CALL upon GOD for ‘ANSWERS’ to ALL your ‘QUESTIONS’!
August 17 Bible Reading: Jeremiah Chapters 31-33
CALL upon GOD for ‘ANSWERS’ to ALL your ‘QUESTIONS’!
Moreover the word of
the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the
court of the prison, saying, "Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who
formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): 'Call to Me, and I will
answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'" (Jer. 33:1-3)
In this chapter we find the prophet Jeremiah shut up in the
court of the prison, and in order to comfort him, the word of the Lord came to
him saying, "Thus says the
Lord" and gave him further glowing promises of restoration to Israel
and Judah. Verse 1 indicates that this is a continuation of the prophecy given
to Jeremiah earlier. Jerusalem will eventually
be rebuilt and will be ruled by a righteous king!
Jeremiah did not understand how God could restore a nation
that was destined for doom (32:24–25), so the Lord challenged the prophet to
call to Him for understanding. God said He would then reveal “great and unsearchable things.” Only
God can unlock the secrets of the future, and He offered this knowledge to
Jeremiah. God had done amazing things in
creation, and here prophet Jeremiah was invited to observe the unfathomable
greatness of God’s work on behalf of His people!
When we relate this magnificent promise (v.3) into our lives,
we can understand that the mysteries of eternity are available to us only
through call the name of God. God pledges the unchanging faithfulness of His
being for the fulfillment of His promises to His children. God is able to
reveal that which has formerly been hidden, and He is committed to deliver and
to preserve His people. "You have
heard; see all this. And will you not declare it? I have made you hear new
things from this time, even hidden things, and you did not know them."
(Isaiah 48:6)
Where there is godless
living (Isaiah 56:11, 12), lack of
concern for others in their need (Isaiah 58:6–9), and carelessness with regard to the clear instructions of the Word of God
(Isaiah 35:17), God cannot and will not hear the prayers of these wicked people.
In fact, they stand in danger of divine judgment (Zech. 7:8–14). However, where
the children of God maintain an intimate communion with God, then God will
surely answer their call (see Job 13:22; 14:14, 15; Psalms 22:24, 25; 91:15;
102:1, 2; Isaiah 58:9; 65:24).
God wants us to come to Him for understanding and insight.
All true wisdom ultimately begins with Him, as we read: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov.
1:7). Jeremiah 33:3 is popularly referred to as "The Golden Key of Prayer", and has three elements for our understanding:
- Call to God and He WILL
answer us. For "whoever calls on the name of the
Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
- We do not know everything:
our knowledge is imperfect. "For My thoughts are not your
thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My
thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
- God will show us great
and mighty things that we do not know. “Oh, the depth of the
riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His
judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the
Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" (Romans 11:33-34)
When we call upon God (one action), God does four actions in return: God answers (‘I will answer you’), God reveals (‘and show you’), God demonstrates (‘great and mighty things’), and God surprises (‘which you do not know’). Today, let us call upon God for answers to all our questions!
