Set Thine Heart Toward The Highway, Jeremiah 31:21
Introduction: God’s love for Israel is seen in many ways. His love for them and His desire to have them experience His presence and power are seen throughout the Scriptures.
Isa 62:10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
Isa 57:14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
Ps 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
God challenges Israel to repent, return to the Lord and be holy. Isa 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
What is God’s purpose and design for every believer? During the time of the believer’s backsliding, what are they feeling? When a believer goes astray, what is it that God desires for that backslider? The answers to these questions are found in Jeremiah chapter thirty-one.
What is God’s design and
desired experience for every believer? Jer. 31:1-14
I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people,
31:1
God hath loved them with an everlasting love and draws them to Himself, 31:3
God will build them, adorn them with music and dancing, 31:4
God will cause crops to grow commonly with prosperity, 31:5
They will no longer be a need for watchman, but be in Zion, 31:6
They will experience the results of joy: singing, shouting, publishing, 31:7
They will be brought together in unity and power, 31:8
They will weep with supplications and be lead of God, never to stumble again,
31:9
They will be gathered and protected by the True Shepherd, 31:10-11
They shall sing in Mt. Zion and experience the goodness of the Lord, 31:12
The virgin shall rejoice in dance, mourning to joy, comfort and rejoicing, 31:13
The priests will be blessed and the people satisfied with God’s goodness, 31:14
During
the time of the believer’s backsliding, what will he experience? Jer.
31:15-20
Lamentation, bitter weeping, refusing to be comforted, chastisement, 31:15-16
After repentance there was sorrow and shame and they were confounded, 31:18-19
From God’s point of view: hope and mercy were available, 31:17,20
Backsliding is Personally Selfish – Prov. 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
Backsliding leads to a Lack of Fear of God: Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
When a believer goes astray, what is it that God demands from that backslider? Jer. 31:21
Set thee up waymarks, - (stand, set, appoint, establish) (Hiphil Imperative) to set up, erect, to cause to stand erect, to fix, establish the signpost or monument in a conspicuous place. The monuments were set to view as a starting place of a new experience with God, and to remind them to get back to God’s leading and direction for their lives.
make thee high heaps: - (put, make, set, lay, appoint) Qal Imperative, meaning to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix, set in place transform into, fashion the high heaps. The heaps were to be guideposts and markers along the way.
set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: - (Qal Imperative) to take one's stand for something important, to impose a standard of living for yourself that does not deviate from the beginning (monument) or signposts along the path (waymarks). It involves a spiritual determination never to stray again from your true foundation, the decision to follow the Lord at all cost. Once you have found the path of God’s leading, never go backward again.
Ps 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
Jer. 50:5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
Jer. 51:50 Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.
Jer. 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Hosea 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.