Turning

Join me in this scripture reading this morning.

Woe to me, my mother, that you gave me birth!

a man of strife and contention to all the land!

I neither borrow nor lend,

yet everyone curses me.

Tell me, LORD, have I not served you for their good?

Have I not interceded with you

in time of misfortune and anguish?

Can one break iron,

iron from the north, and bronze?

Your wealth and your treasures

I give as plunder, demanding no payment,

because of all your sins, throughout all your territory.

And I shall enslave you to your enemies

in a land you do not know,

For fire has broken out from my anger,

it is kindled against you.

You know, LORD:

Remember me and take care of me,

avenge me on my persecutors.

Because you are slow to anger, do not banish me;

know that for you I have borne insult.

When I found your words, I devoured them;

your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart,

Because I bear your name,

LORD, God of hosts.

I did not sit celebrating

in the circle of merrymakers;

Under the weight of your hand I sat alone

because you filled me with rage.

Why is my pain continuous,

my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?

To me you are like a deceptive brook,

waters that cannot be relied on!

Thus the LORD answered me:

If you come back and I take you back,

in my presence you shall stand;

If you utter what is precious and not what is worthless,

you shall be my mouth.

Then they will be the ones who turn to you,

not you who turn to them.

And I will make you toward this people

a fortified wall of bronze.

Though they fight against you,

they shall not prevail,

For I am with you,

to save and rescue you—oracle of the LORD.

I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked,

and ransom you from the power of the violent.

I love this interaction between Jeremiah and the LORD. Have you ever found your self having this type of conversation with HIM? GOD listens to us when we complain, then tells us the same that Jeremiah heard. IF you are truly repentant and turn from your ways I will __________. God fills in the blank! Still requires our repentance and turning from our sinful nature.