A Call to Supplication: Turning Toward the Lord in Times of Judgment
"It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people." - Jeremiah 36:7
The words of Jeremiah 36:7 echo with a profound urgency: "It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people." In this sobering verse, we find both a warning and an invitation—a call to reflect on our lives, to repent, and to seek the mercy of God. As we delve deeper into this verse, we discover timeless truths concerning supplication, repentance, and the nature of God’s anger.
**Understanding Supplication**
The term "supplication" refers to earnest and humble requests made to God, often arising from a deep sense of need or desperation. In the context of Jeremiah’s message, supplication is a critical response to impending judgment. It signifies the act of turning one’s heart toward God, acknowledging our failings, and earnestly asking for His mercy. The weighty implication in the verse reminds us of the power of heartfelt prayer in averting disaster and gaining divine favor. We often approach God with requests, but how often do we express genuine supplication, recognizing our unworthiness and seeking His grace?
**A Call to Return**
The verse further emphasizes, "...and will return every one from his evil way." This statement brings light to the call for repentance. Jeremiah’s audience was plagued by idolatry, injustice, and a general turning away from God’s commandments. They were amidst a culture that, like ours today, often celebrated what God deemed wrong. The command to "return" suggests an active turning away from external practices and internal attitudes that separate us from God.
Repentance is more than merely feeling sorry for our misdeeds. It prompts action; it inspires us to change direction in our lives, back towards God. The idea that ‘every one’ is to return illustrates that this call is for all—no one is exempt. In our own communities and congregations, we must remember that each individual has a responsibility to respond to God’s call. Each of us can reflect on our hearts and lives to identify areas where we have strayed from God's path and engage earnestly in the act of returning to Him.
**God’s Anger and Fury**
“For great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.” This part of the verse cannot be overlooked. It speaks to God’s holiness and justice, illustrating that sin has serious consequences. Often, as modern believers, we may shy away from discussions about God’s wrath, preferring to focus solely on His love and mercy. However, understanding the anger of God serves to underscore the significance of sin in breaking the relationship between God and His creation.
It is vital to grasp that God’s anger is not arbitrary or temperamental; it is rooted in love and justice. Just as a parent’s correction of a child comes from a place of love, so too does God’s anger toward sin stem from His desire for our ultimate good. He longs for us to live in right relationship with Him, to enjoy the fullness of life He offers, and to reflect His character to the world.
**Conclusion: The Hope of Redemption**
Despite the somber tone of judgment, there is a thread of hope woven throughout Jeremiah’s message. If the people respond with supplication and a willingness to return, there is real potential for restoration and mercy. The reality of God’s love is that He eagerly invites us to come back to Him, no matter how far we have strayed. As we reflect on this verse, we must ask ourselves: Are we willing to present our supplications before the Lord? Are we ready to turn from our evil ways, acknowledging that God’s anger is an aspect of His justice that ultimately serves to guide us back to Him?
Let us take the words of Jeremiah to heart, knowing that we can boldly approach the throne of grace and seek forgiveness. God remains ever faithful and ready to receive us when we humble ourselves and return to Him.
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Jeremiah 36:7 Artwork
Jeremiah 36:7 - "It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people."
"It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people." - Jeremiah 36:7
Jeremiah 36:27 - "¶ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,"
Jeremiah 36:5 - "And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:"
Jeremiah 36:19 - "Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be."
Jeremiah 36:4 - "Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book."
Jeremiah 36:8 - "And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house."
Jeremiah 36:1 - "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,"
Jeremiah 36:26 - "But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them."
Luke 7:36-50
Luke 7:36–50
Jeremiah 36:22 - "Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him."
Jeremiah 36:10 - "Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house, in the ears of all the people."
Jeremiah 25:36 - "A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture."
Jeremiah 50:36 - "A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed."
Nehemiah 7:36 - "The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five."
Jeremiah 36:11 - "¶ When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,"
Jeremiah 36:15 - "And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears."
Jeremiah 36:17 - "And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?"
Jeremiah 36:32 - "¶ Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words."
Jeremiah 36:20 - "¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king."
Jeremiah 36:13 - "Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people."
1 Chronicles 7:36 - "The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,"
Exodus 36:7 - "For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much."
Jeremiah 36:24 - "Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words."
"¶ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying," - Jeremiah 36:27
Jeremiah 36:18 - "Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book."
Jeremiah 36:25 - "Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them."
Jeremiah 7:1 - "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,"
"And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:" - Jeremiah 36:5