A lesson on how God answers prayer. Jeremiah 32.26-44
Looking toward Restoration (3)
Pray Psalm 115.1-3.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”
But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.
Sing Psalm 115.1-3.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus )
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, “Where is their God on high?”
You rule us, Lord, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Read and meditate on Jeremiah 32.26-44.
Prepare.
1. How did God respond to Jeremiah’s prayer?
2. What does God add concerning His covenant (v. 40)?
Meditate.
What’s the most surprising aspect of God’s response to Jeremiah’s prayer?
There’s nothing new here!
All that God tells Jeremiah is what Jeremiah had been telling the people of Jerusalem and Judah for forty years. Put another way, God answered Jeremiah’s prayer by taking Jeremiah to His Word. He reminded Jeremiah of Judah’s treachery, of His sending many prophets to warn them, of His plan to judge them by the Babylonians, and of His promise to return them to their land. Then He reminded Jeremiah of the covenant He would make with them, and that the land and people would prosper once again.
So, nothing new. Should Jeremiah have regarded that as answer to his prayer? Absolutely. What are the implications for us? Let me mention a few.
First, let’s remember Jeremiah’s effusive praise to God. It’s always good to praise God, and we can expect that God will be more likely to hear our prayers and to respond to them when He sees in our hearts such an attitude of praise and submission.
Second, too often we look for answers to our prayers in specific terms – typically, terms we have decided would be in our best interest. But we can’t know what’s in our best interest; we can only know what we want. God knows what’s best for us, and He tells us what’s best for us in His Word. We must not separate our prayers from our time seeking the Lord in His Word, because more often than not, what we’re seeking from Him – that is, what we really need from Him – has already been revealed in His Word. So as we wait on the Lord in prayer, and for answers to our prayer, we must remain diligent in reading and meditating in His Word. Because it just may be that He wants to answer our prayer from something He’s already told us.
Finally, there’s an insight here for corporate worship. It has to do with worship as a kind of dialogue with God. He calls us to worship, we come before Him with praise and confession. He welcomes us, we offer songs and gifts of thanksgiving as a token of our devotion to Him. He receives them and invites our prayers. We bring our prayers to Him, and then He answers our prayers through the preaching of the Word. We receive the Word and commit to doing it – whether in song or responsive reading or prayer or all three. Then He invites us to His table to feed on His grace; after which, He sends us along with His blessing, having strengthened us for continuing service in His Name.
God’s answer to Jeremiah’s prayer is neither petulant nor impatient. It is gracious, complete, refreshing, renewing, reassuring, and – as we shall see – full of surprises yet to come. Wouldn’t it be great if our prayer life – and our worship – were more like that?
Reflect.
1. What did God promise to give His people in the new and everlasting covenant? What should be the practical effect of that?
2. In the new and everlasting covenant, are we supposed to fear God? Why?
3. How was Jeremiah’s purchase of the field meant to serve as a token of God’s promises? What will you do today to embody God’s promises before others?
There is another thing to be noticed, ― that whatever we seek as to the things of this world can yield us no real good, except God be reconciled to us. When therefore we have all things in abundance, when nothing is wanting as to every kind of pleasure, when we are favored with great wealth, when peace and security are granted to us, yet all this, as I have said, will prove ruinous to us, except God owns us as his children, and becomes a Father to us. Therefore when we seek to become happy, we must direct our minds to the principal thing, even to be reconciled to God, so that we may be able with confidence to call him our Father, to hope for salvation from him, and ever to flee to his mercy. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Jeremiah 32.38
Lord, all I need I find in You and Your Word. Help me to turn there today as I…
Pray Psalm 115.4-18.
Anything you’re trusting in that isn’t Jesus is an idol. Give all your idols to Jesus, and cling to Him for all your needs today.
Sing Psalm 115.4-18.
Psalm 115.4-18 (Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
Idols made by men’s own hand – ever to Your Name be glory –
see nor hear nor understand – ever to Your Name be glory!
They neither feel nor walk, nor can they speak or talk;
all those who serve them fall, but unto Your Name be glory!
All who trust in Jesus yield – ever to His Name be glory! –
find in Him their help and shield – ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the Lord! He helps us evermore!
Fear Him obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Blessings from our gracious Lord – ever to Your Name be glory –
will attend us evermore – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, Lord, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Grant us, Savior, great increase – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace – ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
T. M. Moore
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).
