August 12th~It's For Your Own Good

Jeremiah 23:33-24:10

Jeremiah 29:1-31:14

Jeremiah continued his battle with the false prophets of his day. “Stop using the phrase, ‘prophecy from the Lord,’” he said, “for people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God” (23:36). He even called out a false prophet by name, Shemaiah, and cursed him before the people (29:29-32). Sometimes it is helpful to God’s people for the false teachers of our day to be called out by name; so that they will see their work for what it is — deception.

The majority of our passage was consumed with hope. Jeremiah wrote letters to the people who had been carried into exile; and, in his letters, he prophesied of the people’s return. “The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope... I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land” (29:10-14).

Before Jeremiah’s letter, the Lord had given him a vision of a basket of figs. In the basket were figs that were fresh and ripe and some that were spoiled and rotten. God revealed to Jeremiah that those He sent into exile were the good figs, the people that He would save as a remnant and bring back again to Jerusalem. Those people left behind would be destroyed by war, famine, and disease; they were the spoiled and rotten figs.

While it is difficult to imagine, being exiled for seventy years, as bad as that sounds, was a good thing for God’s people. “I have sent them into captivity for their own good... I will completely destroy the nations where I have scattered them, but I will not destroy My people. I must discipline them, for I cannot let them go unpunished” (24:5; 30:11). Captivity is a good thing? Yes, the Lord had to discipline His people without destroying them.

Daily Reflection

I was spanked as a child, and I am glad. I deserved them all. Before my mom would spank me, she always said these words, “I am doing this because I love you. It’s for your own good. Believe me, this will hurt me more than it hurts you.” Have you ever heard words like these? As a child, I did not understand what she meant. What exactly was she saying to me?

Like a good parent who loves His children, the Lord disciplines those He loves. Parents understand that rebellious or defiant behavior cannot be tolerated and that disciplining a child is for his good. While discipline can be painful, even embarrassing, it is often the means by which a child comes to his senses, when rebellion is driven out of his heart.

So we, whom God loves, must endure His discipline at times, for the defiance we demonstrate towards His Word and will. While the discipline may be painful, even embarrassing, it is often the means by which we come to our senses, when that rebelliousness is driven from our hearts. Thus, discipline is for our good.

You may feel like you are in a period of exile. You know the Lord is “spanking you” for some reason. Don’t fight against Him; instead, accept His discipline, learn from it, and try to see the good that awaits on the other side. Be grateful that He cares enough to spank you!

BiAY.org | Day 224 — 141 Days to Go