Jeremiah 17:5-8 New International Version
5 This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
5 This is what the Lord says:
This passage of scripture presents two side of a coin.
It shows us what it looks like to place TRUST in God vs. man.
trust – hie for refuge[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]
It is not a discouragement from our daily walk alongside God in community because throughout the Word, God calls us to value all of our brethren, live in full accord and bear each other’s burdens.
Rather, this message was intended to teach the people of Israel the danger of trusting, idolizing, worshiping the Asherah poles statues, false temple gods.
Certainly, it can apply to us today, as we can easily make our relationships with worldly sources of our trust our initial hie for refuge in place of God in Christ.
When you encounter trials and troubles, who do you run to first for protection and comfort? Do you first consult God or man? Is your first response, first act of defense, referring to scripture, praying to God or venting to a friend or a crowd?
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
cursed – to receive what is harmful[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]
Another human cannot sustain you as God can.
We are all just as flawed and weak as each other.
Therefore, placing a relationship above God, the ultimate and eternal source of strength, means forsaking the benefits of a relationship with the Almighty, All-powerful and All-knowing always available heavenly Father.
It also means opening ourselves up to more harm than good.
The one who makes man their primary source:
- Will not grow much in their stature (remains as a shrub/bush)
- Will not have vision of good and prosperous things (will not see prosperity)
- Will not have a source of refreshing (dwell in parched places)
- Will curate a life of dryness/barrenness (a salt land)
Your family, friends, business partners, collogues may seriously disappoint you and possibly betray you with their words.
They may not validate or challenge you in the times when you need it most.
They may not always do a great job of reassuring and encouraging you in the face of difficulty.
On the other side, you will develop a life of people pleasing and valuing the word of man more than that of God.
It will not bring you God’s intended growth for your life, simply because no matter how close you are, your fellow men will never know you as well as God.
He knows your innermost thoughts and outermost expressions. He knows your past, present and future self! It is through the intimacy of His knowledge for us that he can provide us with just exactly what we need to flourish and to thrive.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit."
blessed – to receive what is beneficial[Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance]
When God is the source of our trust and strength, we can be sustained by the One who is stronger than us, greater than us, wiser than us, more reliable than us, kinder than us, more trustworthy, … much better than us, in every sense.
Instead of depending in one who is just as flawed as you are, you depend on the one who is perfect and blameless!
Our shortcomings and weaknesses does not phase Him. He even promises us that His strength is perfected in our weakness. It means that he works best in the areas where we are at our worst.
Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT):
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”
The one who makes God their source:
- Will grow in their stature to great heights (like a tree)
- Will dwell where there is a source of refreshing (planted by the waters)
- Will grow deeper in their walk with God, be more firm and less shaken (spread its roots)
- Will not allow fear to change your character, countenance or appearance in seasons of difficulty (leaves will be green even when the heat comes)
- Will not allow anxiety to change your sense of purpose or service in seasons of difficulty (will not cease from yielding fruit)
This is because when God is your source, you always run to him regardless of the circumstance.
You will continue to pray, worship, read his Word and do what you must to remain in His presence.
Psalm 125:1-2 (NLT):
“Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord will surrounds his people, both now and forever.”
It is in his presence, that he challenges us to grow in obedience and surrender, encourages us to refresh our souls and affirms us in our identity in Him that we may stand and know we are safely sheltered, protected and be rooted deeply.
The Lord, the Keeper of Israel.
A Song of Ascents.
121 I will raise my eyes to the mountains;
From where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your [a]protector;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun will not [b]beat down on you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will [c]protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The Lord will [d]guard your going out and your coming in
From this time and forever.
When God is your source, seasons of heat and drought will come, but how you show up in the world, plant your roots in Ministry and what more you choose to contribute to the world to advance, grow, His kingdom will continue to endure.
In essence, when we make God our source, we are sustained regardless of the circumstance and we can yield more success in our spiritual and physical lives!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying …
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 If an army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am confident.
4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord
And to [c]meditate in His temple.
5 For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [d]tabernacle;
He will hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer sacrifices in His tent [e]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [f]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [g]desire of my enemies,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 