Jeremiah 14-15   There came a time when the Lord decided to "remember their iniquity and call their sins to account".   A drought hit Jerusalem.  It is so severe that there is no water in the wells. The farmers could not grow any crops.  The animals could not even find grass.  The people called out to the Lord for help.  They confessed, " .. our iniquities testify against us"... and " we have sinned against Thee".  But, the Lord told Jeremiah to answer only this, " Even so they have loved to wander; the have not kept their feet in check."  15:6 "You who have forsaken Me.. You keep going backward. So I will stretch My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of relenting." 

It was too little too late for Judah.  Their wickedness was being poured back on them.  The Lord declared, "Even though Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me, My heart would not be with this people; send them away from My presence and let them go!" ( 15:1)

Death by sword, famine, or pestilence was poured out on Judah.  Captivity was the only other option.
Jeremiah is told to stop praying for them. There is no more he can do for his people.

Jeremiah reminds the Lord of his own faithfulness, of his love for the Word and of his heart set apart for the Lord.  The Lord gives Jeremiah a promise of deliverance and a task.. " ... and if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will be My spokesman.." 

How do you go about extracting the precious from the worthless?  It takes a refining fire.  Ezekiel 44:23 says, " Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."  He goes on to tell them to judge according to the Word - what is right and what is wrong according to His law.   "... put away violence and destruction, and practice justice and righteousness... " (Ezekiel 45:9)

There is day coming when it will be too late for those who have chosen to forsake their Creator, the Lord, who alone is God.  Sins will be called into account.  Our patient heavenly Father will no longer relent. Lost people in our world, who love to wander and who won't keep their feet in check... who don't know and don't even care that they don't know the difference between what is precious and what is worthless ... who can't discern the holy from the profane...  will be destroyed, sent from the presence of God, exiled for eternity.

Like Jeremiah we are called to a difficult task.  We need to extract the precious from the worthless.  We need to teach the difference between what is holy and what is not.  We need to make sure that our children and grandchildren know what is precious and what is worthless!  We need to be spokes-men and women for our Lord.. proclaiming truth and righteousness.  We need to have a love for God's Word and hearts set apart to serve Him.

O Father, God of Comfort and Grace, strengthen us for the work ahead, that we might be faithful to do all that You have called us to do, in the Name of Jesus our Lord, amen.