Jeremiah 7: 3-12 and other biblical references set out the scope of what constitutes evil in the land. God warned Israel through his Prophet Jeremiah that they should change their ways or face the consequences. We will continue to discuss some of the evils which Jeremiah referred to.
Committing Adultery
This is found in Jeremiah 7: 9. This is also in the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20: 1-7. Adultery is an act of infidelity; disloyalty; betrayal; ingratitude; deceitfulness or faithlessness. It is a character of indiscipline and untrustworthiness. It is done in the dark of public knowledge. However, 1 Corinthians 4: 5 says the Lord will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God.
In 2 Samuel 11: 4-7 David impregnated Uriah’s wife Bathsheba and in attempts to hide it, he put Uriah at the forefront of the hardest fighting, pulled back from him so he may be struck down and he died. In 2 Samuel 12: 10-18 God held David accountable for Uriah’s innocent death with serious consequences although David repented. David’s evil of adultery also involved bloodshed. Oftentimes, adultery involves bloodshed directly or indirectly when life is involved. We are equally unfaithful to God and men in our relationships in several ways. Our evil which pollutes the land cannot be hidden from God, they have grave consequences. We may confess but only God knows the appropriate time to react and how.
Swearing falsely
Swearing falsely is an act of dishonesty or deception and offends God’s character of truth. It connotes falsely accusing God of condoning a false narrative against the truth. In effect we project God as dishonest and a liar. Exodus 20: 7,16 says you shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain nor bear false witness against thy neighbour. A false oath injures the spirit, soul and body of the person against whom the falsehood is sworn.
Many families, homes, people and nations are under curse today because we have embraced falsehood on oath. Innocent lives have suffered all forms of injustices. Some have been incarcerated, lost jobs, relationships, credibility, opportunities, their peace, and even suffered death because of falsehood narratives or sworn oaths of falsehood against them. They all have their eternal consequences as tarnishing God’s name or image. The consequences will outlive us unto many generations unborn. We must be careful when we swear or take an oath on the bible because of its spiritual character.
Idol and spirit worship
Jeremiah 7: 9 frowns on idol worship. Exodus 20: 3-5 also does same. Burning incense to Baal is idol worship. It is substituting other deities for God or giving reverence to gods other than the Lord God Almighty. Anything that takes the place of God in our lives is equally idol worship. Life must be with Christ Jesus and not these. Life is peace in Christ Jesus. Exodus 20: 3-5 forbids idol worship and say God is a jealous God. In several instances and on many occasions, God punished Israel for their idol worship. We will be equally punished if we replace the relevance of God in our lives which brings evil to the land.
Works of abomination
Jeremiah 7: 9 refers to abomination in general. An abomination is any act which God does not approve of or that which is at variance with God’s word or His instruction. Exodus 20: 1-17 identified some of the abominations. Exodus 20: 18-34 further mentions issues that provoke God to anger; failing to listen to God; and deceiving ourselves as a people or nation of God when we are not. Leviticus 19: 15 also says you shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
Jeremiah 22: 13 says woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing, and does not give him his wages. Leviticus 18: 22 says you shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination (LGBTQ+). Deuteronomy 23: 18 says you shall not put on garments of the opposite sex. Ezra 9: 14 says you shall not intermarry with those of different practices.
Proverbs 6: 16-19 say there are six things which the Lord hates, seven which are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and a hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 11: 1; 20: 23 say false balance is an abomination but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 15: 9 says the way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.
Proverbs 15: 26 says the thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 17: 15 says he who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. Jeremiah 13:27 says neighing and lewd harlotries are an abomination to the Lord. We stand to perish with evil without true repentance. Jesus is calling and knocking at the door of our hearts. Let us welcome him, live and dwell with him. Our souls are perishing and Jesus Christ is the giver of all good things throughout the ages.
Consequences of evil in our land
Jeremiah 8: 2-3 say those who bring evil in the land shall be for dung upon the face of the earth and they shall choose death rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places where God has them. How do we want our land to be and the fate of our families after us, excrement or life?
The evil we commit in the land survives us with devastating results on those after us. It leads to an inheritance of gloom and doom, of desolation and rejection rather than peace and glory in Christ Jesus. What evil are we hiding in our closets in the land? It is not late to give them up to Jesus Christ to consecrate the land including its inhabitants, our home, household, work place, relationships and all that connects us with divine yield and of progress and eternal life. Jesus is waiting to cleanse our land. Will we allow him to come to our aid? Jesus will not visit if we refuse him entry.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we beseech you to cleanse our land and to lead us in righteousness. Like David, we have repented of our evils so restore our heavenly identity through your blood. In your holy name we pray with thanksgiving, Amen!!
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