1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. 3 Tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant - 4 the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. 5 Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’ - the land you possess today.”
I answered, “Amen, LORD.”
6 The LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them. 7 From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, “Obey me.” 8 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.’”
9 Then the LORD said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. 11 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. 12 The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. 13 You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’
14 “Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.
15 “What is my beloved doing in my temple as she, with many others, works out her evil schemes?
Can consecrated meat avert your punishment? When you engage in your wickedness, then you rejoice.”
Can consecrated meat avert your punishment? When you engage in your wickedness, then you rejoice.”
16 The LORD called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form.
But with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire, and its branches will be broken.
But with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire, and its branches will be broken.
17 The LORD Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused my anger by burning incense to Baal.
18 Because the LORD revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. 19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.”
20 But you, LORD Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.
20 But you, LORD Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.
21 Therefore this is what the LORD says about the people of Anathoth who are threatening to kill you, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD or you will die by our hands” - 22 therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. 23 Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.”
TODAY IN THE WORD (11:18-12:17)
The question that has plagued humans for eons also troubled Jeremiah: “Why do the wicked prosper?” (12:1). How often have you asked this when you hear about some con artist making thousands of dollars off of other’s misfortune? Or wonder why people who openly reject the Lord seem to have everything go their way?
The question that has plagued humans for eons also troubled Jeremiah: “Why do the wicked prosper?” (12:1). How often have you asked this when you hear about some con artist making thousands of dollars off of other’s misfortune? Or wonder why people who openly reject the Lord seem to have everything go their way?
Jeremiah’s interest here wasn’t just theoretical – people were trying to kill him! He cried for the Lord’s vengeance, which might seem surprising from a godly individual like Jeremiah. But more shocking, however, is the Lord’s reply. He seemed to go along with Jeremiah’s plan!
It helps to keep a few things in mind here. First, Jeremiah’s cry was unfiltered. He was profoundly disturbed! These were no strangers; they were from his own town (v 21). Second, in his pain, Jeremiah turned to the Lord. He wasn’t savouring his own “sweet revenge,” but he looked instead to the righteous Judge (v 20). Third, Jeremiah’s enemies were also the Lord’s enemies–these people had repeatedly rejected God. It’s likely they sought to kill Jeremiah because he rightly prophesied that surrender to Babylon was God’s will. So the Lord’s promise to “bring disaster” (v 23) was consistent with judgment for sin.
Jeremiah’s questioning actually went one step further: he pointed out that God Himself planted these people and allowed them to take root, even as they rejected God and thought they were getting away with it.
Instead of answering Jeremiah, God challenged his attitude and “encouraged” him that the worst was yet to come! The “men on foot” (12:5) refers to Jeremiah’s hometown; the “horses” and “thickets by the Jordan” refer to Jerusalem. What Jeremiah had gone through at home was only preparing him for what lay ahead in Jerusalem. This pictures Jesus’ own piercing rejection by his family and in Jerusalem.
APPLY THE WORD
Jeremiah’s example encourages us to ask God the hard questions. But we must recognize that Jeremiah also kept God’s righteous character in sight. Sometimes people use hard questions to justify their rejection of God. Others are afraid even to admit they wrestle with such questions. We need balance. Life confronts us with very challenging situations. Often we won’t have answers, but we can begin by focusing on God’s goodness and mercy, and by praying to glimpse the bigger picture of where we’re headed.
Jeremiah’s example encourages us to ask God the hard questions. But we must recognize that Jeremiah also kept God’s righteous character in sight. Sometimes people use hard questions to justify their rejection of God. Others are afraid even to admit they wrestle with such questions. We need balance. Life confronts us with very challenging situations. Often we won’t have answers, but we can begin by focusing on God’s goodness and mercy, and by praying to glimpse the bigger picture of where we’re headed.
