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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 45

"Because I am innocent"

Text: Jeremiah 2:35

REFUSAL TO ADMIT WRONG

The Lord God sent many prophets to His people. One of the ministries of the prophets was to point out the errors and sins of the leaders. Sadly, the messages of the prophets were not well received. Often, there was outright rejection of the word of God.

“Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent,
Surely His anger shall turn from me.’
Behold, I will plead My case against you,
Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.'”
Jeremiah 2:35

1. “Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent'”

a) A short list of sins was mentioned:
i) Idolatry Jeremiah 2:5
ii) Transgression Jeremiah 2:8, 29
iii) Forsaking God Jeremiah 2:13, 17, 19
iv) Wickedness Jeremiah 2:19a
v) Backsliding Jeremiah 2:19b
vi) Arrogance Jeremiah 2:31
vii) Murder Jeremiah 2:34
b) Judah protests:
i) The nation denied these charges.
ii) It claimed innocence.

2. “Surely His anger shall turn from me”

a) God’s anger
They believed that God would turn away His anger quickly.
b) Self-deception
They believed that they have not given cause for God to be angry with them.

3. “Behold, I will plead My case against you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.'”

a) God would take up what the people said.
i) “I am innocent”
ii) “I have not sinned”
b) God was pleading His case against Judah.
i) God will formally bring the charges against Judah.
ii) This thought would be expanded in later chapters of Jeremiah.

4. An Example of a Court Scene

a) This was aptly described in Micah 6.
b) The Judges (Micah 6:1-2)
i) The Mountains
ii) The Hills
c) God as the Plaintiff (Micah 6:2-5)
i) He spoke of His redemption.
ii) His protection.
iii) His righteousness.
d) Israel/Judah (Micah 6:6-7)
i) Rude rejection of God’s claims
ii) Retorts that it is impossible to please God.