The Politics of Heaven
“Do not learn the ways of the nations” Jeremiah 10:2
The Politics of Heaven
Do Not Learn – Jeremiah was a prophet of doom. Most of the time, we ignore his message. We love the verse in chapter 29 about “plans to prosper and not to harm you”, but by and large, we don’t read the rest of his warning. We should. Over and over Jeremiah speaks God’s words of impending judgment for a world that has ignored His commands. If we took Jeremiah seriously today, he would be front-page news. Yes, it’s certainly true that Jeremiah pleads with the people of God to come back to Him and receive His grace. But they refuse. Instead of adopting the ways of God, they learn the ways of the nations. And disaster befalls them.
“Do not learn”, says God. Are we listening? Do not learn to deceive someone in your business practice. Do not learn to serve the clock or the paycheck. Do not learn to bend the truth in order to be “tolerant”. Do not learn to value self-fulfillment over service to others? Do not learn to spend your time in anxious worry about tomorrow. Do not learn to seek your own destiny. Do not learn to evaluate yourself according to the opinions of others. Do not learn the deception that what you see it the only reality.
Jeremiah used the Hebrew word lamad. It is very helpful to see that this is the same word David uses in Psalm 119 with the phrase “teach me your statutes, O Lord”. There are some things God does not want you to learn. There are others He is anxious to teach you. When you learn the wrong things, the rest of the book of Jeremiah takes effect. If we paid attention to the right kind of things to learn, life would certainly be more satisfying. I didn’t say “more comfortable”. That’s one of the things we are not to learn. Do not learn that the reason for living is to achieve comfort.
Lamad is more than just accumulating information. It is a word for training. The world does everything possible to train you in its ways. The media bellows the myth of power and success, beauty and pleasure. The news shouts messages of protection. The government proclaims entitlement. On every side we are pressed to learn the ways of the nations. God’s warning is our only lifeline.
Who is your teacher today?
(It might be worthwhile to take another look at May 31 and June 1)
