The Collection
You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth. Jeremiah 7:28 NASB
Perished – What happens to a society that does not obey the voice of the Lord? Jeremiah gives us a list—a collection of behaviors and consequences that characterize a godless people. Since we have the prophet’s symptoms of a deep spiritual disease, we should be able to take our own biblical temperature and see if we are sick. So put on your medical gloves and get ready for an exam.
Here’s the list.
1) Truth is destroyed. The Hebrew word, ʾābad, is a common word for to die. Therefore, the NASB translates it “perish.” But let’s notice something else. The word is connected to both she’ol and qeber (grave). As far as the Tanakh is concerned, this is the end. It’s the final, meaningless extermination of hope. If Truth no longer lives in society, life becomes nothing but survival before collapse. You might as well give it up now. What’s the point of continuing? Where there is no truth, no one can be trusted.
2) The value of life is reduced to nothing. “ . . . when it will no longer be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of the Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place” (Jer. 7:32). But this is not the result of human depravity alone. It is the result of God’s punishment. Of course, men have demonstrated their penchant for destruction of their own species in ways few could imagine, but when the “voice” is not obeyed, other factors enter. Judgment is one of these.
3) Joy ends. Life will not continue as we expect. Death will fill the minds of men and women rather than exuberance over new relationships, new marriages and new children. According to the prophet, joy (śāśôn – rejoicing, laughter, mirth) will be turned into a funeral dirge. Joy is the consequence of truth. Truth is the concomitant of obedience. We can’t get rejoicing without living His way. We can pretend, of course. We’re very good at that. But how deep is “joy” when everything ends at the grave?
4) The land itself will become ruined. Failure to listen and do means that the earth fails too. Disobedience is not merely a human issue. Disobedience results in a total collapse of the environment. Species die. Pollution overwhelms. Life’s fragile balance is disrupted. The world dies with everything in it.
Obedience is life. Disobedience is death—at every level, in every direction. The old story repeats itself. Genesis 6 comes back, with a vengeance.
Topical Index: perish, ʾābad, death, obedience, Jeremiah 7:28
Sorry, Y’all. It seems this didn’t get posted or get send out.
It did not get posted nor sent out yesterday… but now it is… Thanks Mark!
“Obedience is life.”
The Tree of Life in the Eden… could have been named “The Tree of Obedience” as well…
Number “3) Joy ends.”
People live in a state of oblivion… they are unaware of their fate… that is why they behave as if everything is fine… you see parties… you see weddings… you see babies being born… you see travelling… you see people having vacations… drinking… dinning… buying in shopping malls… luxury… cars… movies… sports… social media… politics…
“For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;” Matthew 24:38 NIV
I think that most people that live in “rich” and “developed” countries are still in that stage… but that is only because of the power of money…
I believe we are inextricably linked with all. I believe that must be the essence of our Eden commission. Like it or not, our decisions ARE linked to the algal blooms in the sea that help drive climate (not that I think the climate predictors have it ‘right’ (truth) – no, I think they are way too optimistic: everything collapses at the same rate we do).
We have an ancient example: the Fertile Crescent. Now, why do we call it that? It’s desert today! Why? Environmental collapse, roughly corresponding to the collapse of society in that region. Same with the upper Sahara. Both man-made deserts. Both regions supported the most extensive civilizations of the ancient world; civilizations that collapsed under their own weight.
We are headed for a global collapse, but it won’t be just climate change, according to prophecy. For about 6000 years, give or take a few righteous folks in a few righteous years, the planet has not enjoyed her sabbaths. The Israelites themselves went into captivity to allow the land to “enjoy her sabbaths”. We are tied to the curses associated with all the Commands, and so is our accompanying biome. History is repeating itself one more time. I am preparing to “go into captivity”, myself!
WE MUST PRAY FOR KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, INSIGHT, WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND PROPHETIC REVELATION…..OF THE TRUTH!
More and more my eyes are being opened and, as a result, I’m finding myself increasingly concerned that there are many many things about which I am lacking knowledge, understanding, insight, wisdom, discernment, and prophetic revelation of the truth, as are all my family and my wife’s family of Christian “believers”, as well as all of those of Christianity in general. I’m now seeing that I have been, as are all these others, for far too long and in far too many ways, the blind led by the blind. It is as Isaiah said of those in his days, YHWH’s watchmen have been BLIND and His shepherds have been LACKING DISCERNMENT.
