You are always righteous, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? Jeremiah 12:1 (Jeremiah 11 & 12)
The covenant between God and Moses/the Hebrew children defined righteousness, promised blessings, stated consequences and set God’s chosen nation apart from the rest of the world and quested them to carry out His blessing to all the earth. Israel’s failure was colossal but God did not quit loving. He was, and is, long suffering and sent Jeremiah with a message to repentance and a warning of dire punishment that would come to those who refused.
Jeremiah’s message was so harsh and persistent that the people of his hometown plotted to kill him. God intervened and he escaped, but his fear gave way to anger and he lashed out at God. “Why do the wicked prosper?” Jeremiah wasn’t the first, nor will he be the last to ask this question. God responded with hope. The day of the LORD will come. For the believer there will be eternal glory, for all those who have rejected God or oppressed the faithful, they will be wiped off the face of the earth…..in God’s time.
God’s purpose is first and foremost, salvation, redemption and restoration. Final judgement is His last option. His Son, Jesus, is the highest model of righteous servitude in our relationships with each other, but to the people of Judah, God waited and waited in the hope of humble confession and redirection. He modeled patient love.
Do not wish judgment on anyone. Just love and let God be God.
Love,
Gretchen