Go Buy a Belt!

Jeremiah 13:1-11

In Jeremiah chapter 13 verses 1-11, God takes Jeremiah through a demonstration using a linen belt in order to get a prophecy concerning Judah and Jerusalem across to him.

God has Jeremiah purchase a linen belt then told him not to let it touch water. Then God comes to Jeremiah later and tells him to hide the belt in a crevice in the rocks at Perath. After Jeremiah hides the belt, God comes back to him several days later and tells Jeremiah to go dig the belt back up. Jeremiah returns back to Perath and digs the belt up. Once he got ahold of the belt it was ruined. Jeremiah said to God now this belt is ruined and it’s useless!

God’s response to Jeremiah can be found in Jeremiah 13:8-11. Then the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt – completely useless! For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.’

I find it interesting that God put Jeremiah through a seemingly silly demonstration in order to deliver a word concerning His people. A word concerning the Christians of that day. What a complete waste of time. Buy a belt and don’t let it touch water. Hide the belt then go dig the belt back up!

At this stage in Jeremiah’s life I would think he would have gained enough credibility with God that God would just flat out speak to him. Why wouldn’t God say, “Jeremiah, you know how you can wear your favorite belt for so long it can become dingy and eventually too old and worn out to wear anymore – therefore it becomes useless?” Then Jeremiah’s response would have been, “Yes, God, as a matter of fact I was just thinking the belt I’m wearing now is getting a little old!” Then God could have said, “Exactly, well just like your old belt that will eventually become useless I want to talk to you about my people in Jerusalem and Judah.” From there God could have delivered his Jeremiah 13:8-11 speech!

It doesn’t happen that way! Instead God sends Jeremiah on this wild belt demonstration in order for God to set the stage to deliver a major word concerning His people.

Could it be that we are turning down our belt demonstrations that God is asking us to go on? We want to hear God speak and know what His will is but are we willing to partake in pointless commands? If these commands are analyzed in the natural they may seem silly but if we are living in the supernatural we may recognize God telling us to go buy a belt!

Let God take you on belt buying journeys! Everything that God asks you to do won’t make sense! You just have to trust Him and do exactly what He says.

Pride will lead to the refusal of listening to God’s word. Which then leads to stubbornness within your heart. A stubborn heart will begin to create and serve other gods which then renders you useless to God – completely useless!

Jeremiah 13:15-16 says, “Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God before He brings the darkness.”