JEREMIAH 7: 23, 24

How terrible it was for the children of Judah that after repeated warnings, admonitions, and prophecies, the Lord finally said to them – “Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate” (Jeremiah 7:34). I mean things got so bad that the Lord promised to take any semblance of joy and mirth from them. Can you imagine a place without mirth and gladness, a place devoid of joy, no merriment, no laughter, no music, no dancing, no marrying and giving in marriage! Very simply put, the prophet declares most solemnly, and in that most dramatic way – for the land shall be desolate.

It is borne out by Scripture and the prophetic writings that unrepented sin always results in desolation – joylessness, dilapidation, barrenness and lifelessness. Their real sin, put in a nutshell, was failure to obey the voice and word of the Lord. They were so careful to observe the ritualistic sacrifices of the burnt offerings and other physical offerings while flagrantly disregarding and disobeying the voice of the Lord. For this, they are severely reprimanded and seriously punished. The Lord contends through the prophet . . . “This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction; truth is perished and is cut off from their mouth” (7:28). Repeatedly, it is reported of them that they harkened not to the voice of the Lord, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. (7:26)

Today, our sincere desire should be to do better than our fathers and not worse. I solemnly declare that God has been too good to us for us to retrogress and rebel and do worse. With all the warnings we have received, with the preaching we have heard, with the teachings we have been given, with all the admonitions and chastenings imparted, there is no way we should be worse.

It is with great interest we read and note “Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them . . . .” (7:25). I find it fascinating how plainly the word comes across to Jeremiah – “For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day I brought you out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings of sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying Obey my voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my people: and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you . . .” (vv. 22,23). His word constantly reminds us”…Behold to obey is better than sacrifice…”(1 Sam.15:22).

Brethren, more than anything, this is what makes us His church and His special inheritance – Obeying His voice. Anything less cuts us off from His favor and abundance. It must never be that we are worse than our forefathers. I pray that the voice of mirth and gladness shall always be found and experienced in your home and church. Obedience to His voice is the secret and source of gladness and mirth.