The LORD’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations. Lamentations 4:20
The Judahites considered Zedekiah the Lord’s anointed. They deceived themselves into thinking life would continue as usual even though Zedekiah didn’t keep God’s covenant. There was no basis for their hope. They had lulled themselves into a false sense of security.
Through Moses, God had given the Israelites instructions on how to live a life pleasing to him. Throughout the time of the Judges, it was when they repented and sought the Lord, that he brought deliverance. Jeremiah was one of many prophets who warned the people about their rebellious ways. Yet they convinced themselves that God would never expel them from the land. Even though God clearly warned them of this happening (Leviticus 18:28, Jeremiah 10:17-18).
The Judahites chose to listen to false prophets and those who told them what they wanted to hear. They didn’t consider their history or their God-given status. They didn’t seek God for relationship, only for protection. Everything pointed to a coming disaster but they ignored the signs.
Likewise today some believe that doing good works will save them. But this isn’t a Christian idea. “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Perhaps the idea comes from our feelings of unworthiness and the need to do something to make up for our deficiencies. Yet instead of seeking God’s ways of being in a right relationship with him, we make up our own. We assume God wants people to be ethical and while this is true, it isn’t the basis of our relationship with God.
To be in relationship with God, we seek his ways and not rely on ways of our own making.
