What We Need O, LORD

What We Need, O LORD

Text: Jeremiah 10:19–25
Theme: Taking comfort in the knowledge that God knows what we need and what is best.

🧠 Opening Thought

Jeremiah suffers with his people under the judgment of God. He expresses deep sorrow, not just for himself, but for the failure of leadership and the spiritual ruin of a nation. When people won’t hear the truth, Jeremiah speaks to the One who always hears.
We must do the same.

1. 📝 We Need the Lord’s Instruction

“The way of man is not in himself…” (v. 23)

  • God knows what is in us – John 2:25

  • Our heart is deceitful – Jeremiah 17:9

  • The Bible instructs and discerns our thoughts – 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12

🟨 Application: Apply your heart to God’s word. Let it enter in, correct, and guide.

🕯 Quote: “Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.” – Proverbs 23:12

📖 Illustration: A pilot flying through clouds without instruments will quickly lose orientation. The Bible is our spiritual instrument panel.

2. 👣 We Need the Lord’s Direction

“…it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (v. 23)

  • We need Him to direct our:

    • Steps – Psalm 37:23

    • Way – Proverbs 3:5–6

    • Work – Isaiah 61:8

    • Heart – 2 Thessalonians 3:5

🟨 Application: Trust God to lead every area of your life—not just your Sunday walk.

🕯 Quote: “A man who does not know where he is going will never get there.” – 19th Century Proverb

🚧 Illustration: A GPS is only useful if you follow it. Ignoring God’s direction leads to spiritual dead ends.

3. 🔧 We Need the Lord’s Correction

“O LORD, correct me…” (v. 24)

  • Correction is proof of God’s love – Hebrews 12:5

  • Correction is vital for spiritual health – Proverbs 15:10

  • Ignoring correction leads to destruction – Zephaniah 3:1–2

🟨 Application: Don’t resist correction. It’s not to hurt you—but to help you.

🕯 Quote: “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul.” – Proverbs 15:32

👨‍🏫 Illustration: A teacher’s red ink might sting, but it helps us grow. God’s correction does the same.

4. 🛡 We Need the Lord’s Protection

“…not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.” (v. 24)

  • Correction is needed—but not wrath

  • David asked for mercy, not anger – Psalm 6:1; 38:1

  • Jesus learned obedience through suffering – Hebrews 5:8

  • God’s anger is too great to bear

🟨 Application: Ask God to correct you in love—not in anger. Ask for grace, not judgment.

🕯 Quote: “We may bear the smart of his rod, but we cannot bear the weight of his wrath.” – Matthew Henry

🔥 Illustration: Like a blacksmith tempers steel with controlled heat, God uses correction—not destruction—to make us stronger.

Closing Thought

What do we need, O LORD?

  • Not comfort, wealth, or ease…

  • But instruction, direction, correction, and protection.

Let us pray like Jeremiah:
“Correct me, O LORD, but with judgment; not in thine anger…”

Jeffrey smith