Why is God waiting do long? 


Because - they do not know the judgment of the Lord

Jeremiah 8:8-17

I find it hard to fathom the norms of society just a few hundred years ago. Rules were explicitly followed. The Elizabethan era in Britain saw people lose their heads, literally, for no other reason than the ruler thought them to be subversive. Justice was swift and harsh, especially when the ruler was defied.

Thousands of years ago, the same mentality held true, in even more barbaric style. The Assyrians would impale conquered civilians on sharp poles, allowing them to die slowly. Defeat in battle meant death to the whole city and community. All conquering hordes followed the same pattern.

Jeremiah talks of judgment. He saw this first hand in what Babylon had done to his people. The killing of King Zedekiah’s sons, for no other reason than they were royal family, seems monstrous today. It was the norm then.

It was probably the patience of God in this milieu that made the people of God, the Jews, complacent. They were used to secular warlords exacting swift revenge. Yet, for flouting the clear laws of God, there seemed to be no quick judgment. Looking from the vantage point of time, we look back and see that God did indeed punish Israel and Judah. But since Jesus came, it has now been over 2000 years. And God has no exacted judgment on those who profane His name or malign Him. So what gives?

1. Firstly, God says that he will judge (v. 13). He will surely “consume”, he says. But His timing is not the same as ours. There are so many mysteries we do not understand. The main one is why is He waiting so long. Most commentators understand this waiting period to be a time given so that as many unbelievers can repent as possible. But to me, and maybe to you, there seems to be greater unbelief today! Rather than seek the answer, the best option is the obvious one. Just trust God, and admit that we do not know why he is waiting this long. But also admit that when he does come again, God will judge everyone.
2. Secondly, many people do not know about the judgment of the Lord (v.8). There are a lot of Christians today who go to happy and loving churches where there is little mention of judgment. The seeker friendly church tries “not to offend”. Worship has become a case of offering praise on our terms, not God’s terms. We walk in and out as we please. We dress as we like. There is no “fear” of God. Fear, you ask. “Why “fear” him when He is all love?”, answer many of the leaders of today. And there is a feel good atmosphere. People cannot envisage God can ever punish. Everybody thinks this is a party!

To some extent, pharisaic style religion may be a default position of those who take th ejudgement of God seriously. However, those who advocate God’s love and total  liberty, that they dilute the gospel to mere sound bites and Sunday morning flip flop parties default the other way.

We need a healthy balanced theology of grace and righteousness, the expression of God’s immutable natures of love and justice. Paul presented this  discussion between too many rules (legalism) and too much liberty (antinomianism) very well in Galatians. Please read that book many times. God is a loving God AND a just God. He loves us but man’s rebellion has also brought the wrath of God upon us.

He cannot deny His nature. That is why His wrath had to be satisfied by the once for all work of Jesus on the Cross, when he died for our sins.

The Day of Judgment will come. We need to stand with the righteous to avoid judgment. This righteousness is a free gift. Believing in Jesus cleanses us of sin in the sight of God and brings us back into His loving presence.

It is amazing how people today can ignore or reject God today.

They do not know the judgment of the Lord………..