The people are called to return to the Lord (v1). This returning has to include removing their detestable things from God’s presence. Isn’t that an interesting thing, not just removing the detestable things, but from God’s presence, which highlights how they live, and move, and worship in the presence of this holy God. Grasping that truth has to encourage holiness.

This removal of the detestable things and focusing on truth, justice and righteousness, will positively impact the other nations and bring them to glory in the Lord (v2). Here is the key to us being used in drawing others to Christ, living a life full of truth, justice and righteousness. Is this your life?

Jeremiah’s ministry was to be one of sowing the good seed of God’s word, but for that to be effective, there has to be a ploughing to break up the hard ground of people’s hearts (v3-4). We need to be aware of how our hearts because of sin will resist the Word of God and this can only be overcome by the grace of God applying the power of the cross consistently. This means we need to come to God’s word totally dependent of the holy Spirit enabling us to receive and respond to that Word properly.

Responding to God’s word is not to be seen as a casual manner, failure to receive it means bringing down the wrath of God (v4b)