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Jer. 5:1 ¶ Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

This chapter begins with a challenge to search the city of Jerusalem to see if even one man can be found who is just and honest in his dealings with others and seeks truth. If one can be found, the LORD declares He will pardon the city. This reminds me of Abraham’s discussion with the LORD about sparing Sodom and Gomorrah. It would seem to imply other than Jeremiah. This is a bit confusing since the prophet Ezekiel, a contemporary of Jeremiah, records a vision in which the LORD places a mark on those who are grieved over the moral condition of their city.

Ezekiel 9:4 “And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.”

This would indicate that there were other just men in the city.  Maybe the key is that the search is to be done in “the streets” and “the broad places,” the public places in the city. The prophets often describe the city and/or the nation as a whole in light of what is predominant in the culture. I am sure that there are few who would identify America as a Christian nation today in light of a culture that can only be described generally as not fearing God, embracing immorality of all types, and is humanistic at its core.

Jer. 5:2 And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.

That fact is that even when the people swear to the truth of their statements by the name of the LORD, they are telling lies. It was to the point that God’s name was a useful tool in achieving their own purposes, but God Himself was no longer feared or reverenced.

This makes me think of people who use churches as networking opportunities or for other personal purposes. They aren’t really there to learn about God and worship Him.

Jer. 5:3 O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

This verse seems to be saying that in light of His love for them and His desire for them to represent the truth, the LORD has been faithful to send various judgments upon His people to the intent of correcting them and bringing them to repentance. They had experienced oppression from their enemies, withholding of rain, and even seen the Northern Kingdom taken captive. The people did not respond in repentance; instead, they hardened their faces and continued in their sin. They were determined to follow the desires of their flesh and reject God’s authority over them.

I jut realized as I was reading this section again that valid parallels can be made with America today.  We are being attacked by our enemies via terrorists and drug lords; we are experiencing deadly natural disasters.  History has shown what happens to nations that turn away from God in rebellion and disobedience to His word; still, as a whole, our nation is continuing with an ever hardening heart to reject God and His word.  I believe our judgment is just as certain.

Jer. 5:4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.

Jer. 5:5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

Jer. 5:6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

Jeremiah reasons that his search was fruitless because the people are spiritually impoverished (poor) and lacking understanding or judgment (foolish). As the NLT put it: “They don’t understand what God expects of them.”

So Jeremiah decides to go the leaders of the people but finds that they are no better off than the people regarding spiritual truth and wisdom. Even those who should be teaching and leading the people have rebelled against God as their LORD. With the leaders in such condition, the people could not be expected to know better. Because they have broken covenant with God, they have become vulnerable to the attack of their enemies (pictured by the animals); they were no longer going to experience God’s protective hand in their defense. Maybe they were even experiencing unusual attacks by these wild animals in consequence of their choice to become more and more sinful and rebellious.

Jer. 5:7 How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.

Jer. 5:8 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.

Jer. 5:9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

The LORD declares that there is absolutely no reason for Him to have mercy upon His people and forgive them. He had blessed them abundantly and they had not raised their children to honor God. Their example, in fact, had led their children to forsake God as LORD. They had committed spiritual adultery by turning to false gods. They had become morally corrupt. Sexual sin was prevalent. It seems that the worship of false gods and immorality go hand-in-hand. The worship of idols in the heathen cultures of those times actually included consorting with temple prostitutes.

God’s conclusion—Should I not exercise judgment on such a people? Should not My honor be avenged?

Sounds pretty familiar doesn’t it? America has almost completely turned away from her spiritual foundations and immorality is widespread and acceptable. God never changes. Should we expect any difference in His response toward our nation?

Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not….”

I was reminded of an article that I saw recently in The Huffington Post written by Fernando Alfonso III dated May 17, 2010. The following is an excerpt from that article. At least a “move away from…God” was recognized by some as part of the problem.

“Three-quarters of Americans say the country's moral values are worsening, blaming a decline in ethical standards, poor parenting, and dishonesty by government and business leaders, Gallup reports. The number of Americans who say the nation's moral values are in decline grew by 5 percent since last year. Other reasons Americans mentioned were a rise in crime, a breakdown of the two-parent family and a moving away from religion or God.”

Jer. 5:10 ¶ Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD’S.

Jer. 5:11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.

Jer. 5:12 They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

Jer. 5:13 And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.

The LORD is basically telling the enemies of His people that they have His permission to come and devastate the nation, but they cannot completely destroy it. Why is He going to allow this? Because His people have been unfaithful to Him; they have broken covenant. They have impugned God’s character and called Him a liar. Though He had been very specific in His warnings to the people regarding breaking covenant and rejecting Him as LORD, they did not believe He would respond to such actions with “sword or famine.” They did not believe the warnings of His true prophets; they did not believe them to be speaking the truth from God.

Moses declared what God’s judgment would be for disobedience before the nation was even established in the land.

Deuteronomy 28:45–48 “Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”

The NIV Commentary made an interesting observation: “They claimed that the Spirit in the prophets of the LORD was only wind. There is a play here on the Hebrew word ruah, which can mean “wind” or “spirit” (GK H8120). The prophets believed they had the Spirit of the LORD; the people claimed the prophets had only wind.”

Jer. 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Because of the attitude of the people toward His prophets, YHWH declares that He will make His words as uttered by Jeremiah the means by which He will destroy the people, just as fire destroys wood. What they declared to be just wind would prove to be a powerful destroying force.

