Tag: Correction

Tell Me What I Want To Hear

In Jeremiah 26:11, we see the priests and prophets accusing Jeremiah of treason for delivering a prophecy of doom: “This man deserves the sentence of death because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” Jeremiah’s words were not what the people wanted to hear, and their reaction highlights a common human tendency: rejecting uncomfortable truths in favor of comforting lies. This is echoed in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, where Paul warns that a time will come when people “will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

The accusation of treason against Jeremiah underscores the resistance to prophetic truth that contradicts personal or national expectations. Jeremiah’s prophecy was not treasonous; it was a call to repentance, aiming to avert the disaster that awaited Judah if they continued in their sinful ways. Yet, the people preferred to silence the prophet rather than heed his warning, demonstrating the peril of valuing comfort over truth.

This scenario isn’t unique to ancient Judah. Today, we can be just as prone to seeking out voices that affirm our desires and beliefs, rather than those that challenge us with uncomfortable truths. Whether it’s in politics, religion, or personal relationships, the temptation to surround ourselves with yes-men—those who tell us what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear—is ever-present. This leads to a dangerous echo chamber, where truth becomes a casualty, and growth is stunted.

Paul’s warning to Timothy is a timeless caution against this tendency. True growth, both spiritually and personally, requires a willingness to face hard truths and to be corrected. When we reject sound doctrine in favor of teachings that merely scratch our itching ears, we stray from the path of righteousness and risk falling into deception.

In our lives, we must strive to value truth over comfort. This means being open to correction, seeking out voices that challenge us, and remaining vigilant against the tendency to embrace only those messages that affirm our desires.

The Angry God?

As I read through Isaiah today, I was struck by the profound transformation in the relationship between God and His people. The manifestation of God’s anger is pivotal in this shift. Throughout the Old Testament, we see God’s anger depicted as wrath and judgement, yet still aiming to guide His people back to righteousness. However, these chapters of Isaiah reveal a promise of change: God’s wrath will no longer be as it once was, thanks to the redemptive work of the Suffering Servant — Jesus Christ.

God’s oft-maligned anger — on display throughout the Old Testament — represents His holy and just reaction to humanity’s sinfulness and rebellion. In Isaiah 54:7-8, His anger is portrayed as a necessary response to Israel’s relentless unfaithfulness… but the thing so often missed (or misunderstood by the Lord many critics) is that this anger was not an end in itself but a means to restore a broken relationship but demonstrating the consequences of rebellion and lack of trust.

Now, back to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who bears the sins of many and intercedes for transgressors. This Servant takes upon Himself the punishment for sin, satisfying the requirements of God’s justice. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This sacrificial act — in which Jesus has absorbed the wrath due for sin — dramatically changes our relationship with God. In Isaiah 54:9-10, He promises that His anger will not be directed toward His people anymore, much like the promise He made after the great flood.

God’s wrath is now reserved for the final judgment at the end of the age, rather than being meted out in the sort of ad-hoc fashion of the Old Testament. The discipline and correction of God remain, guiding believers towards righteousness via the indwelling Holy Spirit because we have moved from the rule of law to the rule of grace.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How do you understand God’s discipline in the context of His holiness and justice?
  2. In what ways does the promise of God’s grace change your perspective on sin and forgiveness?
  3. How can you live out the reality of God’s grace in your daily life?