When Wisdom Becomes Folly
22 “For my people are foolish;
they know me not;
they are stupid children;
they have no understanding.
They are ‘wise’—in doing evil!
But how to do good they know not.”
23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.
25 I looked, and behold, there was no man,
and all the birds of the air had fled.
26 I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before the Lord, before his fierce anger.
Jeremiah 4:22-26
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When Wisdom Becomes Folly
Judah believed she was wise. Skilled in politics. Experienced in religion. Confident in alliances. Yet the Lord exposes the truth through Jeremiah: they were “wise” only in doing evil. This is not intellectual weakness but moral rebellion. They had the covenant, the Temple, the sacrifices, yet their hearts were turned from the Lord. Jeremiah’s vision of the land undone, formless, empty, dark, echoes Genesis 1. Sin does not merely bend creation; it unravels it. When God’s Word is despised, chaos follows. This is true not only for nations, but for us. When we trust our own wisdom and justify our sin, we return to darkness. Yet the same God who once spoke light into the void speaks again. At the cross, creation’s chaos fell upon Christ. The darkness of Good Friday swallowed Him so that light might rise for us. In Him, foolish sinners are made truly wise, wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus.
they know me not;
they are stupid children;
they have no understanding.
They are ‘wise’—in doing evil!
But how to do good they know not.”
23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.
25 I looked, and behold, there was no man,
and all the birds of the air had fled.
26 I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before the Lord, before his fierce anger.
Jeremiah 4:22-26
+
When Wisdom Becomes Folly
Judah believed she was wise. Skilled in politics. Experienced in religion. Confident in alliances. Yet the Lord exposes the truth through Jeremiah: they were “wise” only in doing evil. This is not intellectual weakness but moral rebellion. They had the covenant, the Temple, the sacrifices, yet their hearts were turned from the Lord. Jeremiah’s vision of the land undone, formless, empty, dark, echoes Genesis 1. Sin does not merely bend creation; it unravels it. When God’s Word is despised, chaos follows. This is true not only for nations, but for us. When we trust our own wisdom and justify our sin, we return to darkness. Yet the same God who once spoke light into the void speaks again. At the cross, creation’s chaos fell upon Christ. The darkness of Good Friday swallowed Him so that light might rise for us. In Him, foolish sinners are made truly wise, wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus.
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