DBG - August 18 - Jeremiah 14-17

In this chapter Jeremiah prays for God’s mercy on His people.

vs. 1-6 – The exact timing of this drought is debated, but God often withheld rain as a means of getting Israel’s attention (II Chronicles 7:13-14).  The sad effects of this are seen on people and animals.

vs. 7-9 – Jeremiah offers an intercessory prayer for the nation.  He acknowledges the sins that have brought them under God’s chastisement.  He calls on God to not give up on His people.

vs. 10-12 – God responds to Jeremiah’s prayer by telling him that the time for prayers and fasts are past.  God would not here any intercession on behalf of the people who are past the point of no return.

vs. 13-18 – Jeremiah complains about the many prophets that prophesy the opposite of what God was telling him.  God reassures him that they are false prophets and that they will fall in the coming judgment.

vs. 19-22 – The broken-hearted Jeremiah implores God to not forsake and destroy His people in judgment. 

In this chapter Jeremiah continues to wrestle with the coming judgment.

vs. 1-9 – God will not back down from the coming judgment.  We note that He would not stop even if two of the mightiest intercessors in history, Moses and Samuel, would pray for mercy for Israel.  See II Kings 21:11-16 for Manasseh’s role in dragging the nation deeper into sin.  This section closes with a poignant picture of the widows and mothers mourning their losses in the coming judgment.

vs. 10-14 – Jeremiah complains that he has done no wrong to have to endure the opposition he faced in his mission to proclaim the coming judgment.  He is, in fact, speaking on behalf of the righteous remnant in the land.  God responds by addressing the remnant.  There was hope beyond judgment in the restoration after the Babylonian Captivity. The faithful remnant would however still have to go through perilous times.

vs. 15-21 – Jeremiah speaks again in the place of the faithful remnant.  The case made in vs. 10 is enlarged.  Why would the righteous suffer in the coming judgment?  God will be with them through what was to come.  He would use their righteousness as a witness against the evil of the day.  One day, they would be proven to be right as the faithful are allowed to return and the wicked are consumed in judgment. 

In this chapter Jeremiah testifies of the coming judgment through remaining unmarried.

vs. 1-13 – Jeremiah was instructed to not take a wife or have children as another object lesson against the coming judgment.  This spared them the awful fate that was coming.  He is also instructed to not join in joyous celebrations because the day was coming when there would be no joy.  The people would see his actions and inquire about them.  He could then tell them of the judgment and its cause.

vs. 14-21 – The restoration of Israel after the Babylonian Captivity is promised.  God would surely punish the nation and disperse its people throughout foreign lands, but they would be gathered and brought back to the Promised Land.  Again, the full fulfillment of this has yet to take place.  It will happen in the End Times.

In this chapter the divide between the righteous and wicked in the land is highlighted.

vs. 1-4 – The sin of idolatry was not just a passing fad in Judah.  It was ingrained in the heart of the people like a carved image.  They were too far gone to repent, and their hearts had be remolded in judgment.

vs. 5-11 – The two paths from Psalm 1 are shown in Jeremiah’s day.  The wicked that trusted in man to deliver them from the coming judgment would be ashamed and destroyed.  The righteous that trusted in God would continue in God’s blessing, even through judgment!  While it was difficult to determine who was truly righteous among those who covered their sinful hearts with a wrapping of obedience, God knew who they really were. 

vs. 12-18 – Jeremiah speaks again in place of the faithful remnant.  He acknowledges the greatness of God and the sins of the nation.  He prays for healing and salvation even as his message is mocked by unbelievers.  He calls for God to enact His justice against the evil of the people.  This is a great development from the complaints he has given before this! 

vs. 19-27 – Jeremiah rebukes the nation publicly for not keeping the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8).  The idea of the Sabbath will be developed further and be a very important part of the length of the Babylonian Captivity (Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10; II Chronicles 36:20-21; Daniel 9:2)

Take Jeremiah 17:9 to heart.  Literally.  We are told so very often that we should “follow our hearts”.  This is terribly advice.  Our hearts are depraved and selfish. We should tune our hearts to God’s eternal truth and rein in its sinful tendencies. 

Our hymn today first appeared under the heading “The Evil Heart”.  It was written by Benjamin Beddome in 1787 and is a prayer for God to aid in guiding our wayward hearts.

Astonish'd and distress'd,
I turn mine eyes within;
My heart with loads of guilt oprest,
The seat of every sin.

What crowds of evil thoughts,
What vile affections there!
Distrust, presumption, artful guile,
Pride, envy, slavish fear.

Almighty King of saints
These tyrant lusts subdue;
Expel the darkness of my mind,
And all my powers renew.

This done, my cheerful voice
Shall loud hosannas raise;
My soul shall glow with gratitude,
My lips proclaim thy praise.