Hope - Jeremiah 17

Jeremiah 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

It is such a wonderful passage of scripture. It is no wonder that some people go through the storms of life and seem to be unshaken. They are looking not out across the barrenness of a waterless world but at the cool waters of the river of life which began when we are saved and runs through the street of New Jerusalem.

Here in the midst of judgment and with the enemies at the gate and captivity, like a dark cloud overhead, is hope.

v1 "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond; it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;"

But the children have not been taught the commandments and to fear God.

v2 "Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills."

When Israel goes away into foreign countries and are standing naked before other nations, these words will be branded on their hearts to remember why they are no longer in their great nation.

Jeremiah is sent to proclaim the what and why of the events.

v4 "And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not; for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever."

It is not a lite thing the Lord does. He did not just fly over and decide that the nation was doing some things wrong. He searched what was in their heart and saw their intentions.

v9-10 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

So, it is a righteous judgment that is made. It is like the honest person who is caught in a wrong and suffers some consequence : "I deserved that." He says.

The summary is found in verse 13 and should be a reminder and a warning for us all.

v13 "O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters."

Well, I don't know if this is what that means but it does give an example: Israel forsook the LORD and much has been written of their tragic history since that day. The glory of the kingdom and the captivity. Still there is hope for those who trust the LORD.

We should not be too quick to judge Israel, that has been done by the just judge, we should consider that it also applies to an individual life. When we forsake the LORD, we always serve the consequence.