Jeremiah 11-15 Hear and Obey
Psalm 84:1-12 Grace and Glory and Every Good Thing
Ps 84:1 “How beloved are your dwellings, LORD of Hosts! 2 My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Lord of Hosts, my King, and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on your way. 6 Passing through the valley of Baca/Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.
8 Yahweh, God of Hosts, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah. 9 Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed. 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly/uprightly. 12 LORD of Hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Observations: 84:1-3 This is one my favorite Psalms. Verse 11 is probably the most useful verse for understanding and living the life that pleases God. The psalmist was probably David, while persecuted (during Absalom's rebellion) and kept away from the ark (where God's presence dwelt). He loves intimacy with God so much, that he is experiencing pain from the the separation. He longs with every fiber of his being and every ambition of his heart for the presence of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, his God and his King. Is that how you would describe your relationship with God?
84:4-7 He describes the blessedness of those who have an intimate relationship with God, whose hearts are intertwined with His. They are blessed and to be envied. They are always praising God for they are intimately acquainted with His person, and protection, and provision, and pleasures. Their draw on God's strength, and set their heart on his ways (BC translation 84:5b). The only other time “highway” is used in the wisdom literature is Pr 16:17 “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.” When they pass through dry and difficult spots in life, their ability to draw on God's grace/power turns deserts into oases. They start and end in strength, and wind up appearing before God in Zion (Jerusalem) to praise Him.
84:8-10 David asks God to help him in his present difficulty, appealing to His might, and covenantal dealings with Israel (Yahweh) and Jacob. Because one day in the presence of God is better than a thousand elsewhere, David would rather be a lowly doorkeeper close to God than a dweller in the comfy tents of those who don't obey Him (the wicked-Ps 50).
84:11-12 God is a sun (source of light/glory) and a shield (source of protection/power) therefore He gives grace (protection/power) and glory. He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly (in His ways). If it's good (and you are), He'll give it to you.
- Corollary #1: if God hasn't answered your prayer in the affirmative (given you what you desire) then check to see if you are walking uprightly in His ways, seeking Him first, foremost, and totally, without wavering. Then trust in His goodness, grace and glory.
- Corollary #2: if God has given you something, then it is good, even though you might not immediately recognize it as such. Remember how God uses problems to prosper us?
Application: If we're walking in God's ways, then we can trust that our infinitely good and powerful God will give us what's best, when it's best.
Prayer: God of wonders and delights, who blesses His faithful children, I trust that You will give what's best, when it's best. Help me focus on walking uprightly in Your ways, trusting in Your goodness, grace and glory. Amen.
Proverbs 20:25-30 Wise Ways
Pr 20:25 “It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows. 26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them. 27 The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being (NIV). 28 Hesed/loyal covenantal love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by hesed/loyal covenantal love. 29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair. 30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.“
Observations: 20:25-30 We should make our decisions according to the will of God, rather than the impulse of the moment or our own will/desires. The will of God is what is pleasing in His sight, according to what He's revealed. See Will of God on Truthbase.net. Two parallel tasks of kings are mentioned: to punish and eliminate the wicked, and to fulfill his covenantal obligations to his subjects/servants, allies and God. Then he will have safety and longevity, which youthful strength alone can not ensure. Two other parallel verses deal with the innermost parts, the core of our being, where our values and desires reside: if we use God's word/lamp to examine our innermost parts and align ourselves with it, we won't experience the discipline that seeks to achieve the same objective via pain.
Application: We don't just want non-foolish actions, but we want wisdom at the core of our being; and we can only get there through the light/word of the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, shine the light of Your word on my actions and heart, so I may align them with Your wise will. Thanks. Amen.
Jeremiah 11-15 These chapters record the reasons for God's just judgment upon Judah, and some of Jeremiah's difficulties in being His spokesman. God emphasizes the importance of hearing and obeying Him unless we like disaster.
Jeremiah 11 Hear and Do
11 Therefore thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry to me, but I will not listen to them. 12 Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal. 14 Therefore don’t pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble. 15 What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? when you do evil, then you rejoice. 16 Yahweh called your name, A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken. 17 For Yahweh of Hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have worked for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.
18 Yahweh gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then you showed me their doings. 19 But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I didn’t know that they had devised wicked plans against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. 20 But, Yahweh of Hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have I revealed my cause. 21 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, you shall not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, that you not die by our hand; 22 therefore thus says Yahweh of Hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; 23 and there shall be no remnant to them: for I will bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
Observations: 11:1-10 God makes it crystal clear that if His people don't hear and obey, they can't be blessed as He intended, and will be cursed instead. What about “hear” and “do” isn't understood? They stubbornly chose not to hear, nor do; they exercised their will to disobey and break the covenant, earning its curses rather than blessing. (This should sound familiar, but some folks are a little dense, so it warrants repetition.)
