“For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, and have not sought the Lord; therefore, they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.” ~ Jeremiah 10:21
REFERENCE:
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, continues his lamentation because of the captivity of Judah. Babylonians will invade and depopulate the land; the people will be plundered, distressed, exiled, and afflicted with deep emotional wounds. They will raze down homes with fire and abduct children. Jeremiah gives the reason for all these: their shepherds have dull hearts.
‘Shepherds’ in this reference speaks of Judah’s monarchical and ecclesiastical leaders: their kings and priests. God accuses them of being dull-hearted. What does that mean? They were emotionally and spiritually insensitive, lacking enthusiasm and passion. A dull-hearted person lacks interest or responsiveness to their surroundings or spiritual matters.
The priests and pastors of Judah were held responsible for the downfall of Judah. They were too dull to discern God’s displeasure and warning to His people; they saw the decline of religion but did nothing to repair it; they knew judgment was coming, but they did not repent in prayers, neither did they seek deliverance from God. Under their watch, the country came falling.
Although God speaks to ‘shepherds’ in our text, He does not want us to be dull hearts. Being insensitive to spiritual things is costly; you will miss divine signals or leading and satanic designs to pull you down. You will be blindsided by temptations, pretend friends, and supposed juicy opportunities that may eventually hurt you. Dull-heartedness results from neglecting your prayer life, the word of God, and sitting under the anointed preaching of God’s word.
How do you awaken your heart and be sensitive to spiritual realities? Be intentional in investing in your relationship with God, live conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit, develop a hatred for sin, be quick to know when your thoughts or actions are displeasing to God and amend, and learn to commune more with the Holy Spirit, asking Him about every matter and obeying His leading. Having dull hearts is costly; it jeopardizes our total-life prosperity. So says Jeremiah.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Isaiah 42:18-20, Psalm 32:8-9, and Revelation 3:18
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I refuse to be dull-hearted. I will not be a blind and deaf Christian. Please help me to see things that are invisible to others and hear what others do not hear. Sharpen my spiritual discernment so I will not be a victim of my ignorance or spiritual insensitivity. I commit to a life of intentional investment in my spirit and walk with You. I will have all-round prosperity, in Jesus’ name.
