“Yet You, O LORD”

“Hear and give ear; be not proud,
    for the Lord has spoken.
Give glory to the Lord your God
    before he brings darkness,
before your feet stumble
    on the twilight mountains,
and while you look for light
    he turns it into gloom
    and makes it deep darkness.
But if you will not listen,
    my soul will weep in secret for your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears,
    because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive…
And if you say in your heart,
    ‘Why have these things come upon me?’
it is for the greatness of your iniquity
    that your skirts are lifted up
    and you suffer violence.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin
    or the leopard his spots?
Then also you can do good
    who are accustomed to do evil.
I will scatter you like chaff
    driven by the wind from the desert.
This is your lot,
    the portion I have measured out to you, declares the Lord,
because you have forgotten me
    and trusted in lies.
I myself will lift up your skirts over your face,
    and your shame will be seen.
I have seen your abominations,
    your adulteries and neighings, your lewd whorings,
    on the hills in the field.
Woe to you, O Jerusalem!
    How long will it be before you are made clean?” Jeremiah 13:15-17,22-27

“Though our iniquities testify against us,
    act, O Lord, for your name’s sake;
for our backslidings are many;
    we have sinned against you.
O you hope of Israel,
    its savior in time of trouble…
You, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
    and we are called by your name;
    do not leave us.” Jeremiah 14:7-8a,9b

Israel’s sin was a heinous affront to God’s holiness, goodness, and love, and its repugnance deserved God’s wrath. Yet, the very fact it was known, and identified as iniquity against Him, testified to His presence with them. His word elucidates and His Spirit convicts. Israel’s anguished appeal in light of their just punishment was that yet their covenant LORD was in their midst. Would He, could He, leave forever? (Psalm 119:105; John 16:8)

We, too, are an abhorrent people. We, too, have wickedly rebelled against God’s holy law and order. Our moral abominations and lewd whorings with strange gods are a repulsive affront to His righteousness. Yet He remains in the midst of His beloved children, and with God’s presence abides His mercy. With God’s presence abides His love. The very fact that He is nigh is proof of His promise never to leave or forsake us. We deserve His wrath, but Jesus in love bore the penalty on our behalf. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

What sins am I excusing? Where am I professing, promoting, or provoking lies by behavior I condone or falsehoods I let be repeated without correction? Are there attitudes I hold or express that are an abomination to my holy God? Have I fallen so far it feels impossible to repair? Would I bring these to His throne of grace and confess them one by one? He is faithful and just to forgive. (Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 1:9)

Gracious Father, in all things wrong and miserable, may I remember that yet You, my covenant God, are near, and You redeem. Allelujah! (Psalm 103:1-4)