FWD: Morning Manna Aug. 23--BP: Jer. 14; RBTTY: I Cor. 6; Ps. 113-115

I hope all of you & families are well.  Have a Blessed day and weekend.  We are fine in our family.  God Bless  
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:57:04 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna Aug. 23--BP: Jer. 14; RBTTY: I Cor. 6; Ps. 113-115
 

August 23                                                                                  “The Cry of Contrition”

 

“We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness and the iniquity of our fathers—for we have sinned against You.  Do not abhor us; for Your Name’s sake, do not disgrace the Throne of Your Glory.  Remember:  Break not Your Covenant with us.  Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain?  Or can the heavens give showers?  Are not You He, O Lord our God?  Therefore, we will wait upon You—for You have made all these things.”

                                                                                                             Jeremiah 14:20-22

     In our darkest hour, we’d better know to Whom to go and what to do.

     Pride.

     It’s inherent, insidious, intoxicating, infectious and seemingly incorrigible.  Our Adamic natures are born with it and we enjoy its “fruits” of power, prestige, popularity, possessions, etc.

 

     Yet, we forget that “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall—and it’s better to be of an humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Prov. 16:18-19). 

 

     Even though the Lord God had already told Jeremiah not to intercede for his countrymen anymore, the Weeping Prophet continued pleading on their (and his) behalf (15:13-22).  He reasoned with the God of Abraham over the false prophets and their messages of peace (v.13); yet, the Lord told him He’d not sent them and judgment was coming (vv.14-16).  He then told Jeremiah to say unto them “Let my eyes run down with tears night and day and let them not cease—for the virgin daughter of My People is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow” (v.17).

 

     The persistent prophet continued crying out to God in today’s Manna, seemingly taking Him to task over His Heavy Hand (v.19).  But, thankfully, the Lord was merciful to Him and didn’t consume him in His wrath (cf. Lam. 3:21-23).  Instead, He continued letting Jeremiah pray and plead—knowing in the end he’d come to see what He was doing was right (Rom. 8:28).

 

     There’s no doubt Jeremiah’s tears flowed from a heart of personal, brokenhearted contrition.  His words are so revealing and needed in this generation:  “We acknowledge, O Lord, OUR wickedness and the iniquity of our fathers—for WE have sinned against You.” 

 

     Are these not the same words David prayed after his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the death of their firstborn son (Ps. 51)?  Was this not the same “heart’s condition” that moved Isaiah to cry “Woe is me!  For I am undone—because I am a man of unclean lips and dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. . .for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Is. 6:5)?

     Assuredly they are.  Unless we’re broken in this same way, Pilgrim, we shall not experience revival—individually or corporately—in these last days.  May the Spirit do what it takes to bring us to this place of brokenness. . .for the hour is late.

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

Mr. Lynn M. Smith

Department Business Administrator

Department of Economics

University of Houston

204C McElhinney Hall

Houston, TX 77204-5019

(713) 743-3802 (office)

(713) 743-3798 (fax)

LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)

http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)