“ During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. 7 I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 3:6-10 NIV
Father God of Israel and Judah,
Jeremiah spoke to Jerusalem and Judah just as the Lord told him to and he did not mellow the message. God even compares the two Kingdoms to two bad sisters who had rebelled. To Israel he gave what would seen to be the worst judgement. He divorced her. But then he says Judah in spite of this warning has continued to behaved just the same. Or was it worse to You? She pretended to return to You, God with all her heart.
It is hard work pretending to be what you are not. More than often it is the eyes that give it away. Smiles that don’t reach the eyes, Avoidance when not speaking the truth. Jesus said as much. He said the eyes are the lamp of the body and if the eyes are healthy, the whole body will be full of light. But if the eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness (Matthew 6:22,23).
There was no pretense in Jesus life and no darkness. Just pure light and eternal life. Help us be honest with ourselves and You so our eyes are clear and full of light. That we may be known as honest and open and trustworthy. And at peace with ourselves, and You, God warts and all as they say.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 9th August 2025
God of grace I turn my face to You, I cannot hide
My nakedness, my shame, my guilt, are all before Your eyes
Striving and all anguished dreams in rags lie at my feet
And only grace provides the way for me to stand complete
And Your grace clothes me in righteousness
And Your mercy covers me in love
Your life adorns and beautifies
I stand complete in You
Lyrics: Chris Bowater