Jeremiah 8:1-3

1 “At that time,” says the LORD, “they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of its princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves. 2 They shall spread them before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and which they have served and after which they have walked, which they have sought and which they have worshiped. They shall not be gathered nor buried; they shall be like refuse on the face of the earth. 3 Then death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of those who remain of this evil family, who remain in all the places where I have driven them,” says the LORD of hosts.
Jeremiah 8:1-3 NKJV

Why would anyone take the bones of the people out of their graves? It is perhaps symbolic of the futility of the false worship of nature. Worship of the sun, moon, and other heavenly objects was evidently widespread and engaged in by the leaders, both national and religious. By desecrating the remains of those who worshipped these natural objects, the inability of the sun or moon or planets or stars to offer any help or saving would be shown. The people of Judah served and walked after and sought after and worshipped these natural objects, things made by God for their blessing and enjoyment. Instead of thanking their God for His creation, they thanked the creation and worshipped it. How often do I look to the blessings that God gives me and hold the blessing in higher esteem than my God who gives it to me? Do I look at my wife and her beauty and do things to win her favor and neglect to serve God? Do I look at my nice home and acreage and think about and plan and pour in all my resources to improve it for my honor, or do I look for ways to honor God and things I can do to serve Him? God gives me many blessings, do I accept them as somehow something I deserve and bring about through my intelligence and wisdom, or do I thank God and serve Him in love for what He does for me?
There is a choice before each of us. Death or life, which will we choose? God said that the residue of those taken captive would chose death over life. Literally we know that those who remained in the land chose death over life when God presents them with a clear choice in Chapters 42 and 43. I am also given a clear choice. I can look back through history and see the choices others have made and know that God offers us all the choice of life or death. I can read His word and it tells me clearly that we have a choice between life in Jesus and death in my sins. This is more than just a physical death, we are choosing between eternal life and eternal death. How often do we think we will compromise God's will so that we can save our physical life, but take a step toward eternal death by rejecting God's love and salvation?

Lord,
Help me today to chose life over death. You have not promised me ease or comfort or constant happiness in this life. You have offered me peace in my heart in this life and eternal joy in Your love. Help me to see past the desires of my sinfulness to the gift of life You offer me. Help me to chose Your life and to walk with You in the path You have set me on.