14 therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”
15 Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel,
whose deeds are in the dark,
and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”
16 You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
“He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”? –We looked at v 14-16 yesterday, but it is worth reading it again. As we read it again – God’s people have purposely and grossly laid aside the Law of God. They have lost their awe of Him, and brazenly claimed that God didn’t know what they were thinking and that they could draw or shape God anyway they chose! The following verses emphatically underline that God has a definite plan to be the Potter and not the clay! He definitely is already and will be in control! ‘You’re disillusioned’ God says ‘ Watch and with many wonders I’ll straighten you out again!! 17 Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18 In that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD,
and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
– It is as if the impenetrable (Lebanese) forest of their rebellious past is turned into a fruitful productive garden of goodness, plain for all to see! Deafness is cured and sight is restored! Pride is replaced by meekness (not weakness but controlled strength!). Joy is restored. The poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. God’s discipline has worked! 20 For the ruthless shall come to nothing
and the scoffer cease,
and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
21 who by a word make a man out to be an offender,
and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right. – The topsy-turvey world of rebellion against God has been set aright!
22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
“Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale.
23 For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who murmur will accept instruction.” – Abraham was treated very especially by God. The story of Abraham’s redemption takes up many chapters of the book of Genesis. Jacob was Abraham’s grandson. His name was changed to Israel. Thus the God of Abraham is here promising to Israel the nation named after Jacob, the blessings listed above! Healthy pride instead of shame; awe in their relationship to God instead of rebellion; waywardness replaced by understanding; disputation replaced with obedience! This was achieved temporarily by the disciplining of subjection and occurred after God had the enemy removed! Sadly the course of Israel has been one of repeated periods of rebellion leading to an act of the highest rebellion when they refused to accept the Messiah whom God sent! God’s plan will be ultimately achieved for all eternity, not only for those of Jewish descent, when the Messiah returns, not as a sacrifice again but as the Judge!
Jeremiah 29: 11-13 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Prayer: Thank You Father that You side with all Your people, even when You discipline us!
As I read it! 