My Name Is

When reading from Jeremiah and the 12 Minor prophets we see the children of Israel and Judah sinning against God. Their wickedness was prevalent as Jeremiah 1:16 states

“And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.”

I can relate to “worshipped the works of their own hands”. This is life in the world we live in, the capitalistic society where it is all about what you can do or the value you provide to your employer. Look what I did!   Look at me.  Just recently, the US Women's Soccer team won the World Cup, one of the players yells out "I deserve this".  She looks like a little child when she says it, someone who forgot to grow up.  Wickedness at its finest.  

Jeremiah was born into the home of the Priest Hilkiahin the city of Anathoth in the Land of Benjamin. There is mention of Hilkiah in 2 Kings, but we can’t be 100% for sure these are the same two priests. The historical relevance adds no value to this story. 

Jeremiah was chosen by God before entering his mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5) to confront the people in their wickedness.  Jesus says he will be sanctified and ordained a prophet. Jeremiah’s response is classic, I am only a child, I can’t speak to these people.  Jesus says, Jeremiah speak what I tell you but do not be dismayed by the looks on their faces. 

The other day while walking Megatron in the neighbourhood, a man was staring intently at my dog that was sniffing around his yard. He had his arms on his hips with a stern look. I called to Megatron to leave his yard and thankfully he followed. We walked away but the man kept staring at me. 

I asked, from about 30 yards away, do you have a problem with me or my dog? He looked at me saying “what did you say”? I said do you have a problem. He looked at me in disgust and walked away. A few days later, I was walking Megatron and he drove by beeping his horn. The squirrels and birds are on high alert, no going to the bathroom in this man’s yard.  

Fast forward to Chapter 16:9 where Jesus tells Jeremiah that all the celebrations and joy will be gone as well as the voice of God and Jesus will be silent. The title of this blog is taken from Jeremiah 16:21:

“Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The Lord.”

What a great line to say to Jeremiah “my name is ‘The Lord’”. “The Lord” is my name. Jeremiah did all that could be done for the wicked people during this time. In fact, Jeremiah writes in 51:60:

“So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon”

Jeremiah wrote in a book about evils that will come upon Babylon. Crazy huh. I wonder if this book was Lamentations which is to “Lament” or with grief or sorrow. Jeremiah writes in the last verse in Lamentations 5:22: 

“But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.”

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to bring about repentance which in this case failed. This is the history of the Jewish people who failed to follow the teachings of the Torah or the “Five Books of Moses”. That is why Jesus came to die on the cross, “the Law” was unprofitable where wickedness and sin ruled their lives. God knows everybody from the womb. Does He know you? His name is “The Lord”.  Jesus would like to talk with you.  Are you ready to listen.