God Calls Us "My People"
Scripture Passage: Jeremiah 4:11-22 (NASB)
11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A scorching wind from the bare heights in the wilderness, in the direction of the daughter of My people—not to winnow and not to cleanse, 12 a wind too strong for this—will come at My command; now I will also pronounce judgments against them.”
13 “Behold, he goes up like clouds,
And his chariots like the whirlwind;
His horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us, for we are ruined!”
14 Wash your heart from evil, Jerusalem,
So that you may be saved.
How long will your wicked thoughts
Lodge within you?
15 For a voice declares from Dan,
And proclaims wickedness from Mount Ephraim.
16 “Report it to the nations, now!
Proclaim to Jerusalem,
‘Enemies are coming from a remote country,
And they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.
17 Like watchmen of a field they are against her all around,
Because she has rebelled against Me,’ declares the Lord.
18 Your ways and your deeds
Have brought these things upon you.
This is your evil. How bitter!
How it has touched your heart!”
19 My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart!
My heart is pounding in me;
I cannot keep silent,
Because, my soul, you have heard
The sound of the trumpet,
The alarm of war.
20 Disaster upon disaster is proclaimed,
For the whole land is devastated;
Suddenly my tents are devastated,
And my curtains in an instant.
21 How long must I see the flag
And hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 “For My people are foolish,
They do not know Me;
They are foolish children
And have no understanding.
They are skillful at doing evil,
But they do not know how to do good.”
SUMMARY
Jeremiah explains that the scorching wind blowing from the bare mountain in the wilderness was actually God. It was not a light pleasant breeze that winnows or cleanses the grain, but rather a destructive wind that will bring utter destruction as the enemy besieges Jerusalem. Jeremiah emphasized that the way to salvation is to wash their hearts from evil.
MEDITATION AND REFLECTION
Through the “scorching wind”, God is warning Jerusalem that a disaster is on its way and urging them to repent. He attempted to get them to repent before but this time he is using an extreme measure, the scorching wind, and even their enemies to bring judgement upon them.
The disaster described in v13-18 are strong and scary, but God refers to Israelites as “My people”. He still loves them and is waiting for them to return to Him. His goal was never to destroy them but to get them to repent to restore the relationship, not to end it. He even uses a foreign county to ultimately save His people from evil.
How patient and loving is our God? He makes multiple attempts and sometimes even must take extreme measures, but His goal is always the same; to make His people return to Him. The phrase “My people” left such a meaningful impression in my heart. I realize how deep and depth His love is for me. I am His people. I belong with Him. He will always care for me and will never disown me.
APPLICATION
I feel like the enemy is always trying to knock me down and tell me I am not good enough and not worthy. I will remember that I am “His people” and shake off the lies from the enemy. I will also remember to share this with others. That God just doesn’t love us but we are “His people” and that He will be there with us through thick and thin.
PRAYER
Thank you Jesus, for waiting for me to return when I stray from you and for even taking extreme measures at times to restore my heart back to you. Please guide me with your wisdom to live in freedom under your care and not by the world. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Please share your personal meditations on this Scripture passage with the HolyWave community in the comments section below. (We reserve the right to moderate comments.)