Why do some value God’s word and others don’t?

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

Jeremiah stands among the people of Judah, a nation of people who knew the one true God. Judah has been entrusted with God’s words and commands, but they have devalued them to pursue the idols of the age. Their defiance brought the judgment of God upon them. Judah becomes more and more weakened as a military power and economically damaged. The reaction of Judah is to curse the Lord and His prophets, Jeremiah among them. They believe the prophets to be out of touch and judgmental. In an environment of decline and chaos, the people remain unrepentant.

Jeremiah, and a hand full of others, trust the Lord and walk in His ways. What is the reason for the marked difference between Jeremiah’s obedient response to God and Judah’s defiant response? Jeremiah explains it in the verse above. Jeremiah consumed God’s words, and they brought his heart joy and delight. The reason for the disparity between himself and most people in the nation of Judah is that the Lord God effectually calls Jeremiah. Jeremiah accepts the authority of the word of the Lord his God because the Lord has done a gracious work in the heart of Jeremiah.

The same truths explain what is happening around us today. God’s judgment is being poured out on our country and many other countries around the globe. Natural law and Biblical law are spurned and ridiculed relentlessly. God’s hand of judgment does not bring contrition and repentance. People in our country and all over the world curse the Lord and His ways and mock and ridicule His people, while the people of God find the word of God to be precious and relevant.

Why is there such a disparity of reactions? We who love the Lord and His ways are blessed with life from the Spirit of God, being drawn to the truth and authority of God. We know defiance brings ruination. We know that truth and righteousness are the only supportive foundation for our lives, families, church, communities, nation, and world. God chose to be gracious to us. God promises that He will be merciful to others. May we be diligent by joyfully abiding in the truth of God’s word, living it, proclaiming it, and praying that God will grant life and repentance to many others!