However, I know I cannot simply just point the finger and blame others for my own lack. For too long, I just bought into much of the Christian charismatic and evangelical “gospel of salvation” and mantras of the church, and was just too accepting of being too “dumb and happy” (if I was even happy, though I KNOW I was dumb), and busy being busy “serving God”, because I became too dependent upon other leaders for my own knowledge and discernment of the truth. Not enough to stay in the fold of Christianity, however, thanks to YHWH my Redeemer!
I now realized that to a very great extent, I had actually been too busy being busy serving those leaders and too much serving their own kingdoms and the kingdom of Christianity rather than truly serving YHWH and His kingdom. I had missed the mark, which is knowing YHWH, Yeshua, the Great High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, the Messiah of Israel, being in His royal priesthood, and living according to His Covenant Torah, and NOT just being “a radical Christian”.
Isaiah said of Israel’s irresponsible leaders, “All you beasts of the field, come to eat, all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are all BLIND. All of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, dreamers lying down, lovers of slumber, and the dogs are greedy—they never have enough.They are shepherds with NO DISCERNMENT. They have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.” [Isa 56:10-11]
“For although you ought to be teachers by this time, again you need someone to teach you the basics of God’s sayings. You have come to need milk, not solid food. For anyone living on milk is inexperienced with the teaching about righteousness—he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who through practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil.” [Heb 5:11-14]
WE MUST PRAY FOR KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, INSIGHT, WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND PROPHETIC REVELATION…..OF THE TRUTH!
Amen, Jerry!
Sorry, but I just gotta talk out some more things here about this, if that’s ok……see if it resonates with others…..(read it if you want, if not, fine, I don’t mind)
I’m seriously dumbfounded! People are spiritually blind AND they don’t WANT to see the truth! They think they have it all covered. I’m talkin’ about “believers”, “Christians”! They want to think they are doing so great and doing such great things as “believers”, “serving the Lord”, or just being people who “love” others so much and all, and they’re fine with our differences in belief and practice of worship. They’re so happy in their delusion that they’re all just fine being “saved” and “filled with the Spirit”, “forgiven” and “goin’ to heaven”, and “worshiping the Lord” and all. And they’re all so positive with their “It’s all good” attitudes and philosophies and their tolerance of everything, they’re so “non-judgmental” and all (Except the political crap! THAT stuff they’ll be really vocal about and wantin’ to expose the crap out of the opposing political party and their leaders and all – jumpin’ all up on THAT band wagon with the “Christian” political talk show hosts and all, gettin’ so “bold” and “truthful”, “tellin’ it like it is” when it comes to politics and being all pro-Christian and all!).
Meanwhile, “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Easter”, and “Trunk or Treat” for Halloween, too, for that matter. But exhorting them to keep the 7th day Sabbath and the Feast Days? Speaking against eating bacon, decorating Christmas trees, and worshiping at a sunrise service on “Easter” morning, and celebrating “New Year’s Day”? Don’t rain on THAT parade! It’s unbelievable how much deception and blindness there is and people don’t want to have their faith questioned or their beliefs challenged. I was told by two family member to change the line of my conversation and one of them warned me that I was creating a wall and that we should just focus on the things we have in common. Sounds like truth compromising ecumenicalism, to me!
Many years ago they were so concerned about my sinful lifestyle and wanted me to get saved. Now they don’t want to hear the Spirit of Prophecy reproving them of their sinful, pagan practices, and calling them to repentance and a greater life of righteousness in keeping with Torah, and they just want to be comfortable in their routine religious lifestyles and security with all their like-minded, religious friends.
Yet I’m also concerned we also lack discernment ourselves some of the time and don’t heed the admonition of Shaul who said, “Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” [Eph 5:11] Solomon requested of YHWH, “So give Your servant a mind of understanding to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil—for who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” And he said, “Those who forsake Torah praise the wicked, but those who keep Torah contend with them.” [Pro 28:4] King David said, “From Your precepts I get discernment, therefore I hate every false way.” [Psa 119:104]
So I’m told to change my line of conversation but I say, like the apostles Peter and John said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. For (I) we cannot stop speaking about what (I) we have seen and heard.” And like Jeremiah said, “It’s like a fire shut up in my bones.”
Maybe a word of comfort will help…
Yeshau said it is not He that will judge but there is one that will accuse… Moses.
If we want to measure righteousness or good and bad it is the laws that determine right or wrong.
If we want to measure life it is ours that we measure against how others act. Not to say we are better but to prepare ourselves to be more righteous than the Pharisees…
Have a blessed week.
Oh, but Messiah does judge and so are we to judge. And our judgement is to be just, even as His judgment is just.
