Listening for God's Word

This morning I am reflecting on and interesting passage from the Prophet Jeremiah.  In this passage God reveals his plans for Judah and the nations in the area.  Here are the verses - Jeremiah 27:1-7 NIV:

[1] "Early in the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: [2] This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. [3] Then send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. [4] Give them a message for their masters and say, 'This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Tell this to your masters: [5] With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. [6] Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. [7] All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him."

I find this so interesting, in that God was giving all the nations listed a word through the prophet Jeremiah.  These were not nations that followed God's law and did not subject themselves (at least that is what they thought).  Regardless of their thinking they were just as subject to God's word as the nation of Judah.  Jeremiah is provided this understanding and speaks of it to each of the envoys of the kings.  One gets the distinct feeling that they disregarded this warning through Jeremiah, to their own demise.

The same basic truth is obviously true today.  God reigns supreme and whether a nation acknowledges this fact or not means little to Him, for His sovereignty still is over all nations!  He raises up some nations, and others not so much.  He affects the global geopolitical realm just as He always has, whether we recognize it or not. He is not fazed nor made any less by the nations lack of notice or unbelief.  He does reward those who recognize Him and those that are obedient to His ways and Word.

In Jeremiah's word, He speaks of the allotted times of the particular reigns and lands, and they are set by God. In the following passages God rebukes the false lies of the "prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, 'You will not serve the king of Babylon.'"  There are always those voices that are speaking counter to the will and ways of God and we would be well served to learn to distinguish His true voice from the false.

Paul speaks of a similar danger as we approach our set times in his second letter to Timothy.  Here are the verses - 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV:
[3] "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

We must not listen for that which tickles our ears and is what we want to hear, but rather must learn to hear the Word of the Lord, not that we won't like what we hear, but we must desire His Truth above all else.  As His Church we must speak this word so that those who would listen will hear and be able to respond correctly.  This is a serious responsibility, and as His representatives, it is our duty and call to bring the Word of Life to those that are thirsty and parched.

Lord, we pray for Your Word to come forth and for it to be known to all that would follow You!  Help us to learn to discern Your word from the false that tickles our ears.  Help us to correctly interpret the times!

Amen!