The people recognize their sin. They recognize that their sin is against God. All sin is against God because it’s going against His law and rejecting Him, even hating Him, if you think about Jesus saying, “If you love me, keep My commandments.”

Recognizing your sin and your offense to God is a first step. Fear of God needs to be in there too. It needs to matter to you that you have sinned against God. It’s not a flippant thing, “Oh well, God will forgive me.” That’s not how that works. A God who is far off isn’t quick to forgive. A God who is near to a humble heart broken of its sin is very quick to forgive.

In Jeremiah 14, we read about God promising to not forgive, but to consume. Why? Who is He talking about? He’s talking about destroying those who fast, who cry to the Lord, and who bring offerings to God. Those are the people being destroyed. None of that is what matters. The heart matters.

And so, they acknowledge their sin. And they call on the Lord to act, for His name’s sake. They are not deserving of help and they know it. But the Lord has mercy because He is merciful. God loves because He is love. Call on God to be God.

It is a firm place of hope to rely on God to be God. He will be faithful to be who He is. He will act on behalf of His children who are looking to Him for salvation. That’s looking to God, not to man, to self, to any other number of idols. Look to God and be saved. He is faithful to save and His arm is never too short to reach you and pluck you out of whatever pit you have gotten yourself into.

But look to Him. Wait on Him. Don’t turn to other saviors. God saves. And He will do it for His name’s sake, not because of your merit. No need to impress Him or give Him reasons why He should help. Just be helpless and know He is a helper.