Joh_5:22 The Father does not judge anyone, but has handed over all judgment to the Son
Joh_5:27 Also He has given the Son authority to judge, because He is the Son of Man.
Joh_5:30 I can do nothing on My own. Just as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, for I do not seek My own will, but the will of the One who sent Me.”
1Co_6:3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more the matters of this life!
The “righteousness of the Pharisees” was that they were hypocrites. So yes, we are to look to ourselves first, remove the log from our own eye, so then we may see clearly to remove the speck out of another’s.
The “comfort” comes when the word that has gone forth accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent. We are not to seek our own comfort but the esteem of YHWH, even if it means to travail in intercession until we see His justice roll like a river!
“I hate, I despise your festivals! I take no delight in your sacred assemblies. Even if you offer me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I look at peace offerings of your fattened animals. Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing torrent.” [Amo 5:21-24]
As I understand it, He hated THEIR festivals and assemblies because they were doing them irreverently. It’s not THE festivals He hates but the way they were disrespecting them and God at that time. God expects us to come with clean hands and hearts when we come before Him.
Of course He despised their festivals because of their syncretizing their worship of Him with their idolatrous ways re: their religious practices and other gods, just like Christianity with its syncretism in their festivals of Christmas and Easter, even New Years and some even celebrating Halloween. This should not be and must be exposed and forsaken, or His judgement will increase until He gets His way!
“Did you bring sacrifices and offerings to Me in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? But you lifted up your images—Siccuth your ‘king’, and Chiun, your star gods—which you made for yourselves…” [Amo 5:25-26]
Thank you for a well thought through and clear response.
I still believe the judging is not our role as followers as we can only judge when we eat of the tree of good or evil. When we eat of the tree of life we are participants of events not spectators that tend to judge.
I once read an ancient proverb that says we can only judge another when we have walked in his shoes for at least two months…
We may not be able to judge someone’s intentions, their motives, or their eternal destiny, but certainly we can judge many things between what is righteous and unrighteous, as we do have the plumb line of His Word. Some things are difficult to judge, that is true. Nevertheless, if He judges and His judgments are just, then we must judge also, making sure that our judgments are also just, for He has given us His Spirit and His Word, and He has instructed us that we are to be like Him and walk as He walked.
Concerning many things, we know what He has commanded us to do, and when someone says they believe in Him and yet walk in the darkness, then we who have seen the light must shine the light of truth on the matter, that they may truly see the way, the path of life. Unfortunately, there are some, even family members, even those who know some things of Messiah and His kingdom, who have even shown some evidence of faith and speak the testimony of the faith, yet still walk in darkness and have evil deeds.
We may not want to think that some of their deeds, or even our deeds for that matter, are evil, but what should we call such deeds as disobeying even any of His “10 commandments”, such as having gods before Him, taking His name in vain, not keeping the 7th day devoted to Him, not doing the things that the pagan nations do in the worship of their gods? Is not evil that which is contrary to His revealed will? Is it only KNOWINGLY disobeying His instructions, or is it also unknowingly disobeying His Torah.
We maybe cannot judge whether it is done knowingly or unknowingly, but certainly we can judge whether or not it is done or not done, especially if one admits it, i.e. celebrating holidays that are pagan or eating swine, etc.. The difficult thing for me to have to accept is that my loved ones, who even helped me come to some knowledge of Messiah and His Word, will not continue further on the path of light and truth, because apparently they love at least some of the darkness more than some of the light and they don’t want their deeds exposed. They have not received a love of the TRUTH, they choose to compromise, they accept being lukewarm. I don’t understand it. It is difficult to accept. How people can refuse to see and receive the light of truth and walk in it. This phenomenon is called the “MYSTERY OF INIQUITY”.
“For the mystery of lawlessness (iniquity) is already operating; only there is one who holds back just now, until he is taken out of the way.” [2Th 2:7]
“Now this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and men loved the darkness instead of the light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. But whoever practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be made known that his deeds have been accomplished in God.” .[Joh 3:19-21]
“Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
“Those who forsake Torah praise the wicked, but those who keep Torah contend with them.”
