Jeremiah 25:1-14

“I will recompense them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.” (Jeremiah 25:14b, ESV)

For twenty-three years, Jeremiah had been prophesying to the nation of Judah, warning them to turn away from their sins and idolatry. But Jeremiah’s words had fallen on deaf ears. The people brazenly continued in their rebellion. They would not repent, and they despised Jeremiah for telling them the truth. If they had listened, then they could have remained in the land forever. But now because they refused to listen they would go into Babylonian captivity for seventy years. This would occur in three deportations. In the last deportation Jerusalem would be destroyed and the temple burned with fire.

Isn’t it amazing that God would use Nebuchadnezzar as His instrument? He was an idolatrous king, and yet God called him, “My servant.” But in time God would punish the Babylonians for their iniquity and cruelty. As they had done to others, so it would be done to them.

We must always remember the spiritual law of sowing and reaping.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:7–8, NKJV)

God is a good Judge. He does not clear the guilty, but He is merciful, gracious and compassionate. He doesn’t give us according to what our sins deserve, but He is patient with us, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. Often times God’s ways don’t make sense to us. It seems that righteous people suffer and evil people prosper. But we can rest assured that in due time God will repay each person according to what he does. Therefore, we must carefully consider our ways. Every moment we are either sowing to please our flesh or else we are sowing to please the Spirit. We will reap corruption or everlasting life accordingly.

What seeds am I sowing today? What fruit can I expect tomorrow? It’s not how much we do, but with how much love that we do it.