Made to Cleave Unto the Lord

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

Concerning His people Israel and Judah, the Lord said, "This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto Me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah," saith the Lord; "that they might be unto Me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear." (Jeremiah 13:10-11)

Jeremiah was often used by God as an illustration for the people. In this case (Ch 13) he was told to take off his girdle (what we call a belt or sash) and hide it in a cleft of a rock near the Euphrates. This girdle was new and made of linen before he placed it in the rock but when he returned for it "behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing" (Jer 13:7). We were all this way - profitable for nothing. Praise God, we are this way no longer.

The Flesh Profits Nothing. Jesus said, "that which is born of the flesh is flesh" (Jn 3:6). No matter how many advantages, no matter how much provision is given to the flesh it will still profit nothing (Jn 6:63). The flesh of man, what he has naturally received from Adam, is good for nothing. In being accepted by God, nothing offered by man has any worth or merit. Israel is the premier example of this. Who had more provision from God? Who saw more miracles? To them was given "the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises" (Rom 9:4). Their's "are the fathers" and through them "as concerning the flesh Christ came" (Rom 9:5). What else could God have given them? He advantaged above all others yet it did not make them better than anyone else - they, like all the sheep, went astray.

Isaiah also illustrated how the flesh always falls short.

Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching His vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein; and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes...What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? (Isaiah 5:1-2,4)

The vine brought forth wild grapes because it was a fleshly vine. No matter how much provision and support was given, it still produced wild grapes. This vineyard, like the girdle, is the house of Israel and the house of Judah - advantaged above all others, yet fallen just like the rest. No matter what you do with flesh, it will still, only be flesh - and the flesh profits nothing. 

You Must Be Born Again. The Lord challenged the people to repent and the challenge still stands - if you can change yourselves and make yourselves righteous, then do it. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" saith the Lord, "then ye also do good, that are accustomed to evil" (Jer 13:23). Man cannot change himself to this degree. He may be able to stop bad behaviors and start good ones but he cannot come high enough so as to escape judgment. He cannot be spotless and unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of God by the efforts of the flesh. He must be born again.

"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much in every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Rom 3:1-2). The advantages of being a Jew are numerous but those advantages must be used. The Jews who loved the Lord and were looking for the Messiah quickly identified Him and received Him. They believed the preaching of the gospel and they turned to the Lord. Jesus said, "Come unto Me" and they came and they, like a girdle, cleaved unto the Lord with purpose of heart (Acts 11:23). They joined themselves to Him (1 Cor 6:17).

It is as though the girdle which had become marred and profitable for nothing has now become new and profits much. As a result of sin being put away and Christ being exalted, God has also made His people new creatures with new hearts. He has delivered them from the bondage of sin so that they are no longer slaves to it. They were made to cleave unto Him and it is in their heart to do so. He has made them willing in the day of Christ's power (Ps 110:3). He has made the tree good, therefore, it's fruit is good also (Mt 12:33). He has made them to "be unto [Him] for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory." How? by changing them within.

Jesus, Thou hast bought us,

Not with gold or gem,

But with Thin own life-blood,

For Thy diadem;

With Thy blessing filling

Each who come to Thee,

Thou hast made us willing,

Thou hast made us free.

By Thy grand redemption,

By Thy grace divine,

We are on the Lord's side -

Savior, we are Thine!

(Frances Havergal)