Contemplative Bible Reading

Jeremiah 16:13 (Christian Standard Bible)

So I will hurl you from this land into a land that you and your fathers are not familiar with. There you will worship other gods both day and night, for I will not grant you grace.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God is telling His people of their coming punishment. Things will be bad. They will be confused day and night because they will live in a place where noting is familiar.

And then things will be worse.

God will let the people worship other gods. They will holler and sing and dance and perform rituals in front of polished rocks and carved sticks. They will feel like they are doing something, but only doing nothing. Well, worse than nothing. They will be magnifying their sins. God will allow them to do such.

And then things will be worse.

There will be no grace—no favor from God. That’s about as bad as it can be. Favor from God can overcome everything. Just a little favor from God can do the unimaginable. No favor from God? That’s just plain…well, just plain rotten and miserable and hopeless.

Thank you God for your grace, for your favor.