“At the noise of charioteers and archers, the people flee in terror. They hide in the bushes and run for the mountains. All the towns have been abandoned not a person remains! What are you doing, you who have been plundered? Why do you dress up in beautiful clothing and put on gold jewelry? Why do you brighten your eyes with mascara? Your primping will do you no good! The allies who were your lovers despise you and seek to kill you.” Jeremiah 4:29-30
Jeremiah was telling Israel that Babylon was at the door and it would be a judgment from God, but they would not listen to Jeremiah. They failed to listen and continued to sin. They tried to run to the mountains for safety and this did not work. The mighty Babylon army was closing in fast. When nothing they tried worked. They attempted to please the Babylon army. The women even tried to dress in their beautiful clothing and make them more appearing. None of these things worked. It was very simple what they needed to do. They just needed to return to God and repent of their sins. God would have given them life where Babylon would take their lives.
This scripture speaks volumes to us today in America. We love our sins so much that we would rather die in our sins than return to God and repent of our sins. Israel was trying to change the outside not the inside. Outward glory is a mockery when once internal wretchedness is discovered. What use are purple and fine linen to the leper? We must learn to walk in brokenness. We must put on the garment of humility. This garment is not an external garment. It is an internal garment. It is an attitude of the heart. Our hearts must be humble if we are to return to God. “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10) Have you allowed God to search your heart to see if there is anything keeping you from being broken for God? Ask God today to search your heart and let Him humble you so you can live.