Jeremiah 8:11-17

11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
When there is no peace.
12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
No! They were not at all ashamed,
Nor did they know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
In the time of their punishment
They shall be cast down,” says the LORD.
13 “I will surely consume them,” says the LORD.
“No grapes shall be on the vine,
Nor figs on the fig tree,
And the leaf shall fade;
And the things I have given them shall pass away from them.”’”
14 “Why do we sit still?
Assemble yourselves,
And let us enter the fortified cities,
And let us be silent there.
For the LORD our God has put us to silence
And given us water of gall to drink,
Because we have sinned against the LORD.
15 “We looked for peace, but no good came;
And for a time of health, and there was trouble!
16 The snorting of His horses was heard from Dan.
The whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of His strong ones;
For they have come and devoured the land and all that is in it,
The city and those who dwell in it.”
17 “For behold, I will send serpents among you,
Vipers which cannot be charmed,
And they shall bite you,” says the LORD.
Jeremiah 8:11-17 NKJV

When their sin is pointed out to them, the Jews were not ashamed. They were not ashamed at all. Too often today that is the case with this world. People are not ashamed at the wicked things they say and do, but seem to be proud that they are wicked. While shame itself does not guarantee repentance, there will be shame and guilt when I recognize that I have failed. David expressed his guilt when he committed adultery and murder and begged God to remove his guilt from Him. David recognized his sin and admitted it and begged the forgiveness of God (Psalm 51.) So should the Jews of Jeremiah's day have admitted their sins and sought God's forgiveness. Then they could have like David called to God for a clean heart and a renewed spirit that they would be in harmony with God's way. (Psalm 51:10) Instead the Jews were unashamed of their evil and continued to walk in the path of their own choosing, doing the things their wicked hearts desired. They were a fruitless people, barren of grape or fig, withering leaves without life. God desired that they would forgo their wickedness, accept His forgiveness and healing, and speak words of hope to the nations around. Instead they proudly matched the evil of the pagan nations with the evil of their own hearts. As the destruction of their choices comes upon them from the north, they look for peace and health. They desire God's gifts to keep them safe from their enemies, but have rejected God and thus rejected His gifts of peace and healing. God is letting their enemies come upon them to destroy them. They have chosen between God and false gods, putting their trust in the false gods. Now their healing will have to be provided from the false gods. I too am tempted to rely upon the false gods of the world in which I live. Instead of trusting in earthly relationships or trusting in men to save me, I need to rely upon the God of heaven to forgive and cleanse me and save me. Jesus offers me every good thing, I must accept Him and His rule in my heart.

Lord,
Help me to truly repent of my wickedness and allow you to cleanse me and create a new heart within me. Wash my life of all sin and free me from the wicked desires of my nature, so that I can walk in harmony with Your love on the path You set before me. Guide my desires so that I will forever choose to act and talk and think as You would have me. I know You force nothing upon me, but there will be a result for each choice I make that will be in harmony with the choice. Help me to chose You and help me to obey Your word, so that my character will become like Your character.