Dictates Don’t Change Hearts

April 3, 2023 Tom Vander Well 3 Comments

Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words.
Jeremiah 11:9-10 (NIV)

The prophet Jeremiah rose to prominence during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. Have just trekked my way through 2 Kings on this chapter-a-day, I think a little context is in order as I read Jeremiah’s words this morning.

For more than a generation, along with King Josiah’s two most recent predecessors, the people of Judah had practiced polytheism. It’s not that they didn’t give a nod to YHWH, the God of Abraham, Moses, and David, but their hearts were divided with a plethora of idols and gods. Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem had become a spiritual marketplace with altars and shrines to various idols, astrological constellations, and pagan gods of the region.

During Josiah’s reign, the Law of Moses (that is, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), was discovered in a storage closet in the temple (See 2 Kings 22). The Law of Moses, which lays out the covenant between God and the Hebrew people, was given through Moses after God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt about 1,000 years before Josiah’s reign. It includes God’s Top Ten rules of life, the first two of which state no other gods, and no making of a graven image (a.k.a. an idol). But this had not been read, generally remembered, or publicly taught for at least 60 years and perhaps longer.

When Josiah heard the Law of Moses, he had the Law of Moses read publicly. He then called on the people to return to the God of their ancestors and enacted strict reforms. All pagan altars and shrines were removed from the temple and burned. All other gods were outlawed throughout Judah and destroyed. It was during this period of reform that a young Jeremiah found his way to Josiah’s royal court and began his prophetic ministry.

Along my life journey, and as I study history, I’ve observed that faith is a matter of the human heart. Governments and religious institutions (Judah’s monarchy was both) are technically kingdoms and institutions of this world. Despite the description of revival during Josiah’s reforms back in 2 Kings, it was not as if the people had any choice but to obey King Josiah’s commands and edicts. That’s how ancient monarchy’s worked. There was no representation, political parties, or recourse. You do what the King (and his army) tell you to do. So the entire nation went along with Josiah’s reforms because they had to do so, not because they all had a change of heart.

Knowing human behavior, I’m quite sure that the worship of Baal, Asherah, and other idols simply moved underground. You can legislate behavior, you can forcefully suppress dissent and demand obedience. I only have to look at any of a number of tyrannical political or religious system around the globe. However, a person’s heart can’t be changed with a government edict or an institutional dictate.

It is into this spiritual landscape that Jeremiah is writing and preaching in today’s chapter. We don’t know exactly when today’s prophetic word was given and delivered in Jeremiah’s ministry, but given the message I could easily place it towards the back-end of Josiah’s reign when people’s secret, underground worship of other gods is growing into a political hot-button. it’s obvious that Josiah’s dictated reforms have not changed the hearts of the Hebrew people. There is a “conspiracy” brewing to “return to the sins of their ancestors.” All of Josiah’s four successors will give in to the idolatrous desires of the people.

In the quiet this morning, I thought of the number of times in the Great Story that God reminds us that it’s my heart’s desire that He wants, not just my mindless observance of dictated moral or religious behaviors and traditions. If I truly give Jesus my heart, then I will be motivated to follow Him into the behaviors He exemplified and requests of me. If Jesus doesn’t have my heart, then all of my religious behavior is as empty as the idolatrous Hebrews who Jeremiah addresses in today’s chapter.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.

Wayfarer's Journal

The Latest: Autumn 2022

April 2, 2023 Tom Vander Well 1 Comment

I know, I know, I know. I’m desperately behind on the latest of the VW family exploits. Last week I posted about our trip to Scotland, but that’s not all the happened this past fall. Here’s the skinny on the rest.

It was a very difficult fall for my father. He is the younger of two brothers and my Uncle Bud was failing quickly in the fall. I took my folks up to my dad’s hometown of Le Mars to visit Bud in the hospital. I am so glad we made the trip. It would prove to be the final opportunity to see him this side of heaven.

Wendy and I continue to enjoy our local gathering of Jesus’ followers. We hosted a backyard barbecue in September along with our awesome backyard neighbors, the Garlands. Together, we hosted over 100 people for burgers, hot dogs, and a bouncy-house. The weather was perfect for the evening and it was awesome.

Of course, it’s not an official fall without American FOOTBALL (have to differentiate with kids and grandkids in the UK – GO MILO!)!!!!! We enjoyed watching our friend Nathan on the local Pella football field and watching our Vikings on the television.

My parents moved to Pella in October. They started in Wesley Life’s independent living at Pella Manor. Within a month, my mother would move into Memory Care at the Cottages of Hearthstone. It was a difficult transition, but God was so good, and the timing was perfect in so many ways. I’m so grateful that my mom got to meet her great-granddaughter, Sylvie.

Autumn is also a big time for our local community here in Pella. Our local gathering of Jesus’ followers does an Original Works Night to spotlight the artists and creatives in our midst. Original art, photography, poetry, music, and the like are presented in a fun coffeehouse atmosphere. I was asked to host the event again this year, and it was awesome. I loved the origami theme.

Our dear friends Mat and Anne McCullough-Kelly were inducted into Pella Community Theatre’s Walk-of-Fame. Wendy and I couldn’t not have been more thrilled, as Mat and Anne played a HUGE part in our own successes there over the years. They both always went above-and-beyond in so many ways, and they were more than deserving of the honor.

Wendy and I also participated, once again, in the annual Pella Tulip Queen Announcement Party. Wendy chaired the Committee this year along with her stellar directorial management of the event. I got to be the Master of Ceremonies. I’m always blown away by the incredible young ladies our community raises. There was not a single one in the final twelve who would not represent our community well (I say that every year), and I love getting to announce Court members and Tulip Queen.

So, there you go. A quick recap of Autumn. Next up: Holidays 2022.

Book Summary List, Chapter-a-Day

1 Kings (Nov 2022-Jan 2023)

April 1, 2023 Tom Vander Well 1 Comment

Each photo below corresponds to a chapter-a-day post for the book of 2 Kings published by Tom Vander Well from Nov 2022-Feb 2023. Click on the photo linked to each chapter to read the post.