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September 1 THE SWORD OF THE LORD Read Jeremiah 47-49. "O you sword of the LORD, how long until you are quiet” (Jer. 47:6)! Chapters 46 to 51 of Jeremiah consist of messages addressed to the nations: “The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the nations” (Jer. 46:1). Jeremiah appears to stand before Jerusalem whirling the sword of the Lord, pointing it first at this nation and then at another. He points it in every direction whirling it in an ever increasing radius as it turns. In chapter 47 the sword point toward the Philistines, Israel’s nearest and bitterest enemy. In spite of this the prophet is moved to pity for them as he pronounces that “waters rise out of the north … overflow the land” (47:1). As so often the case the problem is in the pride of the people. “How long will you cut yourselves” (47:55)? And instead turning from the cause of their problems they cry out against the sword of the Lord that points out their problem, “O you sword of the LORD, how long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, rest and be still!” The prophet can only answer, “How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge” (47:7)? It cannot be quiet, for it is the righteousness of God that condemns pride. It can no more be denied than the laws of creation. This is a difficult lesson to learn. Pride turns the one who has it away from the Lord. Willfulness brings on its own punishment because our Maker and Redeemer is righteous. The sword was put in its sheath at the Cross only to immediately appear again for the believer in order to teach him how to live in righteousness and to guide him into the New Jerusalem. These words were spoken from the natural city of Jerusalem to bring the child of God into the heavenly City. Prayer: “I am grateful for the sword of the Lord. It turns me from willful pride to a walk in righteousness and harmony with You. Amen.” Evening Reading: Job 40:1-42:17 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Psalms 45:1-17 Proverbs 22:14 |
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