ESOCS Devotional 13 February 2025 – True Repentance Provokes God’s Blessing
MEMORY VERSE: ““Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? Hath, thy soul loathed Zion? Why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!” Jeremiah 14:19 KJV
TEXT: JEREMIAH 14:17-22
“Therefore you shall say this word to them:
‘Let my eyes flow with tears night and day,
And let them not cease;
For the virgin daughter of my people
Has been broken with a mighty stroke, with a very severe blow.
18 If I go out to the field,
Then behold, those slain with the sword!
And if I enter the city,
Then behold, those sick from famine!
Yes, both prophet and priest go about in a land they do not know.’ ”
19 Have You utterly rejected Judah?
Has Your soul loathed Zion?
Why have You stricken us so that there is no healing for us?
We looked for peace, but there was no good;
And for the time of healing, and there was trouble.
20 We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness
And the iniquity of our fathers,
For we have sinned against You.
21 Do not abhor us, for Your name’s sake;
Do not disgrace the throne of Your glory.
Remember, do not break Your covenant with us.
22 Are there any among the idols of the nations that can cause rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Are You not He, O Lord our God?
Therefore we will wait for You,
Since You have made all these.
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Much as Jeremiah prophesied doom to the people due to the multitude of their sins, yet he interceded for them before God. Here, interceding for the people, Jeremiah asked God if Judah’s repentance will bring His help. But God refused to come to their aid (Jeremiah 15:1) because of their insincerity, wickedness and stubbornness. They knew He wants to bless them, and they knew what to do to receive that blessing. They want God to do His part, but do not want to do theirs.
From the above, we learned that it is easy to express sorrow for wrong actions, especially when we want something, but we must be willing to turn away from our wrong actions.
God forgives and blesses the truly repentant, but not the hypocrite. David repented and that provoked God’s manifold blessing upon him.
CHALLENGES
- Many people rejoice in their iniquity, yet want God’s blessing. Is this possible?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord, search me and see if there be any iniquity in me.
FURTHER READING: Psalm 32; Proverbs 28: 13; James 5:20
ESOCS Devotional 13 February 2025
