If…Then
In Boolean logic, or in mathematics, or especially in computer programming, we learn how to quantify logical expressions, using the famous IF/THEN type of reasoning.
IF (it is raining outside) THEN (bring umbrella). The computer then blasts through all the possible IF conditions, to decide what to do, and it only does, what it finds to be true, in the IF condition.
As I read this passage in today’s reading, it brought this whole line of reasoning back to my remembrance in an almost sarcastically, comical kind of way. It would be funny, if it were not so serious…
Let’s look at it:
Jer 26:2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto ALL the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, ALL the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
Jer 26:3 IF so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, (THEN) that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
Jer 26:4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; IF ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
Jer 26:5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
Jer 26:6 THEN will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
Jer 26:7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
Jer 26:8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
Jer 26:9 Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
In this chapter, God had called ALL of His people together at Jerusalem, and told them IF you listen and obey me, AND turn from your wicked ways: THEN I will spare you the evil that is about to come upon you.
What is interesting is the character of God revealed here. He is not some screaming Meany hurling lightning bolts from heaven, rather, I see Him here as a good God, a loving Father, who sees consequences to actions coming down the pipe, and who honestly tries to avert them, to prevent them from happening to the people He loves.
Back to my logic again: IF, THEN, AND, and OR are logical terms, whether you encounter them in Boolean Logic, Computer Programming, Circuit Design, or Mathematics.
This passage of Scripture goes like this:
IF (condition1 AND condition2) THEN. (Disaster Prevented)
People respond clearly that they are not willing to do (condition1 OR condition2) THEN (disaster).
Guess tutoring my daughter in math these days has my engineering and math mind kicking in again…
Ok, back to the Word of God for a second.
God is alive!
God is also Holy!
Just as there are scientific laws that govern the universe, there are also moral laws that govern the earth.
This is the Word of God, or the Torah.
God is very loving and merciful, but also totally knowable and trustworthy. His moral laws have never changed, nor will they.
Just as ignorance of a natural law, will not prevent the consequences the breaking of it will incur, so it is with moral law.
Take gravity for instance: if a child did not know about gravity, yet stepped off a building, they would still go down. The law is fixed.
It is the same with respect to the Word of God. There are moral absolutes, and there are consequences for breaking these laws.
In this passage, God saw that the consequence for the people of Judah breaking His laws, was about to cause Him to ‘I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’
In the Old Testament, God spoke two ways, with the same intent in each.
He has given the Torah, the written word of God, which explains His standards, and gives commandments to be obeyed. It is always His intent that we walk in holiness, obedience, love towards Him and our fellow man.
Yet, people have free will, and choose to do their own thing.
When they do, there are consequences to their actions, which may not be readily apparent, initially…Just like the child who jumps off the roof, things look fine while in the air, its the sudden stop at the bottom that hurts!
The second way that God spoke under the Old Covenant was through his servants, the prophets.
(This is why Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration, because Jesus fulfilled both the law and the prophets)
All that a prophet did, is hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, and when people departed from the written Word of God, they brought correction or direction, for people to return to God and His Word.
Matthew 11:13
For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.
In this passage, my logic example holds true.
The people, had disobeyed God, and were not living according to the Word of God. So, God sent Jeremiah, the prophet, to bring them back to Himself, and to His Word.
IF (condition1 AND condition2) THEN. (Disaster Prevented)
People respond clearly that they are not willing to do (condition1 OR condition2) THEN (disaster).
The cynical humor of this, is not so much that the people rejected the Word of God, but the way they did so.
God sends Jeremiah, in love, in tears, to prevent disaster. He tells them what to do, and how to prevent it.
Instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they immediately decide that:
1. We are not going to listen.
2. We are not going to turn from our wicked ways.
3. We do not want to listen to Jeremiah.
4. Jeremiah must be the problem, so let’s kill him!
We read that:
Jer 26:8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
Jer 26:9 Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Their implied reasoning is that ‘We had no problems until you showed up Jeremiah! You are our problem! We did not cause this, you did! You need to die, because you said that the city was going to be destroyed!’
Bad logic. Faulty reasoning. Horrible consequences.
Ever had something similar happen? You quietly, methodically tell someone, or group of people the truth, and instead of attempting to process what you stated, they immediately revile, attempt to discredit, insinuate against, or try to destroy you!
The good news is that you are not the problem. We who love Jesus and who love people are instruments of God’s love, not His wrath. Yet,
Proverbs 19:3
Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 The foolishness of man subverts his way [ruins his affairs]; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord.
I think this thought is more plainly translated, here in the NIV:
Proverbs 19:3
New International Version (NIV)
3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,
yet their heart rages against the LORD.
You bring truth to a person, in love, that corrects them.
Instead of recognizing that they might be wrong, they get angry.
They are really angry at God, but because we serve Jesus, they generally vent their anger, at us…
So what do we do? How do we handle it?
Do we go into a deep funk, and get depressed?
Not if we want to meet the approval of God. It’s time to sing a song, shout unto God with a voice of triumph, and get happy!
New International Version
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:11-13
When the Apostles were thrown in prison, did they go into the depths of despair for being beaten or falsely imprisoned or accused?
Act_5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Acts 16:24-30
New International Version (NIV)
24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
So, bust loose a little! Give Jesus some glory today in your world. Bless Him, praise Him, laugh a little bit, and lighten up. It’s a great day to be making headlines in heaven!
Let’s pray:
‘Father, I come before you today, and trust You to breath through me by Your precious Holy Spirit, Your truth, Your love to this generation. As I gently bring correction and direction, encouraging folks to quit lying, cheating, or acting contrary to You and Your Word, grant me joy unspeakable and full of glory, when they revile, lie about, or attack me. In your mighty name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’