Jeremiah 4:1-9 "If you will return, O Israel,
return to me,"
declares the Lord.
"If you put your detestable idols out of my sight
and no longer go astray,
[2] and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
you swear, 'As surely as the Lord lives,'
then the nations will be blessed by him
and in him they will glory."

[3] This is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem:

"Break up your unploughed ground
and do not sow among thorns.
[4] Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
circumcise your hearts,
you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no-one to quench it.

[5] "Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say:
'Sound the trumpet throughout the land!'
Cry aloud and say:
'Gather together!
Let us flee to the fortified cities!'
[6] Raise the signal to go to Zion!
Flee for safety without delay!
For I am bringing disaster from the north,
even terrible destruction."

[7] A lion has come out of his lair;
a destroyer of nations has set out.
He has left his place
to lay waste your land.
Your towns will lie in ruins
without inhabitant.
[8] So put on sackcloth,
lament and wail,
for the fierce anger of the Lord
has not turned away from us.

[9] "In that day," declares the Lord,
"the king and the officials will lose heart,
the priests will be horrified,
and the prophets will be appalled."

It’s bad news that Jeremiah has to bring. It is not repent to avoid judgement, rather it is prepare for that judgement that is coming – there is no escape, you have gone too far….

But even in the bad times God speaks. And his message here is for the people not to lose heart, but to regain their faith. What is coming to pass is ordained by God. He has not been defeated as the enemies of Judah will claim, but he is allowing this to happen to discipline his people. Knowing this, perhaps when they are under occupation, they will remember God, and return to him, by circumcising their hearts – a metaphor, not a surgical procedure!

I wonder when our own rebellions happen and we find God disciplining us, do we see him at work? Do we accept our correction, or does it embitter us more towards him?