11:11-17 Since Judah didn't listen to God, He won't listen to them. He even tells Jeremiah not to waste his time praying for them. Yahweh, who planted and tended them like an olive tree, would now burn them.
11:18-23 Jeremiah is the tree in this section, and his message the fruit which the Anathothites (a priestly house who favored ritual) wanted to extinguish. But God will protect him, and punish them and their offspring with annihilation.
Application: God wants us to hear and do His will, or else; what else would you rather do?
Prayer: Mighty God, I want to know and do Your will, exclusively, regardless of the consequences. Amen.
Jeremiah 12 The Wicked Prosper Temporarily
7 I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. 8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest: she has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her. 9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field, bring them to devour. 10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it a desolation; it mourns before me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart. 12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has peace. 13 They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.
14 Thus says Yahweh against all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 It shall happen, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 It shall happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Yahweh lives; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, says Yahweh.
Observations: 12:1-6 Jeremiah affirms that God is righteous but complains that the wicked prosper and God doesn't do anything about it, although their heart is far from Him. God doesn't respond directly in this section, but makes it clear they will be judged in the rest of the chapter. It is puzzling that Jeremiah asked this, because he clearly has proclaimed the destruction of the wicked, so maybe it's a matter of timing (“how long”) and the opposition he faces. God mildly rebukes him in verse 5 by saying that this is nothing compared to the opposition he will face. Great comfort :(
12:7-13 Because of Judah's rebellion, God has rejected His beloved nation, turning her over to her enemies. They will get pain and no profit. This indirectly answers the above complaint.
12:14-17 Then God makes an amazing promise to Judah's enemies. He will punish them as He will punish Judah, with exile, but when He replants Judah in the promised land, He will replant them in their lands, and if they diligently learn His ways, He will bless them and build them up in the midst of Israel. But like His judgment upon Judah, failure to hear will result in destruction.
Application: Know that God eventually judges all wickedness, including our own, and repent while you can.
Prayer: Lord, may I diligently learn Your ways, and bring forth fruit that causes You delight rather than incurring destruction. Amen.
Jeremiah 13 Spots and Snares
13:1 Thus says Yahweh to me, Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don’t put it in water. 2 So I bought a belt according to the word of Yahweh, and put it on my waist. 3 The word of Yahweh came to me the second time, saying, 4 Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock. 5 So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Yahweh commanded me. 6 It happened after many days, that Yahweh said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there. 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was marred, it was profitable for nothing. 8 Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 Thus says Yahweh, In this way I will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing. 11 For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so have I caused to cling to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says Yahweh; that they may be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
12 Therefore you shall speak to them this word: Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall tell you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? 13 Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. 14 I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says Yahweh: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them. 15 Hear, and give ear; don’t be proud; for Yahweh has spoken. 16 Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness. 17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock is taken captive. 18 Say to the king and to the queen mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses have come down, even the crown of your glory. 19 The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them: Judah is carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive. 20 Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock? 21 What will you say, when he shall set over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? shall not sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?
22 If you say in your heart, Why are these things come on me? for the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts uncovered, and your heels suffer violence. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil. 24 Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passes away, by the wind of the wilderness. 25 This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me, says Yahweh; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. 26 Therefore will I also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame shall appear. 27 I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?
Observations: 13:1-11 The profitable becomes useless if not hearing and obeying God. It's not that they could not hear, but that they would not hear (their choice). They were useless for bringing God glory (the reason He made them His people, and the reason He would discipline them). It's not like God is abusing a people who couldn't get it, but He is punishing them so they would repent (and get it).
13:12-27 God graciously calls His people to humble themselves and repent, before He brings the judgment of total captivity upon them as a consequence of their refusal to listen and commission of adulterous idolatry. They were supposed to be faithful to God and were being unfaithful prostitutes in worshiping falsehood. Verse 23 cannot be ripped from context to support the falsehood that they were by nature incapable of doing good, for why would God waste His time calling them to repentance before and after verse 23? They had so accustomed themselves to doing evil, that their habit had bound them, and they were unable to do good. They “will not be made clean,” it's a problem of the their will and choices, not God's will and creation. God asks them how long it will be before they repent, just like Jeremiah asked God in the beginning of chapter 12.
Application: Don't teach yourself to like and do what's not good for you, nor pleasing to God; snares can be quite sticky.
Prayer: Lord God, I want to fulfill the purpose for which You created and redeemed me; may I be so accustomed to doing Your will, that I will never even want to be disloyal to You. Amen.
