Title: The Blessing of Being Close to God
Blessings of Being Close to God
Jeremiah 44:1-14
Today's text is what God said through Jeremiah to the Jews who went to the land of Egypt in violation of God's command not to go to the land of Egypt after the destruction of Judah. In this verse, the reason for why the land of Judah became desolate is written.
Why? There are four things in today's text.
1. It is because they worshiped a god other than God.
This is the most fundamental reason. Verse 3 is just that. “Because of the evil deeds that aroused my wrath by going out and offering incense to other gods unknown to them or to you or your ancestors…”
In other words, it is because they worshiped other gods than God.
2. It is because you did not obey the Word.
Especially because they have not heard the word against idolatry.
God had sent prophets diligently to turn the people of Judah away and told them not to worship idols, but they did not listen.
3. It's because you didn't follow God's laws.
Verse 10 is just that.
Why didn't you follow God's laws?
According to verse 10, it is because they are not humble and do not have the fear of God.
4. Because they insist on staying in the land of Egypt.
The words in verses 11-14 are just that. Rather than looking for Egypt, which looks good to live in, it is important to have a good relationship with God wherever you are.
For these four reasons, the land of Judah became desolate.
If we think of this backwards, we can find the principle of blessing.
What is the principle of that blessing? Very simple.
1) Serve only God
2) Obedience to God's Word,
3) Maintaining the position of blessing that God has given us.
In a word, it is 'drawing closer to God'.
There are some spiritual lessons related to 'drawing closer to God'.
1. It means that even if you get close to God, you will face many difficult things.
There are times in life when you feel discouraged.
Man's work does not go his own way.
I don't know how many times I have had these experiences in my life.
I did my best, but later I hear complaints.
I risked my life to help, but all I get back is complaints.
I do not know how comforting hymn 364 is each time.
“To bring my Lord closer is like suffering like the burden of the cross…”
Someone was running a business and went bankrupt. How painful is it for a debtor to go bankrupt?
It is said that God's word that we should not bear anything other than the debt of mutual love has come true. The businessman was in so much pain that he went to the reeds to die. But a girl was singing hymn 364, and when she heard the hymn, she changed her mind.
"The road to heaven is rough, but it is the way of life, by grace...
My lifelong wish is to go further to the Lord while always praising."
The way to go further to the Lord is not an easy way.
However, we must not forget that the way is truly the way of life.
2. God delights in our desire to draw closer to God above all else.
Anyone who reads the Bible for the first time, almost without exception, has one question. The question is why did God bless Jacob and not Esau? Esau lived like a man while working, and Jacob lived by tricks. And yet, if he blesses Jacob, who would sweat and work so hard?
However, as my pastoral time increased gradually, I realized why God blessed Jacob. In Genesis 28, Jacob had a dream of a ladder going up to heaven in the most desperate situation on his way to Haran.
Many people fail to dream of God in desperate circumstances.
I think it will, but it doesn't. But in the lonely place of Bethel, he dreamed of God.
Looking at this figure, we can see that he had a genuine attitude to long for God in the depths of his heart. A heart that longs for God in the depths of Jacob's soul! I think God blessed him by seeing his deep spirituality and hidden truth.
We must have the attitude of longing for God in our hearts, and we must have the attitude to dream of God in any situation.
3. The blessings given to those who draw near to God are not a wrapped blessing, but a blessing of possibility, a blessing of reward, and a blessing of opportunity.
God promised in a dream that he would give Jacob the land where he slept (Genesis 28:10-13). But, as it turned out, the land was not fertile, but barren. Why does God bless the barren land? In our opinion, it is not considered a blessing, but God certainly gave the land a blessing.
Here is one principle of blessing. God does not give us good circumstances or good conditions as blessings. He brings the environment of possibility, the conditions of tomorrow as a blessing. So, fighting and overcoming adversity and hardship, and experiencing God's work in the midst of it, makes you realize the grace of God!
I think that is one way of God's blessing. That's right. Even on a difficult thorny road, it is truly a blessing to make good soil in the midst of it, to accumulate rewards through sweat, and to experience God.
4. The greatest blessing given to those who draw near to God is the blessing that is the source of blessings rather than the visible blessings themselves.
Look at the words of God's blessing to Jacob in Genesis 28:14.
“Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and they shall spread to the east, west, north and south.
All peoples of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants."
Here is an important Christian blessing. In other words, I receive the blessing, but the person who enjoys it is someone else.
In other words, I am just a broker who delivers blessings. Living with that attitude makes our blessings more precious.
I hope that by getting closer to God, you can enjoy a blessing posture and become a source of blessings rather than ending.