Jeremiah 17:1-4

1 “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron;
With the point of a diamond it is engraved
On the tablet of their heart,
And on the horns of your altars,
2 While their children remember
Their altars and their wooden images[a]
By the green trees on the high hills.
3 O My mountain in the field,
I will give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures,
And your high places of sin within all your borders.
4 And you, even yourself,
Shall let go of your heritage which I gave you;
And I will cause you to serve your enemies
In the land which you do not know;
For you have kindled a fire in My anger which shall burn forever.”
Jeremiah 17:1-4 NKJV

Their sin written with a pen of iron and engraved with the point of a diamond on the tablet of their heart. A sad commentary on what the people of Judah had done to themselves. God wanted to write His words on their hearts and in their minds. Instead they chose to allow their sins to become engraved on their characters, replacing a love and obedience to God with worship of worthless stones and sticks. Instead of teaching their children to revere God and serve Him, they teach their children to think that rocks and wood will somehow have an impact on them. The children remember the false gods and the false worship and teach their children the same fruitless beliefs, as Judah moves farther from God with each bad decision they make. The peace and prosperity of His people is gone because of the choices made by the Jews. Now death, destruction, and calamity is coming upon them. The fire of God's anger will cleanse the land and hardship in a land that they do not know will strengthen them and teach them lessons of God's love and hope. They had chosen to not serve the God who loved and cared for them, now they would serve cruel enemies who would use and abuse them.

Lord,
Help me today to allow You to write Your words on my heart. With Your finger inscribe on me the love and hope and blessings that will be to my good. Help me to give of myself to share your love with others whose needs You show me. Guide me and strengthen me.