Jeremiah 14 Loving to Wander Leads to Wreck and Ruin
14:1 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. 2 Judah mourns, and its gates languish, they sit in black on the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 3 Their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads. 4 Because of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed, they cover their heads. 5 Yes, the hind also in the field calves, and forsakes her young, because there is no grass. 6 The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage. 7 Though our iniquities testify against us, work for your name’s sake, Yahweh; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. 8 You hope of Israel, its Savior in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night? 9 Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can’t save? Yet you, Yahweh, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; don’t leave us.
10 Thus says Yahweh to this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Yahweh does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. 11 Yahweh said to me, Don’t pray for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. 13 Then I said, Ah, Lord Yahweh! behold, the prophets tell them, you shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then Yahweh said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I didn’t send them, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I to them: they prophesy to you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart. 15 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, and I didn’t send them, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 The people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them—them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness on them.
17 You shall say this word to them, Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound. 18 If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, those who are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge. 19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? has your soul loathed Zion? why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay! 20 We acknowledge, Yahweh, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you. 21 Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, don’t break your covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the sky give showers? Aren’t you he, Yahweh our God? therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.
Observations: 14:1-9 Famine is the result of Judah's iniquities and backslidings, and Yahweh won't save His people.
14:10-16 God doesn't accept the people who have rejected Him. Jeremiah isn't even to pray for them. They love to wander from God's ways and seek comfort in hypocritical ritual and false prophecies of peace. God will particularly judge the false prophets, who speak from the deceits of their own hearts, when he judges the people.
14:17-22 Jeremiah laments the destruction of Judah and Zion, due to their sin and the ignorance of their leaders. Jeremiah confesses the sins of his people, imploring Him to relent for His name and covenant's sake, but it looks like they've passed the point of no return.
Application: If we don't love God, and restrain our ways to be loyal, we will wander into ruin.
Prayer: Lord, I will order my ways according to Your truth, to please You, and restrain myself from any deceptive detours; help me recognize and avoid them. Thanks. Amen.
Jeremiah 15 Point of No Return and a Pouting Prophet
10 Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet everyone of them curses me. 11 Yahweh said, Most certainly I will strengthen you for good; most certainly I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
12 Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? 13 Your substance and your treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all your sins, even in all your borders. 14 I will make them to pass with your enemies into a land which you don’t know; for a fire is kindled in my anger, which shall burn on you.
15 Yahweh, you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; don’t take me away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered reproach. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of Hosts. 17 I didn’t sit in the assembly of those who make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of your hand; for you have filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail? 19 Therefore thus says Yahweh, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: they shall return to you, but you shall not return to them. 20 I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says Yahweh. 21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the terrible.
Observations: 15:1-9 Even if Moses and Samuel, two of the greatest prophets asked God to spare Judah, He'd refuse, because Judah has refused His rule over them. Because of the sins of Manasseh, and the people's acceptance of and participation in them, as well as their rejection of God, and refusal to repent when He sent them lesser judgments, they have gone past the point of no return, and only terror awaits.
15:10-21 Jeremiah complains that everyone hates him for delivering God's messages. God says He will strengthen and protect him as promised in chapter 1, and then reiterates the promised destruction (15:12-14). Jeremiah complains again that he accepts God's word and rejoices in it, but has to sit by himself when everyone else is having a good time. In his third complaint, he feels that his pain/rejection is perpetual, and God isn't refreshing him. God calls Jeremiah to repent of his self-pity and not be like the people, who will not prevail against him, as promised.
Application: God requires loyal obedience from His servants; we bring unnecessary grief upon ourselves by questioning His decisions and methods.
Prayer: God, I totally trust that You know what You're doing, and that it's best; may I only care that I'm faithful to do what is pleasing in Your sight, and trust You for the outcome. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God made people for a relationship with Him and calls them to hear and obey Him. However, they willfully chose their own way. He sends discipline, and they ignore it, loving to wander. He reaches the point where their repeated refusal puts them over the point of no return, and only disaster awaits them. No prayers can save them, for they refuse His rule and their choice will not be overruled.
Us in a nutshell: We have a responsibility to hear and obey God. If we don't, He'll graciously warn of consequences, and then lower the boom of judgment. We have a tendency to wander disloyally from God, despite His care of us. We try to find comfort in hypocritical ritual and platitudes of false prophets (who don't serve God). Servants of God can get discouraged if they delight in anything other than serving God.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Jeremiah complete text
Jeremiah 11
11:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2 Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 and say to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Cursed is the man who doesn’t hear the words of this covenant, 4 which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so you shall be my people, and I will be your God; 5 that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I, and said, Amen, Yahweh. 6 Yahweh said to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear the words of this covenant, and do them. 7 For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they didn’t obey, nor turn their ear, but walked everyone in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn’t do them. 9 Yahweh said to me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they are gone after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry to me, but I will not listen to them. 12 Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal. 14 Therefore don’t pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble. 15 What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? when you do evil, then you rejoice. 16 Yahweh called your name, A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken. 17 For Yahweh of Hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have worked for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.
