"The Past...echoes The Future"...a Gleaning from Jeremiah

The prophet Jeremiah was a priest who lived in Judea. He lived in the 600's...the B.C. era. Jeremiah was "one of those guys" who had the boldness in his personality to "tell it the way it really is". yet, the people of Judea and Israel didn't want to hear it. Instead, they just wanted to hear "pretty stuff"...about their present situations and their future.

 Hear lies a problem when a people of any culture gets "an attitude" like that. First, people in that frame of mind don't see the inadequacies within their own standards. They totally disregard they might need improvement on moral, social, or other ethical issues within their society that may be contributors to the breakdown of their way of life.
 Second, when a people get to where all they want is to hear "sweet and pretty" things about themselves regardless of how they are treating each other or those around them, they tend to welcome anything that states they are "good", their lives are fine, and they deserve a bright future. ...even if what they  perceive of themselves are not true...but rather pure lies. 

 This is what Jeremiah was facing...but Jeremiah "kept it coming". Jeremiah desired to obey God and speak the Truth of what God relayed to him...whether it sound good or bad.
 Even in Jeremiah's day, he spoke of things which would not "win a popularity contest", but Jeremiah also trusted in a God that would bring things together in a good way for His people...in this case years after Jeremiah had passed.

 In chapter 32 of Jeremiah, the prophet is in prison. Zedekiah was king of Judea and had been for approximately 10 years.
 Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had been ruling for about 18 years and now had his army encircled around Jerusalem.
 King Zedekiah didn't like the message Jeremiah was proclaiming, so he had Jeremiah put in prison. Actually, it was a place referred to as the "Soldier's Yard" and was adjacent to the King's palace. I imagine that although King Zedekiah didn't want to hear what Jeremiah was saying...  if "all hell broke lose" God's spokesman would be nearby....just in case Zedekiah needed direction. ( Isn't it odd how we keep a Bible around the house...never really open it...unless there be a catastrophe or something devastating happens....then we kind of "cherry-pick" what we want to read because we don't have a clue what we are doing.)

 The Lord had spoke through the prophet Jeremiah and said He is giving Jerusalem over to the power and control of King Nebuchadnezzar. And, King Zedekiah of Judea would not escape from capture. In fact, Zedekiah would be soon on his way....to Babylon. Jeremiah's instructions from the Lord were: NOT to fight against the soldiers of Babylon...it would actually go better for them if they did  just "laid low" and let the takeover be done with minimal resistance.

 Hard times were about to arrive for the Jewish people, and the reason is?....they had completely turned their back on the best friend they had ever had....The Lord God...and to add insult...they were proud of themselves for doing so and delighted with the "progress and development" they had achieved in their own society... without His assistance.
 In chapter 32 of Jeremiah, it describes how Jeremiah ends up purchasing a piece of ground just prior to the Babylon take-over...symbolic that although Israel was about to enter hard times...they would return and have a future...with their hearts returned...to Him.
  Numerous times throughout history you read of Israel repeating these same actions...first they give their hearts to the Lord...then they "kick Him out of their lives" and go on without Him...then they get themselves in a mess...get conquered or something equivalent...then they return and give their hearts once again to Him....and so on and so on.
  Empires, Dynasties, Rulers of massive Kingdoms...they all come and they all go...but He remains. He has not changed, no Kingdom or country has ever overthrown Him, and He remains the same...yesterday...today...and forever.
 So in our society and lifestyles today...are we honoring Him?...or is there a "Babylon" about to arrive? And if there is a "clouded future" for our lives...what is the real reason why? Is it the choices we have made in our modern age of society?...abortions...same sex-marriage...acceptance of all religions as a way to God Himself? Are these the things that has left our God in a position to have to "let us go" and understand the choices we have made...because we have "let go of Him...long ago?" And even if we blow the dust off our Bibles, and begin to read...Does it really make any sense to us...now? Personally I don't really think any of these reasons are the real root causes of God ever "letting us go" as a society....I think it is something else...and the Israelites repeatedly confirm this.
 I think the real root cause to any country or any individual turning away from God can be traced to one sin...the Sin of...Neglect. We just choose to ignore Him...He doesn't really exist...and even if we have "fairy tales" and stories about Him...they are stories we have given Him...and not the actual God as described in the Sacred Scriptures.

 I found it interesting that in Jeremiah 32, the verses target one component as to the Babylon takeover..."the worship of Baal and other gods on their rooftops"...meaning in their own homes. I think this is where the "Sin of Neglect" is most obvious...what we do in our own homes. Baal worship is often thought as worshipping some giant grotesque statue and sacrificing children upon its altar...but that is not exactly true. Yes, there were times people went to those extremes...yet Baal worship can be simply...focused on the material things in this life, self-accomplishments we have done...in this life, or our  hard work and drive causing us to be who we are ...now. So, things like giving a time slot for daily prayer, examining the Sacred Scriptures, or being a comfort to others....these are sacrificed at the "Altar of Baal"...that we might "pursue our dreams"...in the name of...Ourselves.
 When the Babylonian soldiers entered Jerusalem...they went immediately and burned...their homes.....

                            A Gleaning from Jeremiah 32...around verse 26 and a little beyond.....

  God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah once again, and He says: "Listen up! Be alert to this! I AM...everything that concerns you...both then, now, and in your future...it is I who watches over you. When plans I have made for you, or even plans you try and carry out among yourselves...without Me...do you think they are so hard that I cannot repair?...or make things right again?
 Follow these instructions: I AM about to hand over My beloved city Jerusalem...to the pagans, Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. They will enter, take it over, and capture all who live within its very gates. They will enter Jerusalem and burn your very homes! Why? Because it is in your own homes My people have ignored Me, and chose to burn their incense to...Baal...and openly doing so...on their very rooftops. Their offerings include not only to Baal( the material things life has to offer)..but other gods as well (entertaining the "many different ways to have God" in your life).
 The people of Israel and of Judah have chosen their course in life...and it does not include Me. In fact, our relationship has broken down so far now...they think My Laws and Instructions are nothing more than fairy tales or a Book that has served its purpose.
    Yes...they have stirred My Anger.......
                                                     But Wait!!

 ...There will be a day...You will return to Me...and all things will be made right...right between My Beloved...and Me."