Learning From Judah’s Mistakes

It has rightfully been said that “if we do not learn from our mistakes, then we are doomed to repeat them”. While that is true in our individual lives, it can also be seen from the perspective of society. God has allowed the preservation of the Old Testament so that we learn from the examples and mistakes of those who have come before us. Paul mentioned this to the church in Rome when he wrote, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). Also, Paul used Israel of old as an example to the church in Corinth when he mentioned, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Cor. 10:11). So, let us turn our attention to a people from long ago, the people of Judah during the lifetime of the prophet Jeremiah. It might surprise us, and even upset us, just how similar things were then and how things are now.

The condition of Judah was deplorable and disturbing. God told Jeremiah, “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it” (Jer. 5:1). It seems that things were so bad that finding a good man was a difficult endeavor. Further, Jeremiah wrote, “Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit” (Jer. 5:8). Instead of seeking and obeying truth, the people had been receptive to falsehoods. God made it clear to Jeremiah, “Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces” (Jer. 7:17-19)? Entire families had forsaken God to engage in idolatry and wickedness. Thus God decreed, “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you…A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof” (Jer. 5:25-31)? Sin, false worship, and wicked ways had become the way of life to those in Judah.

The Jews were reveling in the “enlightenment”, “tolerance”, and “acceptance” in their society. They no longer cared for what God wanted, they simply cared about what they wanted. Jeremiah wrote, “For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness, and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD” (Jer. 6:13-15). Godly fear was severed from their lives. God questioned, “Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which has placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone” (Jer. 5:22-23). Truly, the people of Judah had fallen so far from God, and without repentance, they were to be punished. God told them what they needed to do. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where are they good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for you souls. But they said, We will not walk therein” (Jer. 6:16).

Does any of that seem familiar to what we find in society today? It truly is sad to see how far man has reverted to the mistakes that Judah made so long ago. Instead of worshiping and serving God faithfully, many have decided to deviate from God’s decrees. Instead of living righteous lives, many have embraced abominable and destructive lifestyles. Faithful proclaimers of God’s Word are belittled, ignored, and mocked. We need to learn from the past so that society does not continue to fall in the way of Judah. God took note then, and God is taking note now. Judah reaped what they sowed, and society today will do likewise unless repentance and faithfulness replace sin and rebellion (Gal. 6:7-8).
~ Corey Barnette