Sin ruins lives

“This is what the Lord said to me: ‘Go and buy yourself a linen undergarment and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water.’ So I bought the undergarment in accordance with the word of the Lord, and put it around my waist. Then the word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, ‘Take the undergarment that you bought, which is around your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a crevice of the rock.’ So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord had commanded me. After many days the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, go to the Euphrates and take from there the undergarment which I commanded you to hide there.’ Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took the undergarment from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the undergarment was ruined, it was completely useless.” (Jeremiah 13:1-7 NASB)

Although what Jeremiah was told to do is fairly straightforward, some of the details are more difficult to determine.

He was to purchase a piece of undergarment made of linen. What this was precisely is more difficult to determine, as can be seen from the ways the various translations refer to it – the more common being a belt (NIV, NLT), an undergarment (NASB, CEB, CSB), a loincloth (ESV, NRSVUE) or shorts (NET). It seems to be something worn under the clothing and next to the skin.

There is good symbolism in what Jeremiah was told. This undergarment symbolised Israel and God’s close relationship to them.

“‘For as the undergarment clings to the waist of a man, so I made the entire household of Israel and the entire household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘so that they might be My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they did not listen.’” (Jeremiah 13:11).

Linen undergarments were what the priests wore. This might symbolise that Israel was to be God’s holy people. The linen garments of the priest were to give him special honour (Exodus 28:40) the same as Israel was to be a source of praise and glory to God.

There is debate as to where Jeremiah was to bury this piece of clothing. Most translations go with ‘Euphrates’ but the Hebrew word literally is ‘Perath’. Elsewhere this word refers to the Euphrates, although it is preceded by ‘river of’. Another possibility is that this could refer to a place in Judah near Anathoth, where Jeremiah was from. 

Where it was located does not change the meaning: Jeremiah was to take this nice undergarment, leave it buried in rocks and subject to the elements for a while, then go back and get it. Because it had been left out it was now ruined. This also symbolised Israel’s relationship with God – at least what that relationship had become.

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: ‘To the same extent I will destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. This wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and have followed other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, let them be just like this undergarment which is completely useless.’” (Jeremiah 13:8-10)

Isn’t this what sin does to people? It makes them useless, as far as their serving God is concerned. Judah had embraced the worship of idols. That rendered them useless to God just as a ruined undergarment has no use. It was completely ruined and Judah’s relationship with God was completely ruined.

Sin does the same for God’s people today. Sin ruins our relationship with God. But that is where Jesus comes in. Jesus’ blood cleanses our sin and, as we walk in the light, continues to get rid of our sin (1 John 1:7).

Let us strive to live each day for Jesus, walking in his light.

Photo by Hans from pixabay.com. Free for use.

Readings for next week: Jeremiah 13-22