Good morning Jerry and Lisa, I know how frustrating it can get as I’ve experienced the same issues over the years and in large part, deal with family and friends that are convinced of the very things you speak of here. I copied and pasted these 2 verses you posted here because they really are the key to our response in dealing with, not only believers, but unbelievers as well. There’s another verse that is relevant to this as well and it’s, “woe to the nation that calls good evil and evil good.” It’s not that they think that doing evil is good, it’s that they actually think that the evil activity they are engaged in is actually, truly, good. Just remember that when it comes down to it, most of that is accomplished by training, not cognitive will. While I understand that it doesn’t excuse them, consider a woman or man in an abusive environment. More often than not, even if relieved of that situation, they will stay or return to it because security of the known, no matter how bad, is preferred to the insecurity of the unknown. But, that’s what a constant barrage of demeaning does to a heart and soul. So take heart in the fact that it’s by doing good (keeping Torah) that we contend ( those who keep Torah contend with them) and that it’s God’s ways that are blessed, not ours. The blessings are benefitted to us and others as we walk accordingly. One of the most difficult things I experience is seeing the “shortness” of the times we live in and realizing that we are actually in a marathon. (on steroids) But God!!
It’s far easier to judge and condemn than to seek mercy and compassion on others, especially when we know the truth. If you have any doubt of that, go down to your local courtroom and see how the “winners” respond. We’re called to a higher place than that, we’re to be a light to those in darkness. If the light aggravates another, it’s on them. We can’t afford to make our hands unclean by engaging in darkness ourselves.
“Take no part in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” How do we expose them? Walk in the light.
Certainly we must walk the talk. That’s very true and the priority and prerequisite to having the right and authority to have anything to say! But we also MUST talk of the walk. This is not about being self-righteous and “judgmental”. It’s about being a faithful prophetic messenger and ambassador of reconciliation.
“I solemnly charge you—in the presence of God and Messiah Yeshua, who is about to judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom—proclaim the Word! Be ready when it is convenient or inconvenient. Confront, rebuke, encourage—with complete patience and instruction.” [2Ti 4:1-2]
And that seems to be a problem for us. We either don’t do any better than the ones we complain about and so we lack the authority in our speaking, or we do live righteously but don’t want to wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of YHWH, because it often causes division. Yet how will they know the truth unless it is heard and how can it be heard unless it is proclaimed? No. We must confront, rebuke, AND encourage! We must speak “negative” truth and not just comfort and encouragement. The “Christian church” majors in comforting. The problem is that it comforts people to death!
It is frustrating, and I don’t think there is any solution for it but to feel what He feels and to be faithful to Him and His cause, and that is often how He feels. FRUSTRATED. And he, and those who intercede in His name, will feel until all things are restored.
“And answering, Yeshua said, ‘O faithless and twisted generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?'” [Mat 17:17]
Just encouraging you to move forward in compassion as opposed to condemnation. There’s someone who said, I didn’t come to judge the world, but to save it. We often start out right and then wake up one day and realize we’re on the wrong side of that fence. I’m certainly not writing this to you in order to “correct” or judge you or your walk. Only encouraging compassion, and understanding of what we’re up against. It would do us all good to step back and evaluate “why” we do what we do and how we do it as well. Often the differences are a subtle thing and they’re certainly issues of the heart. YHWH bless you and keep you……
I hear you. And of course there is much truth in what you say, in a general sense. Thanks.
However, at the same time, this seems to be the very same position that is so commonly expressed by people whose “faith” has been so steeped in the lukewarmness and compromise of Christianity concerning the “TRUTH”, even about, say, “the gospel” itself, which is not just about forgiveness, salvation, and going to heaven but also about His kingdom, His Spirit being given, and the kingdom of heaven coming to earth by us living in obedience to YHWH and the Torah, itself, and not just some spiritual “magic”. Even those in the “Messianic, Hebrew Roots Movement”, able to confront and rebuke biblical ideas, but when it comes to doing so interpersonally, automatically the fluffy “puppy dog love” gets turned on and starts coming out in “protection” mode, and calling people “Pharasees”, “self-righteous” and “judgmental” if someone does “confront, rebuke, and encourage” regarding Torah life.
So, may I ask, how do you think you’re doing, in all the compassion and patience that you seek to have, with then “confronting, rebuking, and encouraging” others regarding the ways that they are living that are obviously contrary to Torah, despite their own profession of “faith” and being “followers of Messiah”?
Do you speak to others as boldly as the Word speaks to you, provided you have rightly responded to the conviction of His Spirit within yourself first and have repented and are bearing lasting fruit in those matter about which you have been convicted and repented?
Do you speak to them with the same fervency and fiery spirit of truth as the apostles and the prophets, and as the Messiah Himself?
Because then, if not, how can we say we truly love them if we are only going to be “compassionate” but then leave them in their lies, deception, and sin. Would not their blood be on your hands, too?
Why do so many ,who say they follow Messiah, want to be that way? Maybe it’s because they don’t want anybody else to confront and rebuke them.
