God Almighty speaks
» The desolation of these sinful people will be great!
» Their enemies will treat them so badly that they will want to die.
Jeremiah takes God’s message to the people
» When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they start down the wrong road
and discover their mistake, don’t they turn back? Then why do you keep going along
your self-destructive path, refusing to turn back, even though God has warned you?
(Your sin is clearly by choice!)
» I don’t hear you even saying you are sorry for your sin or acknowledging that you are
doing terrible things. ALL of you are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse
rushing into battle.
» Even animals know the time of their migration and return (by choice) at the proper
time, but you (people who have been given instruction directly from the Lord) don’t
know what the Lord requires of you (blinded by sin).
» How can you say that you are wise just because you have the law of the Lord (written
on paper…not on your hearts). You have twisted God’s Word badly (to justify sin).
» Those who mislead you by twisting God’s Word will be shamed into exile for their sin,
for they have rejected the Word of the God (Jesus Christ is called the Word of God in
the new testament…rejecting Christ is serious sin.) They are not wise like you think. I
will give their families and belongings (everything they cherish) to others. (To whom
much is given, much is required.)
» ALL of you trick others to get what does not belong to them. (Dishonesty). You are
misled by superficial attempts to atone for your sin. (Only true repentance brings about
restoration of fellowship with the Lord.) This does not bring peace, but war. You are
not even ashamed of doing these disgusting things.
» Those who mislead you will be among the slaughtered. (Many church leaders/teachers
lead others astray by teaching false doctrine…or simply neglecting to teach the truth of
God’s Word.) They will be humbled and punished. I will take away my provision and
blessing from them.
The people respond
» Why should we (who are wise in our own eyes) wait here to die? Let us go to the
fortified cities to die there. (still trying to go their own way). For the Lord has
decreed our destruction and has given us a cup of poison to drink because we
sinned against the Lord. (whining)
» We hoped for peace, but no peace came.
» We hoped for healing, but found only terror.
» We tremble at the approach of this powerful enemy who will take everything we have
and destroy us. (no heart change; concerned only about the hardship they will have
to endure).
God declares His destuction
» I WILL send these enemy troops among you like poisonous snakes you cannot
charm. No matter what you do, they will bite you, and you WILL die. (Punishment
is sure! You can’t escape the consequences of sin!)
Jeremiah weeps (as parents weep for the children they love)
» My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken!
» The weeping of these people that I love can be heard all across the land.
» Has the Lord abandoned them?
» The Lord asks, “Oh, why have they angered me with their sin? (left God for
worthless idols – left God’s plan for them)
» I weep for the hurt of my people.
» I am stunned and silent, mute with grief. Why is their no healing for my people.
(Although Jeremiah knew that God was just, he grieved to see people he loved
come to destruction.)
Next
Jeremiah 1-2
Jeremiah 3-4
Jeremiah 5
Jeremiah 6
Jeremiah 7
Jeremiah 8
Jeremiah 9
Jeremiah 10-11
Jeremiah 12-13
Jeremiah 14-15
Jeremiah 16-17
Jeremiah 18
