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#49219 Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:58 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
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Lynda Offline OP
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Jeremiah 18
7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

Why is God saying this? Is it to show those who disobey, that they could have been blessed were it not for their wickedness?

This neither renders God limited in knowledge nor incapable of changing a sinner's heart, IMO.

Lynda #49223 Wed Oct 10, 2012 9:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Lynda
Jeremiah 18
Why is God saying this? Is it to show those who disobey, that they could have been blessed were it not for their wickedness?

This neither renders God limited in knowledge nor incapable of changing a sinner's heart, IMO.
1. The immediate CONTEXT establishes the immutable fact that God is the Sovereign LORD of men and has the authority/right to create and determine the end of all men, which He has done. This fact is established in many passages throughout both the OT and NT, e.g., (Ps 135:6; Prov 16:4; Isa 43:7; 45:21; 46:9,10, 65:9; Dan 4:35; Hos 2:23; Rom 9:13-26).

2. The emphasis in the verses you are considering, vv. 7-10 changes the focus from God's Omnipotence, to God's justice and mercy, in that order. He, God through the prophet, illustrates these two things by including man's responsibility to do what God has commanded.

Specifically, the 'lesson' is this...

  1. God is the Supreme Creator and Ruler of all things, including every individual man, woman and child.
  2. God has revealed how man is to live before God through His law and prophets.
  3. Those who bow before Him and do those things which He has commanded will be blessed. Those who refuse to do that which God has commanded will be cursed/punished.
  4. Those who once obeyed but then turn their backs on God will receive their reward; justice/punishment. But those who once were obstinate and enemies of God shall receive mercy.
  5. Specifically, these things are spoken to Israel who were shown infinite mercy by God. They were chosen from all the people's of the earth to be a people unto God (Deut 7:6-11) on the sole basis of God's good pleasure. Thus, Israel has no basis to boast of their blessedness. Further, should Israel become an obstinate people; to go after other gods and to sin against the LORD, God's favor will be withdrawn. Conversely, should a pagan and idolatrous nation repent of their sins and turn to the one true living God, they will be shown mercy.

I agree that God's "repentance" is wrongly construed if one believes that God has not decreed these things from eternity without any reference to man whatsoever, i.e., God has decreed all things according to His own good pleasure... unconditionally. What is in focus here is God holds men responsible for their actions and metes out mercy and justice accordingly. Thus to throw up one's hands because of a fatalistic view is an insult to God. And likewise, to presume upon God's goodness and to spurn His holy commandments will surely result in death.


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