Fed Horses
Today’s Verse:
They were as fed horses in the morning…. ~Jeremiah 5:8a
As we read the Word of God, we find the Lord using many colorful images to describe a situation. Since the people who lived during the time that the Bible was written lived in an agrarian society, the Lord used real-life examples to more powerfully convey the message He was trying to get across. An example of this is frequent usage of seed sowing and reaping or sheep and a shepherd. In our study this morning, the Lord uses the phrase “they were as fed horses” to describe the carnal condition of the people of Judah.
We see a woeful dearth.
“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” The people of Jerusalem and Judah were living in sin. Every class of men and women were very backslidden. There was a noticeable absence of men that were righteous, truthful, godly, and separated to the glory of God. God challenged Jeremiah to run throughout the streets of the city to see if he could find even one man. Sadly, there was none to be found. There was not one man to be found who could be identified as righteous in the eyes of God.
We see the wicked desires.
“How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.” God used a very powerful description of the lustful cravings of the people. He said that they were as fed horses in the morning. While this might not make sense to us who live in the city, for those who lived on farms, it was a shameful way to describe their open and unashamed desires for idol worship. Idol worship was widespread among all of the people. It was done out in the open. No one blushed because everyone was doing it. The people desired more idols that they could worship. There was a lack of the fear of God, and an attraction to idols was similar to committing adultery against one’s spouse. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin….”
We see the wrathful denouncement.
“Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” Worshipping any false gods is breaking the first two commandments. It is spiritual adultery against God. God denounces all idol worship, and those who worship idols are subject to the wrath of God. The consequential judgment against Judah included death by the sword, famine, and pestilence; destruction of Jerusalem; and the captivity of many people as servants to the nation of Babylon. The blessing of God was withdrawn, and no longer did God’s face shine upon His people. All sin eventually is subject to the wrath of God. “Be sure your sin will find you out”!
We see the willing discharge.
God is ever-merciful and desires that His people repent of their sin and turn back in love to Him. God promises to pardon, or discharge, the sins of those who, with contrite hearts, return to Him and beg for mercy and forgiveness. We must be honest with ourselves and recognize when “idols” creep into our lives and we worship our possessions, our intelligence, our relationships, and things. Don’t let idols ruin you. Don’t allow your desires to be unrestrained and become like fed horses in the morning.
Have a crucified God Morning!
Bible Reading: Luke 8-9