Sandyford Henderson Memorial Church

THE Jews had a custom to hire women to weep at a bereavement, so the Lord tells these professional wailers to weep over His judgment on the people of Judah. Because of their sins they were going to be killed or carried off into exile. His judgment wouldn’t be confined to one generation so He calls on these weepers to teach their daughters their skills. Judgment doesn’t always stop with one generation. We must never think that the consequences of our sins will be confined to our generation.

            There is only one answer to personal troubles and those of society and that is a saving knowledge of our Lord and God (vv 23-24). People today put all their faith in human wisdom, strength and wealth. What we should rejoice about is that by God’s grace we can come to know Him personally. The great things in God’s eyes are kindness, righteousness and justice, not learning, strength and wealth, although He has all these things too.

            The people of Judah still engaged in the outward practices of worship such as the rite of circumcision. God says they’re wasting their time! He was looking for the commitment to Him that outward circumcision was meant to signify. The Lord will punish anyone who is circumcised outwardly but doesn’t have the inner commitment.

            It’s the same today. People who never enter the doors of a church get annoyed because they can’t get their children baptised. God will have nothing to do with those who engage in the outward rites of religion without an inward saving faith in Jesus. This applies to all kinds of religious activities. Whatever we do in the church cuts no ice with God unless we are doing it primarily for Him.