18 Yahweh gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then you showed me their doings. 19 But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I didn’t know that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. 20 But, Yahweh of Hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have I revealed my cause. 21 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, you shall not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, that you not die by our hand; 22 therefore thus says Yahweh of Hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; 23 and there shall be no remnant to them: for I will bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
Jeremiah 12
12:1 You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously? 2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart. 3 But you, Yahweh, know me; you see me, and try my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals are consumed, and the birds; because they said, he shall not see our latter end. 5 If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? and though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan? 6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have cried aloud after you: don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.
7 I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. 8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest: she has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her. 9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field, bring them to devour. 10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it a desolation; it mourns to me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart. 12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has peace. 13 They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.
14 Thus says Yahweh against all my evil neighbours, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 It shall happen, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 It shall happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Yahweh lives; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, says Yahweh.
Jeremiah 13
13:1 Thus says Yahweh to me, Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don’t put it in water. 2 So I bought a belt according to the word of Yahweh, and put it on my waist. 3 The word of Yahweh came to me the second time, saying, 4 Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock. 5 So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Yahweh commanded me. 6 It happened after many days, that Yahweh said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there. 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was marred, it was profitable for nothing. 8 Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 Thus says Yahweh, In this way I will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing. 11 For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so have I caused to cling to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says Yahweh; that they may be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
12 Therefore you shall speak to them this word: Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall tell you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? 13 Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. 14 I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says Yahweh: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them. 15 Hear, and give ear; don’t be proud; for Yahweh has spoken. 16 Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness. 17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock is taken captive. 18 Say to the king and to the queen mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses have come down, even the crown of your glory. 19 The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them: Judah is carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive. 20 Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock? 21 What will you say, when he shall set over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? shall not sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?
22 If you say in your heart, Why are these things come on me? for the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts uncovered, and your heels suffer violence. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil. 24 Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passes away, by the wind of the wilderness. 25 This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me, says Yahweh; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. 26 Therefore will I also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame shall appear. 27 I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?
Jeremiah 14
14:1 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. 2 Judah mourns, and its gates languish, they sit in black on the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 3 Their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads. 4 Because of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed, they cover their heads. 5 Yes, the hind also in the field calves, and forsakes her young, because there is no grass. 6 The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage. 7 Though our iniquities testify against us, work for your name’s sake, Yahweh; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. 8 You hope of Israel, its Saviour in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night? 9 Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can’t save? Yet you, Yahweh, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; don’t leave us.
10 Thus says Yahweh to this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Yahweh does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. 11 Yahweh said to me, Don’t pray for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. 13 Then I said, Ah, Lord Yahweh! behold, the prophets tell them, you shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then Yahweh said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I didn’t send them, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I to them: they prophesy to you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart. 15 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, and I didn’t send them, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 The people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them—them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness on them.
17 You shall say this word to them, Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound. 18 If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, those who are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge. 19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? has your soul loathed Zion? why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay! 20 We acknowledge, Yahweh, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you. 21 Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, don’t break your covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the sky give showers? Aren’t you he, Yahweh our God? therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.
Jeremiah 15
15:1 Then Yahweh said to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. 2 It shall happen, when they tell you, Where shall we go forth? Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity. 3 I will appoint over them four kinds, says Yahweh: the sword to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the earth, to devour and to destroy. 4 I will cause them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. 5 For who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? or who will bemoan you? or who will turn aside to ask of your welfare? 6 You have rejected me, says Yahweh, you have gone backward: therefore have I stretched out my hand against you, and destroyed you; I am weary with repenting. 7 I have winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I have bereaved them of children, I have destroyed my people; they didn’t return from their ways. 8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas; I have brought on them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday: I have caused anguish and terrors to fall on her suddenly. 9 She who has borne seven languishes; she has given up the spirit; her sun is gone down while it was yet day; she has been disappointed and confounded: and their residue will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, says Yahweh.
10 Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet everyone of them curses me. 11 Yahweh said, Most certainly I will strengthen you for good; most certainly I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. 12 Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? 13 Your substance and your treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all your sins, even in all your borders. 14 I will make them to pass with your enemies into a land which you don’t know; for a fire is kindled in my anger, which shall burn on you.
15 Yahweh, you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; don’t take me away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered reproach. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of Hosts. 17 I didn’t sit in the assembly of those who make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of your hand; for you have filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail? 19 Therefore thus says Yahweh, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: they shall return to you, but you shall not return to them. 20 I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says Yahweh. 21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the terrible.
