“DECLARES THE LORD!”

 Jeremiah 12:14-17                               (ESV)

“[14] THUS SAYS THE LORD concerning all MY evil neighbors who touch the heritage that I have given MY people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I WILL PLUCK THEM UP from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. [15] And after I have plucked them up, I WILL AGAIN HAVE COMPASSION ON THEM, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. [16] And it shall come to pass, IF THEY WILL DILIGENTLY LEARN THE WAYS OF MY PEOPLE, TO SWEAR BY MY NAME, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught MY people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of MY people. [17] But IF ANY NATION WILL NOT LISTEN, THEN I WILL UTTERLY PLUCK IT UP AND DESTROY IT, “DECLARES THE LORD”.”

Hearing people report that “GOD IS LOVE and HE wouldn’t do something like that” let’s me understand that they aren’t familiar with the GOD of THE BIBLE!  Scripture records in Jeremiah 12:14 THUS SAYS THE LORD, letting us know that this is NOT some mans opinion, but unadulterated TRUTH!  HIS WORD is TRUTH and needs to be followed, no matter how uncomfortable it might make some feel.  

It can be comforting to know that GOD tells them that IF THEY WILL DILIGENTLY LEARN THE WAYS OF MY PEOPLE, TO SWEAR BY MY NAME, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught MY people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of MY people!  So GOD PROMISES that if “other nations” will turn to HIM that I WILL AGAIN HAVE COMPASSION ON THEM and bless them.  

But the same GOD WHO PROMISES COMPASSION also explains the consequences of rejecting HIS WORD.  “IF ANY NATION WILL NOT LISTEN, THEN I WILL UTTERLY PLUCK IT UP AND DESTROY IT, “DECLARES THE LORD”.”  HIS WORD is very plain and WILL BE FULFILLED!  TRUTH is not always comfortable and easy.  When we SEE “DECLARES THE LORD” written at the instruction of THE LORD, you can look forward to SEEING HIS WORD FULFILLED!!!