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Jeremiah 23 reveals to us the prophetic message and depicts
to us the situation during the time of Jeremiah’s ministry.
It is good to note that Jeremiah 23:5-9 tells us about the
coming Messiah who is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thus, the message from Jeremiah 23 is both prophetic and
eschatological.
Apart from the other attributes of God, it is refreshing and
encouraging for us to note the Omnipresence of God. We thank
God for such great attributes of His that we ought to
acknowledge, to receive and to abide by in
our lives. The Omnipresence of God simply means that He is
present in all places at one time and that His presence is
in all places at all times. Verily, God is present with us
now as we worship Him. He is in our homes. He is with our
children…
However, this wonderful attribute of God is one that the
children of Israel are most likely to neglect during the
times of Isaiah and Jeremiah. Jeremiah 23 is written about
13 years before the fall of Judah into the hands of the
Chaldeans, the Babylonians and eventually the Persians. It
is written with great warning and severity upon the children
of Israel amidst their great transgressions and sins before
their Almighty God. What has led them into the grievous sin
of idolatry? Simply, they have denied and slighted the
important teaching of the Omnipresence of God. Hence, it
brings our attention to Jeremiah 23:23-24 “Am I a God at
hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide
himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the
LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
As we consider the word heaven and earth,
there is no clear definition. This is because they are
all-inclusive and all-encompassing as to how
space is defined. God fills the heavens and the
earth. God is everywhere, He is Omnipresent...
However, the false prophets in the days of Jeremiah
whitewashed and covered up this essential doctrine of God’s
Omnipresence. They prophesied falsely to the people and
caused them to err with their lies.
“... they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out
of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that
despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and
they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination
of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you” (Jer
23:16-17).
Such messages from the false teachers and prophets were
entirely baseless and full of error. There is no fear of God
before the eyes of the Israelites as they turned to their
grievous sins and idolatry. Moreover, these emboldened the
Israelites to sin even more grievously and brazenly through
the false assurance and deceptive messages by the false
teachers. “Peace, peace; when
there is no peace.”
Today, such false prophets appear in different facets and
they bring about different ‘Gospel.’ With their lies and
deceptions, many people were deceived and misled from the
Lord Jesus and the sound teachings of the Scriptures.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye
have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve
not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good
words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple”
(Rom 16:17-18).
It is to be noted that the Omnipresence of God is included
in dogmatic theology. This means that this teaching of God’s
attribute has to be held on to at all costs and it cannot be
compromised. Omnipresence is essentially the property of God
which none other being possesses. This attribute of God
tells us about His immensity and His sheer greatness.
As mentioned before, God’s presence fills everywhere. He
knows everything that is done everywhere and nothing can be
hidden from His eyes. Deviation from this very important
doctrine simply means that the character of God has been
forgotten. In fact, this can be deduced as we consider what
happened to Adam immediately after the Fall.
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the
garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid
themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the
trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and
said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy
voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked;
and I hid myself” (Gen 3:8-10).
Adam thought that he could hide himself from God’s presence.
He did not realise the omnipresence of God.
Despite all these grievous and stern warnings in the light
of God’s Omnipresence, this attribute of God is actually a
form of comfort and encouragement for His redeemed people.
If God is acknowledged, known and realised in our hearts,
what great joy there will be to know that God is ever with
us. Yes, God is Omnipresent. In times of trouble, in the bed
of sickness, in the body of weariness, we know that our Lord
will strengthen. God gives us comfort in His presence.
Amidst times of trial, we appeal and we lean upon such
blessed attribute of our God. Verily, how much ought we to
cling upon this precious truth that we can find in our God.
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will
deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him,
and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth:
and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:
thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness”
(Psalm 41:1-3).
“Then spake Haggai the LORD’S messenger in the LORD’S
message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith
the LORD” (Haggai 1:7).
The presence of God amongst us also serves as a warning to
would-be offenders as well as those who are tempted. What
was Joseph’s response when he was sorely tempted by
Potiphar’s wife? “... how then can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
Joseph was keenly aware that the eye of the Lord is upon
him. He knew that God’s presence was there, so then how can
he do such great wickedness in the presence of his holy
God?
From Joseph’s testimony, we see the power and influence of
this attribute of God among His redeemed people if properly
understood in doctrine and practically manifested in living.
If God’s people were to walk aright with Him, it will truly
be a great blessing upon the church.
Finally, this doctrine also brings our attention to the
Gospel message that Jesus is our Saviour and God. Indeed, we
truly ought to know that we sinners must come to this
Almighty Saviour who is able to save us to the uttermost.
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him...” (Heb 7:25).
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest” (Matt
11:28).
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the
Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12).
Such a great Saviour and God that we have! May we put our
trust in Him in all things! May the Lord guide us! |
