Jeremiah 6:27-30

God told Jeremiah that he was appointed an assayer amongst God’s people. In this capacity he was called to examine them on God’s behalf. But his job was not limited to just examining the people. He was also called to be a refiner. Through the preaching of God’s Word, he was called to lead them to live faithful lives before the Lord. Jeremiah continually called upon the people to repent of their sin. Their greatest sin was idolatry. Instead of turning to the Lord, they continually went after the many false God’s of the surrounding nations. However, despite their idolatry, they still worshiped God in the temple. He wasn’t pleased.

Jeremiah was not successful in leading God’s people to repent. A continual refrain in the book that bears his name is that they would not listen to the Word of God (cf. Jer. 6:17; 13:10). They refused to heed the call of God’s pleas and warnings (cf. 6:19). In their idolatry, they were firmly fixed. They saw no need to repent of their sins and false worship as long as they continued their rituals at the temple. They failed to understand that a life of faithfulness demands repentance from acts that offend God.

Jeremiah’s ministry was an act of grace from God. He sought to lead them away from sin and falsehood. But they refused to acknowledge their sin (Jer. 3:13; 16:10). The more Jeremiah preached God’s Word, the more contempt they had for him. Not only did Jeremiah experience contempt from the people he was sent to, but so did most of the prophets God sent to His people (Luke 11:50-51). God’s Word was continually rejected.

As a result, God declares that they are all corrupt (Jer. 6:28) and that the refining process has had no effect on them. Though God wanted to remove their sin and shower them with grace and mercy, they refused to let God’s Word change them. God laments that “the refining is completely in vain” (v. 29); then finally declares “they are called rejected silver, for the Lord has rejected them” (v. 30).

The result was judgment. God sent an invading army to level his wrath against a people who refused to heed His call. However, it needs to be recognized that God desired for the people to turn back to Him. He wanted them to listen to Jeremiah and repent. Judgment happened because in their minds they knew better. They continually argued with Jeremiah. They told him he was wrong (Jer. 6:14). However, they never stopped to consider that Jeremiah’s message was God’s appointed grace for them.

Sometimes God’s Word will pierce the deepest level of the heart. This should be seen as God’s appointed grace. Unfortunately, the heart hardened by sin will see this as an unwelcome intrusion. With such a heart, instead of responding to the One who sent the message, a person will fight against the messenger. This was the continued experience of Jeremiah. They accused him of hurting the people: “This man is not pursuing the welfare of this people, but their harm” (Jer. 38:4, CSB). Such is the unrepentant heart. A hard heart does not see God’s grace in the conviction. It sees an attack that must be rebuffed. The messenger becomes the enemy, and message becomes the justification for the attack.

Jeremiah paid a heavy price for their rejection. But in the end, the people paid a much higher price. God wanted to refine them. He wanted to purge them of sin and idolatry. What an act of grace and mercy! That the living God who is “Holy, Holy, Holy” would seek to wash a rebellious people so they could experience His blessings is an astonishing thought. Yet such is the nature and character of God. God would rather heal and save than judge and destroy (Jer. 17:14).

The next time an unwelcome intrusion enters our hearts, may we see it for the grace it is. Behind that work is a loving God seeking to heal and save from the devastating effects of sin and idolatry. Like a skilled surgeon, God must make a painful incision that results in renewed life and blessings.