what the Lord says to the dynasty of David:
• Give justice each morning to the people you judge!
• Help those who have been robbed;
• Rescue them from their oppressors.
• Otherwise, my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins. Jeremiah 21:12

Fire is a great tool for things like cooking, heating, and other productive things. But God, though used its destructive qualities .

And I myself will punish you for your sinfulness, says the Lord. I will light a fire in your forests that will burn up everything around you. Jeremiah 21:14

The consequences of the warnings God gave in the book of Jeremiah lasted 70 years. We can also see similar warnings from God. But our rewards or consequences will last for all eternity.

Applications to Jeremiah’s Message

• God told Judah to surrender to the enemy to continue living.
• He tells us to surrender to Him for eternal life.

• God told Judah if they surrendered to the enemy He would reward with their lives.
• He tells us to surrender to Him for eternal life.

• If, however Judah chose to fight, Babylon would win showing them no mercy, pity, or compassion.
• He told us that we are more than conquerors through him who loves us.

• God told the kings of Judah to have compassion for the outcast.
• Jesus told us when we help the outcast, it’s the same as giving unto Him.

The bottom line in living an effective Christian life must be rooted in the words of Jesus. John recorded them in his gospel.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35

Checkout out these two related posts on warning.

• An Important Warning About A Rebellious Heart Against God
• A Valuable Warning From Peter; Never Twist God’s Word

Lord, You have warned us plenty of times in your Word of the consequences when disobeying you. Help us dear God to heed your warnings.

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