False Repentance vs True Repentance

False Repentance vs True Repentance

 

Jeremiah 21:1-14

 

Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, sent people to Jeremiah to ask for prayers when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked. However, Jeremiah conveys the word of God, and God himself will strike them because of anger and wrath, but He will not pity them. And He has laid for them the way of life and the way of death, and they who surrenders will live, but they will be like spoils. And speaking of the house of King David, He tells them to judge righteously and save those who have been plundered from the hand of those who oppress them. The inhabitants of the valleys and the plains, the rocks, say “Who will come and attack us?”, but God will punish them according to their deeds.

 

God is not fooled by false repentance. Zedekiah, who did not listen to the word of God through Jeremiah, asks for prayer help only when Babylon invades. However, God's answer is that those who surrender will live, but they will be taken to Babylon's exile like spoils of war. Those who live in this city will die by the sword, famine, and pestilence. God makes us pay a severe price for our sins. We must stay away from sin and bear the proper fruit of true repentance.

 

God asks leaders to pass judgment justly and deliver the afflicted from the hands of the oppressors. We must pray for our leaders to rule with justice and look around to see if there is anyone suffering.

 

God, let us stay away from sin and bear fruit worthy of true repentance! May our leaders rule with justice and save the afflicted from the oppressors!