Chronological Bible Study – Aug 11
What I Noticed Today (Jeremiah 14-17)
Jeremiah 14-20
Jeremiah 14-20 jumps back about seven years to 605 B.C.
Jeremiah 14
In verses 1-6, Jeremiah warns that one of the curses from God would be drought. The people would look for water and find none. Even the land would be affected by the drought. With no rain, the grasses would wither, and the animals would suffer.
In verses 7-10, the people cry out to God admitting their sin and backsliding. They speak of God as the hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble. But God rejects their pleas and is determined to punish their sins.
In verses 11-12, God again tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people. Even though they cried out and offered sacrifices, they must face God’s judgment.
In verses 13-16, Jeremiah describes the prophets who lie to the people, telling them it will be alright; there will be no famine and no armies when, in fact, God did not send these prophets. These prophets said God, would also perish by the sword, and those who escaped the sword would endure the famine.
In verses 19-22, the people once again pleaded with God to save them. They admitted their wickedness and guilt and suggested that it would bring dishonor to God if He broke His covenant. They admitted that their false gods could do nothing and that the Lord alone could save them.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- Do these people really mean to suggest that God is the one who has broken a covenant with them when they are the ones who just admitted they and their fathers were following idols and had rejected God for years and years?
Jeremiah 15
Verses 1-4 provide God’s answer to the people’s confession and pleas in Jeremiah 14:19-22. The Lord says that even if Moses and Samuel pleaded for the people, the Lord would not turn away from His judgment this time. When the people asked where they should go, the Lord said they were destined for pestilence, the sword, famine, or captivity.
In verses 5-9, God asked the people of Jerusalem who would have pity on them now that they have rejected God? Therefore, says the Lord, He will judge them (vv. 7-9) because they did not turn from their evil ways.
In verse 10, Jeremiah laments (woe is me) his own birth because all the people curse him.
In verses 11-14, the Lord answers Jeremiah is saying, He will protect him in his time of distress, but the people of Judah would not be able to stop the judgment of the Lord that was coming (from the Babylonians).
In verses 15-18, Jeremiah prays to the Lord to save him saying that his suffering was for the Lord, the words of the Lord were a delight to him, and he was alone because he never joined with those who rejected God.
In verses 19-21, the Lord answers Jeremiah telling him to stop the pity party, to return to Him, and speak noble words. When Jeremiah does this, the people will return to God, and the Lord will deliver and redeem him from the power of the evil people.
Jeremiah 16
In verses 1-4, the Lord put the first of three restrictions on Jeremiah that were to serve as examples for the people of Judah. The Lord told Jeremiah he was not to marry and have children because wives and children would die of deadly diseases. Those who escaped disease would die either by being killed or through a famine. So many would die they would lie on the ground eaten by wild animals.
In verses 5-7, the second restriction the Lord placed on Jeremiah was not to enter a house of mourning or to grieve with them because the Lord had removed His peace from the people and pronounced judgment upon them.
In verses 8-9, the third restriction the Lord placed on Jeremiah was not to enter a house where there was feasting because there should be no feasting as they faced a time of judgment.
In verses 10-13, the Lord warns Jeremiah that the people will ask what sin they have committed that is causing God’s harsh judgment. Jeremiah is to tell them the judgment is coming because their fathers abandoned God, they followed other gods; they were even more wicked than the nations they conquered, and they stubbornly refused to obey God.
In verses 14-15, God promises to restore the exiled people to their land from which they had been banished.
In verses 16-18, the Lord continues to describe the impending judgment on the people of Judah. God metaphorically described the Babylonian invaders as fishermen who would catch the people in their nets, and then as hunters who would capture those in hiding. God affirms that He sees everything and will repay the people for all of their iniquities and their sins.
In verse 19-21, Jeremiah confirms his trust in the strength of the Lord, his refuge. The Lord responds saying He will make them see His power and might, so they will know He is the Lord.
Jeremiah 17
Jeremiah 17 is a description of the sins of Judah and instructions from God for how to live.
In verses 1-4, the Lord describes the sins of Judah as written on their hearts by an iron stylus with a diamond point.
Note: Iron and diamonds were very hard and used to engrave stone, so the suggestion is their hearts were as hard as a stone.
The people had even made their children practice idolatry.
Note: The phrase “relinquish their inheritance” is a reminder of their impending judgment when they would have been exiled from their land.
In verses 5-8, Jeremiah contrasts the wicked (vv. 5-6) with the righteous (vv. 7-8). The man who trusts in himself who rejects God will dwell in the inhabitable land, whereas the man who trusts in God will be blessed by living in a fruitful land.
In verses 9-13, the Lord states the heart of man is deceitful, that He searches the heart and tests the mind, and rewards a man according to his deeds. The Lord describes those who get rich by unjust means like a bird who hatches another’s eggs. Jeremiah says the Lord is the hope of Israel and all who have forsaken Him have forsaken the Living Water.
In verses 14-18, Jeremiah prays to the Lord asking Him to save him, saying he has been a loyal shepherd who has not run away. He concludes, asking God to put his persecutors put to shame and bring judgment upon them.
In verses 19-2,7, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to stand at the People’s Gate and issue a proclamation to them regarding their sin in not keeping the Sabbath day holy.
Their forefathers failed to keep the Sabbath day holy; they did not honor God’s command to rest from their work. But, says the Lord, if they would be faithful to the Law, they would be blessed. If they refuse, they will face severe judgment that will consume them.
Tomorrow: Jeremiah 18-22
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.