How do I think I’m doing? Well, beins’ ya asked. Firstly, I’m not sure whether it’s up to me to determine “how” I’m doing, where the weight is, is what I’m doing as I walk in covenant and in the kingdom. You speak of a fluffy love, steeped in compromise but that’s not the love of God and never has been. Neither is the forcible conversion of others. Step back and take a look at the Christian nation we grew up in, “biblical” morality was expected and enforced whether you were a believer or not. Did that convert anyone? It would seem that they have only bided time until the pendulum swung in the other direction. Is rebuke nessecary, of course, in it’s time and place, but to speak boldly isn’t the same as loudly. No ones compromising here, and the other end of it is this. I struggle,as others, because I live in Babylon. Sometimes it hurts so much I can hardly breath. I stumble, falter and fail but God gives strength. Some that I engage with step over, others are indifferent and some are downright hostile. I have to chose to represent God and love them as He does, I don’t know the end.
Dear Jerry and Lisa,
Thank you for your sense of duty! It is much needed! But I don’t think the question is whether we need to represent the truth (we do); but HOW,. and to whom. You identified the “whom” as those that are living in ways “obviously contrary to Torah, despite their own profession of “faith” and being “followers of Messiah”. Well, would that be by your definition, or theirs, or your definition of their definition?
I think the how problem becomes that of boundaries (free will) and community (in action; not just profession). The only ones we can make a real difference with are the ones we are actually touching (community) but without violating free will (boundaries). That would include the boundaries of heaven, too, for we cannot, in zeal, take over the offices of the Saviour or the Comforter (convictor). If we are neither saving or convicting, then what are we doing? I read the Great Commission as a call to witness; that is to say, willing to put my life on the witness stand for the truth. This is hard, because every bone in my body wants to hide!
As I am not currently in a community of faith (this community is the closest that I have), I do not know about the burden I think I see you describing. My burden is witnessing to all species and flavors of unbeliever, nominal believer (the hardest to speak to) and just downright atheist or pagan. Very different. I am very interested to learn more about your challenges, however, and hope this conversation can continue, as it is important. Thank you for caring!
I can only give you (if it will help at all) the other view of this. I have written about growing up as a believer – an earnest one – but, due to a series of miserable choices and circumstances, my family ended up on the ‘wrong’ side of that community. I won’t go into the details again, but I remember feeling ‘on the outside’ – a pariah – that others pointed and whispered about, and their children tortured and rejected. I remember wishing that someone could set everything right again; could ride in on a white horse and help my parents fix the problem, instead of retreat into frozen denial and, for my mama, a probable form of psychosis. I ended up sick in head and body, but the world is cruel, and there is no one, I found, who stands in a position to take responsibility for the question “what is wrong?”. I saw everyone scurry for cover. What would you have done?
I see sin as the great separator that puts us all in ditches. The world has a curious way of responding to ditch dwellers. It is more honest about why they are there (for the world is in a ditch, too), but its response is to ‘tolerate’ the problem, as it has no solution. I had an easier time out in that cruel world than in the church that did not solve the problem because I needed honest feedback, which the world, because it had nothing to lose, gave me. The church just pretended nothing was wrong. That was killing me! I also needed someone who could come alongside and help me back out of the tight spot I found myself in, but neither the church or the world, I noticed , did anything but give excuses for why I could not be touched.
There is no question people need the truth, but, what truth do they need? Bible verses? Nope. I realized, the decades I spent in the world, that the Bible was written for believers. It is a closed book to the world. BUT, I think most believers are not sinning because they do not ‘know’ the truth of the words in that Book, either, so therefore only rarely have I seen a Bible study stop sin. The question becomes, what truth does a sinning person need?
So I am asking you to answer the question: “how do you respond to a sinner (someone fractured from God, themselves and others)? How do you reach out and change the life of someone who is suffering from the trauma (curses?) of sin?” I see that the people in my family all ended up in various degrees of PTSD. I have a passion for studying that disorder now because of my years of suffering. I now suspect the answer to my question about helping sinners is also the answer to the question “how do you heal PTSD?” because all fracture, as Skip has written about in the past, causes trauma, which must be addressed. But, as I am still studying, I welcome all help! Thank you in advance.
It’s far less frustrating when you embrace the fact that YOU are not called to fix the world. You are called to make a difference in the tiny slice of the world that God brings before you. That’s it. Fix what’s in front of you. Play your small part. He will attend to the rest.
Totally agree. Unfortunately, it IS trying to fix my small part that is still frustrating. Please don’t tell me now, Skip, you are saying that you can’t relate? I will laugh…..hard.