Jeremiah 1 – 6

Today we learn that the priest who “found” the book of the Law and presented it to King Josiah was, in fact, the father of the prophet Jeremiah. The boy king who became the great reformer and turned back to God was reigning when God pronounced that Judah was lost. Jeremiah was the chosen bearer of that tragic news. Through Jeremiah, Yahweh compares Judah to an adulterous wife and a whore.

Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Jeremiah 2:11-13

“For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve.’ Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.

Jeremiah 2:20

“If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the LORD. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore; you refuse to be ashamed.

Jeremiah 3:1-3

Hard language, but quite fitting given the history. Yahweh calls both Judah and Israel “treacherous sisters” (Jeremiah 3:6-10). Judah should have learned from the example of Israel, but chose instead to imitate her. As the message of Yahweh to Judah and Jerusalem unfolds, there are some important themes that emerge for our consideration.

The judgment should be no surprise. From the giving of the Law and in the messages of every prophet lies the truth that the covenant is conditional upon adherence. Blessings would flow to an obedient Israel, but judgment following a series of calamities would befall an idolatrous Israel. Yet, the people were deluding themselves (Jeremiah 2:35).

They have spoken falsely of the LORD and have said, ‘He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine. The prophets will become wind; the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!'”

Jeremiah 5:12-13

Yahweh simply wants genuine repentance. Judah turned back at times, but Yahweh know the hearts of men. He esteemed the return as being a mere pretense (Jeremiah 3:10). God desires genuine repentance born of godly sorrow for transgressions (Jeremiah 3:12-13).

“But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our fathers labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us. For we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”

Jeremiah 3:24-25

Elohim Shaddai is the one who sends the judgment. Through Jeremiah, Yahweh anticipates those who would claim that the judgment was a failing of God (Jeremiah 4:9-11). The harsh reality is that this is the righteous judgment of a patient Deity (Jeremiah 5:7-9).

Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, “Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!’ Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring disaster from the north, and great destruction. A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant. For this put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned back from us.”

Jeremiah 4:5-8

It is not a “full end”. There is a restoration coming in Messiah. Even though the judgment upon her will be complete, Judah will still provide a king for Zion. In Jesus, the Lion of Judah, all will be fulfilled.

For thus says the LORD, “The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end. “For this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above be dark; for I have spoken; I have purposed; I have not relented, nor will I turn back.”

Jeremiah 4:27-28

“Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the LORD’s.

Jeremiah 5:10

“But even in those days, declares the LORD, I will not make a full end of you. And when your people say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.'”

Jeremiah 5:18-19

It is, however, the end for Judah. Josiah turned back to God and God blessed Him and forgave. Even so, Yahweh foretold the end of the nation. Time after time, they rejected God. With fire, He chastened them and refined them. Time after time, God hoped they would finally see His ways as right and just and the ways of idols as false and hopeless.

“I have made you a tester of metals among my people, that you may know and test their ways. They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly. The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed by the fire; in vain the refining goes on, for the wicked are not removed. Rejected silver they are called, for the LORD has rejected them.”

Jeremiah 6:27-30

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!