Shrieks of the Innocent

~~~ Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24 ~~~ Psalm 69 ~~~ Matthew 14:1-12 ~~~

...listen to the voice of the LORD your God...

People of all ages have had the opportunity to listen to the voice of God.

Many people have responded serving the Lord for the rest of their lives.

Many have repented of their sinful lives and changed their ways.

But some, like Herod, heard the voice deep inside and

decided not to listen.

When the voice of God seems contrary to what is popular at the time

it becomes more of a challenge to respond appropriately.

There are those who pretend not to hear the voice of God.

They go about spreading evil and destruction until the

shrieks and cries of the innocent are no longer heard.

Herod let his heart be filled with such shrieks...

Shrieks...high pitched piercing sounds or words, 

especially as an expression of terror, pain, or excitement.

 

For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you,
to speak all these things for you to hear.

Like the prophet Jeremiah, John was sent by God.
John spoke only the true honest words given to him by God.
John held on to the truth that he was at God's disposal until the end.

“This man does not deserve death;

it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.” 

I have written here previously about the Gospel today

 of the beheading of John the Baptist.

When Jeremiah was facing possible death
he was spared because some came forward on his behalf.

John the Baptist had no one who spoke up for his life.
Herod listened to the women he loved.
He acted with under the mask of affection; it was not love.
He traded human decency for jaded love and evil entertainment.

Herod lost his soul the day he placed the order for John's head.
“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

He knew deep within that John did not deserve to die.
He acted against his own conscience...
in a moment of weakness costing a holy man his life. 

Unfortunately this type of extreme cruelty is still
being carried out today in many countries.

If we do not listen to the voice of God we are doomed to lose our way.
It is imperative that we keep not just our ears
but also our hearts open to his voice.
If you look at the heart you will find ear in the middle of the word.
When it comes to God the emphasis is not on the ears but on the heart.

God speaks to our heart in a language that is his alone.

Jeremiah and John learned this language,
but Herod and those who would influence him
never even tried to listen.

So where does that leave us?
Are you listening to God with the ears of your heart?
Remember, God speaks in a soft whisper, often in subtle ways.

But, he always speaks to you.

May we be Blessed with a heart
that is ever listening for the voice of God.

~~~Peace~~~