GOT WHAT THEY DESERVED

Mike Ciesiensky

Central Truth

The Philistines and their allies are toast. God's sword of judgment is coming, and it will not be pretty.

On account of the day that is coming
To destroy all the Philistines,
To cut off from Tyre and Sidon
Every ally that is left;
For the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines,
The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
(Jeremiah 47:4)

Judgment on the Philistines

1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza.

2 “Thus says the LORD:
Behold, waters are rising out of the north,
    and shall become an overflowing torrent;
they shall overflow the land and all that fills it,
    the city and those who dwell in it.
Men shall cry out,
    and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.
3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,
    at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,
the fathers look not back to their children,
    so feeble are their hands,
4 because of the day that is coming to destroy
    all the Philistines,
to cut off from Tyre and Sidon
    every helper that remains.
For the LORD is destroying the Philistines,
    the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
5 Baldness has come upon Gaza;
    Ashkelon has perished.
O remnant of their valley,
    how long will you gash yourselves?
6 Ah, sword of the LORD!
    How long till you are quiet?
Put yourself into your scabbard;
    rest and be still!
7 How can it^{1

47:7
Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew you} be quiet
    when the LORD has given it a charge?
Against Ashkelon and against the seashore
    he has appointed it.”

Footnotes

[1] 47:7 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew you

While on a mission trip to Romania, $300 was stolen from one of our leader's backpack. I responded like any righteous leader would, I prayed. Sure, I prayed for the return of the money and the salvation of the thief. But I also prayed that the money would rot in the thief's hands. I prayed that the money would not give any pleasure. I prayed that the thief would have no satisfaction with his bounty and get what he deserved--absolutely nothing. To this day, I wish I would have prayed differently.

Fast forward with me to reading chapter 47 of Jeremiah. The Philistines are finally getting what they deserve. They have hassled the children of God for a very long time. They have mocked the God of Israel for the last time. They are going to pay for it and get what they deserve!

Romans 6:23 reads,"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." What do I deserve? I have sinned. I have done what I thought was right in my own eyes, disregarding God's commands. Count me among the Philistines. Consider me a thief.

Jeremiah 47 has challenged me to not rejoice when others get what they deserve. God shows me grace that I do not deserve, and I want to extend that grace to others. Jeremiah 47 has also reminded me that His judgment is still pending. There are still people around me that do not know that Jesus died so they, too, can have eternal life. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, and I have a chance to tell them about God's love before they reach judgment. "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! . . . '" (Ezekiel 33:11)

1. Do I rejoice when others get what they deserve?

2. In what ways have I not been given what I deserve?

3. Who can I extend grace to and not give them what they deserve?

4. What band sang, "When we don't get what we deserve, that's a real good thing?"

WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY

JEREMIAH 45-49 (JUNE 6-10)

Read Jeremiah 45.

What does it say that Baruch did for Jeremiah in verse 1? Go back and read Jeremiah 36 to read about the actual events.

Baruch did not have a computer to type out the words Jeremiah spoke. Baruch had to write them all by hand. How long do you think it took him? How do you think he felt when he found out the scrolls had been burned? Then, what did Jeremiah have him do?

After all of his writing, the people did not repent! How does it say Baruch felt in Jeremiah 45:3? What does the Lord say in response to his complaining? Look at verse 5, what does it say Baruch was seeking?

What does it mean to "[seek] great things for yourself?" Are you ever tempted to do things so you get the glory or recognition? For whose glory should you do all things? (See Colossians 3:23)

ACTIVITY: As a family, think of someone in your neighborhood whom you can serve. Be creative, intentional, and sacrificial (i.e. mow their lawn, bring them their paper each morning, bring them breakfast, clean their pool, etc.) When they ask you WHY you are doing it, take the time to sit with them and talk about what Christ has done for you. Remember to give God the glory!