Jeremiah 12:10 says, Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. God said that pastors had destroyed His vineyard and had trodden His portion underfoot. Those who should have been doing all they could to promote the kingdom of God, which He still valued greatly, were instead promoting idols. God still values His creation today, and we as His people should be doing all that we can to protect it, and especially His word. Verse eleven states, They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart. God told Jeremiah that the whole land was made desolate and that the people of Judah did not care. When God created man, He placed him and his helpmate in charge of caring for the earth. We have as our greatest responsibility the calling of people to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, but we are to do so because we are followers of Christ, and as such we have a responsibility to take care of God's creation as well. Verse twelve adds, The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. God said because of the disobedience of God's people that the spoiler was come upon them. We should not be surprised if God allows destruction to come on our land if we turn away from Him. Verse thirteen says, They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD. God said that the people had gone through the effort of planting but they would not profit by it. We may put a lot of effort into the things of this world, but if we are not living in accordance with the will of God, we will not profit from it in the way that it matters, which is in God's view, no matter how much we may gain in this world. Some people spend every free moment working for the things of this world and never have time for God, but ultimately they will be left with nothing. Verse fourteen says, Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. God had a warning for those who would come against His people, even if He was not pleased with His people. God will always be against those who are not for Him, especially those who would attempt to destroy His people. Verse fifteen declares, And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. God said that He would come again and pluck those that were truly His people out of captivity and return them to their heritage and their land. As followers of Christ, God has plucked us out of the captivity of sin and brought us into our heritage, which is a right relationship with God and the coming time when we will be brought to our heavenly home. Verse sixteen adds, And it shall come to pass, they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. God said that if those who would destroy His people would learn to call on Him as they had taught His people to call on Baal that they would be built up in the midst of His people. God never intended for the people of Israel to be the only people who would be a part of His kingdom, which is very good for us today who were not born into the Jewish people. Verse seventeen warns, But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD. Those who would not put their faith in God would be utterly destroyed, and this is still true.
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