Indelible sin

Jeremiah 17:1-11

The final section of the previous chapter had introduced a glorious prospect of hope and restoration for the future in Israel. Jeremiah’s ministry was undoubtedly a sad and tragic one as far as the present and near-term was concerned. Apostasy and sin had so prevailed in national life as to make judgement inevitable and inescapable. He was not even to pray for the nation as such, although as he continued to preach there was hope for penitent individuals.

Yet while judgement lay ahead, on the other side of that lay a glorious restoration, 16:14-15 that would eclipse event the exodus from Egypt and the subsequent conquest of Canaan.

I  JUDGEMENT IS THE INEVITABLE FRUIT OF INDELIBLE SIN.

1. Their sin was deeply marked. Several natural illustrations are used to demonstrate who deeply engrained in them and in the life of the nation sin was. It was indelibly written! Where sin is so etched and its record not erased judgement must follow. Cp Is 43:25, Acts 3:19.
2. Where sin was engraved. It was seen:
3. In their hearts. It was written into their nature ad being. This was the law of their life!
4. In their worship. The horns of the altar were highly symbolic. Ordinarily they were often marked by the blood of sacrifice and indicated the power of the blood to appeal for the pardon of the guilty. Their worship was however of the very opposite character! Sin was not atoned for but advertised and God was in fact powerfully appealed to for judgement and condemnation! Wicked men little think that their worship has such an impact. Cp 1Pet 1:18.
5. The consequences of sin were coming, v3-4. Various aspects of what lay ahead are again underlined. They would be displaced and driven out; pillaged and spoiled; given up to their wicked practices and sin; face eternal fire. The temporal miseries of captivity etc were only the precursor to eternal consequences. Cp Deut 32:22

II  A QUESTION OF FAITH.

Facing the message of sin and judgement that Jeremiah preached there arose the question of whether or not to believe him as a messenger of God and act accordingly in faith and repentance to seek the Lord.

1. Cursing and blessing. In stark terms these are the two options they faced. Depending on how they responded, what they believed, one or other of these would certainly come. Cp Deut 30:19.
2. Either experience of God depended on what was believed. Jeremiah highlights an interesting truth here. There is a faith that saves and a faith that damns. The sole difference is the basis of that faith.
3. Faith that rests in human resources, v5-6. The human response to sin, a human remedy to sin and judgement, is the basis of faith here. It shows itself in further sin and rebellion against God and ends in wrath.
4. Faith that rests in Divine provision, v8. Here the Lord Himself is trusted. A fruitful life is the consequence. Cp Ps 1:1-3. The man who trusts the Lord remains so even in the times when judgement falls on the nation.

III   MAN’S NATURAL DELUSION AFFECTS THESE VITAL MATTERS.

In dealing with the issues of sin, judgement, faith etc, the sinner is profoundly disabled by a deceitful heart. His heart deceives him at every point! Here is what persuades men to trust what can never save them and to refuse the reality of Divine wrath on their sin.

1. The desperately wicked and deluded state of the human heart. This is what the heart is by nature. It is infinitely wicked and deceitful. No human measure can plumb its depths! Nothing but deceit originates in the heart. Cp Matt 15:19, Prov 28:26. You dare not trust your own heart in spiritual matters.
2. The heart is examined and known by God. He tests and examines the heart. Looking beyond the outside he sees the true state of the man. Nothing can be hidden from Him.
3. Chief delusions debunked. Several popular delusions with which men deceive themselves are exposed and refuted here.
4. There are no consequences to sin. But there are! God Himself will see to this!
5. There is prosperity in sin. Sin cannot prosper in the end. It may seem to do so for a while but men’s hearts blind them to the end, v11. Cp 5:31, Ps 73:16-20.