Intercession For The Nation
BRD REFLECTIONS
Jeremiah 14 and Psalm 18 (NIV)
(Andrew Ng, Small Group Leader, Small Group Ministry)
READ:
Jeremiah 14 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
In Jeremiah 14, the nation of Judah experienced a severe drought caused by the nation’s sin and worshipping idols instead of God (v10; 22). The drought was so severe that all the cisterns had dried up (v3), the ground cracked (v4), and even the animals abandoned their own offspring (v5-6). Jeremiah interceded on behalf of Judah, pleading to God to “do something for the sake of [His] name” (v7), and to not forsake Judah (v9).
Interestingly, despite Judah fasting and offering burnt offerings and grain offerings (v12), and Jeremiah’s intercessions, God did not relent or forgive (at least in this chapter), and instead doubled down by stating that Judah would be destroyed by the “sword, famine and plague” (v12) and even told Jeremiah to not pray for Judah’s well-being (v11). Judah had strayed far from God (v10) and listened to false prophets who led them astray (v14) promising peace when there was none (v15). The chapter ends with Jeremiah nevertheless continuing his intercession for Judah, confessing their waywardness, and begging God for mercy and declaring that his hope remained in God (v22).
APPLY:
Jeremiah 14 was a difficult passage for me to internalise and accept. How could God reject Judah despite them calling to him and seemingly repenting, or instruct Jeremiah to not intercede for their well-being? This passage is a stark warning about how God is just, and that sin has its consequences — not just on an individual, but also collectively on his/her nation. Specifically, this passage shows the consequences of idolatry and listening to false teachers and how it incurs God’s righteous wrath.
I used to think that just because I don’t live in a theocracy like Judah, God’s standards don’t apply to me or my nation. Nevertheless, the principle in this passage about God judging a nation for their actions extends to all nations, theocracy or not, and all nations and peoples will stand before him one day (Joel 3:1-12; Ezekiel 25-27; Matthew 25:32). A nation is a collective of its peoples, and my attitude to following God has consequences, not just for myself but my nation too. My hope should always remain in God, and just like Jeremiah, I should continuously intercede for my nation.
DO:
[1] Intercede for the nation
Jeremiah 14 provides a model of what it means to intercede for one’s nation, and I should take the posture of Jeremiah in being persistent in intercession — praying night and day and not ceasing (v17). I am to pray and intercede for my leaders and all those in authority, so that as a nation we may live peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Importantly, I should pray that I and my nation do not place our faith in worthless idols of the nations (v22), but instead to place our hope in God.
[2] Be wary of false prophets
False prophets have always existed ever since the time of Jeremiah and Christ (Jeremiah 14:14-15; Matthew 7:15-20) and will only increase in number as the days grow darker (2 Peter 2:1-22). God warns about the outcomes of listening to false teachers, with the false teachers perishing (v15), and those who listen to them suffering as a consequence (v16). I pray for discernment to distill God’s truths — even if they may go against the grain of the world (1 John 4:1-6) and to discard the lies of false teachers.
PRAY:
O Lord, I am unclean, my righteous acts are like filthy rags, and my sin sweeps me away like the wind. I confess my sins before you: of not putting you first and foremost in my life, for listening to the teachings of the world over your words, and above all straying far from you.
I pray for my nation, that as we commemorate its 57th year of independence this year, that you’ll give the leaders your discernment and wisdom to navigate difficult decisions that confront them. I also pray for the church that we may have the discernment to know your truth and to be able to sift out the wheat from the chaff. Amen.
