Patterns

You know, it just seems like a whole lot of sinfulness and rebellion going on for which Jeremiah presents his prophecy. In chapter 5 verse 1, God says if only one just and honest person can be found in Jerusalem, He would not destroy it. Wow, strong words!

Why are we given all this gloom and doom? Really.

I think the picture being painted here represents mankind's condition and God's response to it; man sins - God punishes. It seems to me to be a pattern in the Old Testament. I believe the main message is for us to grasp the idea that mankind is in a pattern of sinfulness. Additionally, God's response, though harsh, is to bring man back to Himself. But unlike man, who, for the most part is content with his sinfulness, God is not at all content with punishing His own - He would rather bless them and love on them. This too, is a pattern. If we miss this message, we have missed the whole point of the Old Testament.

Is there any other reason to have all the Old Testament prophecies and history of 'God's chosen ones' when they depict such failure on man's part? Are we simply given all this scripture as boring and tedious reading? Are we somehow to believe that by our pious reading and sanctimonious efforts that our lives will be any better than theirs?

NO!

The picture we are to see (all through OT history) is that man is in the pattern of sin. Likewise, the picture we are to see in all this is that God is in the pattern of reaching out to man.

Now, the beauty of the NT. Colossians 1.18-2.7 presents us with Christ: God's way for man to find forgiveness for his pattern of sinful living. How perfect is that?

God I thank You for Jesus.