Backward Bill
But this thing I commanded them, saying, Obey my voice, I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walketh in the counsels and the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
…Jeremiah 7:23-24
Why then is this people of Jerusalem
…Jeremiah 8:6
My precious husband Bill, stuttered so bad that he had special classes to try and overcome the speech difficulty acquired when he was very young. He said he developed the stuttering because of the fear of his older sister. Well, he has been known to exaggerate in his story telling just a bit. If you ask his sister she has a completely different story! Nevertheless, the stuttering habit stuck with him into his teen years.
When God called “Billy” to preach, eyebrows lifted in questionable fashion. “Billy?” The ‘Billy Levergood’ we know? You’ve got to be kidding!” But when the newly called of God preached his first sermon on teen night no one could believe their ears. He stuttered not a word. The reason being he was well organized in his thoughts, well practiced, and methodical in his approach. God showed him how to over come his stuttering habit.
God had plans for “Billy.” Even though not feeling confident in a new language the ugly head of the stuttering creature reared his head up again, but before long Bill became fluent and was able to overcome it with God’s help.
When talents, gifts, desires, weaknesses, or even backwardness is placed in the hands of God anything can happen. Jeremiah sees the sin and weaknesses of the people of Jerusalem given over to disobedience, which in return leads them away from God’s special plan for them; one of peace and not strife. Backsliding then results.
As we know, any weaknesses given over to God can be turned into great strengths. One of the secrets is to be committed, determined and methodical in your approach to God.
The Jewish people are called to repentance from their backslidden state. God tells them He is not so concerned with their sacrifices and offerings, as He is with the condition of their hearts. God says, Obey my voice, and I will be your God and ye shall be my people, all said at the time idols are in the back room of the Temple
The state of the Jewish people is that of backward, not forward. Much more serious than a stuttering young man given over to God! Bill was a bit backward, but he wasn’t back sliding.
Father,
I come before you thanking you for your longsuffering toward us. We are weak and need your constant guidance to keep from the back sliding state like the Children of Israel
