“Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:11–13, KJV)
How many times have we trusted in things that cannot prosper? How many times have we trusted in our own efforts only to fail? As we look at the world around us, we see many unbelievers who are trusting in things that have no eternal value. We live in a materialistic world. We also see people striving for joy through the folly of human effort, only to be frustrated. For at the end of their effort there is no lasting joy.
I remember, as an unbeliever thinking that to have a new car would be something that would bring joy to me. So, I went into serious debt to finance a new car. Yes, I was happy with my new car. I just loved that new car scent. It was shiny and many wanted to know about it. However, there was a downside. About a year later the newness wore off and I saw other models that were more impressive. The only problem was that the car I purchased had already depreciated to the point that a trade-in made no sense and would just put me further in debt. So, I just had to bear the burden of another four years of heavy payments to drive a car that no longer brought me the joy I desired.
This is what happened to the nation of Israel. The word of the Lord brought charges against them that indicated the folly of their pursuits. First, He asked them this rhetorical question. “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods?” The people were to consider the Gentile nations. They had never changed their gods. Yet, God’s people had exchanged “their glory,” the one true God, for gods that had no power to do a thing, gods that could not profit one iota. The reason was that the gods they trusted were dead lifeless things.
Then He stated that His people had “committed two evils.” They had forsaken God, the only one who had the ability to provide “living waters.” The people would have clearly understood what the Lord was saying for the best most reliable water in Israel came from its springs. The metaphor was clear. God was the only one who could give true blessing, the provision of abundant life, and its subsequent joy.
The second evil was that they would try to achieve blessings via manmade earthly devices. He stated that they “hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Often the people would make cisterns to capture rainwater. The only problem was that the rain was inconsistent. Moreover, the cisterns could crack and then hold no water. The cisterns represented the idols that the people worshipped. They had kicked God out by worshipping and trusting images created by men’s vain imaginations.
The question is this. Could we as believers be guilty of the same thing today? I do not know of anyone who would admit to worshipping an image carved in wood, stone, gold, etc. However, it is very much possible to allow things of the world to steal our devotion from our God. Pastors and parishioners can easily fall in to the trap of trusting a particular ministry philosophy to build a church rather than the Lord who is the Master Builder. Sometime the church itself can be the main source of our devotion rather than the Lord our God.
Many believers today can be lured into holding their efforts high in a particular ministry. Thus, they might trust in their own human effort to accomplish what they are assigned. Often, they engage in their ministry for personal glorification rather than to bring glory to God. These problems are evident when people serve but see little or no value in prayer.
The same can happen in one’s personal lives. For example, some can be swayed to pursue a host of worldly things to the detriment of their devotion to the Lord who provides all. They seek the things rather than the provider of all things. Yes, we are supposed to work and earn a living. However, often we get our priorities backwards. Jesus stated it this way.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33, KJV)
I know too many people who are seeking the things rather than “the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” As a result, they often struggle unnecessarily, are anxious, and never experience true joy.
Renewing the Heart 