Ever go searching for one thing and end up on a bunny trail that results in new discoveries? Such is today.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
What is “heath”? stripped, destitute, poor, naked. (H6199 – ‘ar’ar) Dictionary.com = a tract of open and uncultivated land; wasteland overgrown with shrubs.
A person who chooses to fear man instead of fearing the LORD is cursed. (King Saul is an example)
– They will be stripped. No robe of righteousness. No blessings of sonship.
– They will be spiritually blind, unable to see the goodness & mysteries & revelation of God.
– They will inhabit the dry places, which also happens to be where demons dwell.
– They lack the LIVING waters in their hearts.
– They will be in a salty, barren land. They will not be able to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
– The heat of a desert wilderness burns up the chaff, with nothing good left behind.
– Their heart will be far from the LORD.
– They will feel alone.
– Any water that rains upon the dry and thirsty land will evaporate in the heat and gone in a moment, never quenching their thirst in their souls.
– They have not put in the effort to cultivate their land, nor sow good seed into it, failing to remove the weeds that have grown into fruitless shrubs that suck nutrients from the already unhealthy soil. (*The Negev in Israel is an example of desert land being reclaimed and turned into vibrant, fruitful land by standing upon God’s promises in His word. Is 41:18; Is 35:7)
Now wherever there is a curse, there is always a blessing somewhere in scripture to counter balance it. Almighty God is a good, good God. It’s up to us whether we chose to worship Him in the manner He has prescribed or chose to worship ourselves and suffer the consequences. Curses are not a lack of God’s goodness, just a symptom of our lack of responsiveness to His goodness.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 – Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
A man who trusts in the LORD will end up manifesting the Fear of the LORD in his actions (body), emotions (soul) and hope in his heart (spirit).
– He shall be as a tree = righteousness, upright in all his ways.
– He shall have deep roots, not easily swayed or withered by the winds of doctrines & traditions of men.
– He shall drink of the living waters that are not stagnant nor poisoned.
– The refining fires will leave him unscathed.
– He will be able to source God’s living waters directly into his heart, without needing someone else to water him externally.
– He shall continually yield the fruit of the Holy Spirit, due to abiding in the vine by keeping God’s commandments.
– He shall prosper even in the season of judgment.
– He will carry healing in his “leaves.”
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