Jer. 5:15 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

Jer. 5:16 Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.

Jer. 5:17 And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.

The LORD declares that He will bring a powerful, ancient nation from far away against His people. They won’t even be able to communicate with this nation. Their enemy’s army will consist of mighty men who are skilled with their weaponry. These men will spoil the land of its crops, flocks and herds. They will prove to the people that the walls they trust for protection are useless against God’s declared judgment against them.

This makes reference to the next verses in the passage from Deuteronomy quoted above.

Deuteronomy 28:49–52 “The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.”

Jer. 5:18 Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.

At this point YHWH allows Jeremiah to proclaim a ray of hope as part of the message—God does not intend to completely destroy the people. He is a covenant-keeping God, and He will fulfill His covenants with Abraham and David.

Deuteronomy 7:7–9 “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations….”

Jer. 5:19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

True to form, when God executes judgment, the people will seem to be oblivious as to why He had judged them. God is anticipating their question. My paraphrase—Why has God brought this judgment upon us? (Like they had never been warned.) Jeremiah is to declare His answer—Since you rejected Me and worshipped the gods of foreign peoples in the land I have given you, you will now be taken away to serve foreigners in their lands. In other words, if you want to serve foreign gods, you might as well live in the lands where they are worshipped.

Jer. 5:20 ¶ Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,

Jer. 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

Jer. 5:22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

The LORD instructs Jeremiah to declare this message throughout Judah (my paraphrase): Listen up you who lack understanding, judgment or discernment; who have eyes, but have no spiritual discernment; who have ears, but have no spiritual understanding. Don’t you fear Me? Don’t you understand that I am the One who established the boundaries of the water and waves from the sea with the sand of the seashore; they cannot pass those boundaries no matter how loud the commotion as they crash against the shore?

I couldn’t help but think of the words of a song at this point: “Even the wind and the waves obey; why can’t I?” This is a powerful truth. If we truly recognized God for Who He Is and feared Him with a healthy fear, our actions would be more in conformance with His will as revealed in His word. I speak this to my shame. “Father, please work whatever it takes in my life to bring honor and glory to You.”

Jer. 5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

Jer. 5:24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

The LORD realizes that Jeremiah’s message will fall on deaf ears. The people have rebellious, stubborn, disobedient hearts. They have made their choice to reject YHWH as their LORD. They no longer fear their Creator, the Giver of the rain that makes their land fruitful and has established the seasons that allow them to prepare for the harvest.

Jer. 5:25 ¶ Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

The LORD is clear in declaring that it is because of their sin that they will experience His judgment—withholding the rain and the blessing of harvest that it brings.  Note again that sometimes God intervenes and uses the forces of nature in judgment against sin.

Jer. 5:26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

Jer. 5:27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.

Jer. 5:28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

The LORD now holds the spiritual leaders of the nation accountable for the attitude of the people. They no longer serve God; they serve themselves. They are becoming wealthy at the expense of the people and misrepresenting God in the process. They do not execute righteous judgment on behalf of the fatherless and the needy. The implication is that they are using their position to their own benefit without regard to the people they should be serving.

Again—Does this sound at all familiar? I think the judicial system in America today has much in common with these wicked leaders of Israel. I’m not saying that the system is totally corrupt; but I think we are quickly moving in that direction. The almighty dollar is king. Personal agendas influence judgment that should be impartial. This is to be expected since we have determined to reject the One who provides the foundation for moral judgment.

Jer. 5:29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 

YHWH’s conclusion (my paraphrase): Why should I not take vengeance on those whom I have so richly blessed since they are so ungrateful for My blessings upon them.

Jer. 5:30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;

Jer. 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

The Hebrew for wonderful makes reference to something stunning and astonishing. The prophet is basically saying that something astonishing and fearful has occurred among God’s chosen people. The prophets are lying and the priests are ruling in their own authority—not God’s. Even more amazing—The people like it that way. He wonders--What do they expect this to lead to?

I can’t help but think about those who have positioned themselves as leaders in the “church” today. So many of them seem to be teaching in their own authority while claiming it to be God’s authority. Many are “serving” with deceit and for personal gain. We who are clinging boldly to the truth of God’s word have a responsibility to speak out like Jeremiah against the lies of these false teachers. We need to boldly declare the truth of God’s word in identifying sin and proclaiming the gospel message—“how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures….” (1Corinthians 15:3-4)

Jer. 6:1 ¶ O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

It appears that the LORD is referencing the Southern Kingdom in the name of Benjamin at this point. My first thought was, “Why?” I found out that Jerusalem, the capital of the kingdom, is located in the territory of Benjamin. The call is for the people to flee from Jerusalem and head south (Tekoa is 12 miles south of Jerusalem) because enemies are approaching from the north intent on great destruction. According to Eerdman’s Dictionary, Bethhaccerem was one of the “fire signal stations” used to send messages for military purposes throughout the kingdom.

Jer. 6:2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

Jerusalem had been chosen as God’s dwelling place on earth. It was a beautiful city that was chosen as a place of His special delight. The prophet Isaiah declares this truth beautifully.

Isaiah 5:1–4 “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?”

Jer. 6:3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

Jer. 6:4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

Jer. 6:5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

One generally associates the reference to a shepherd as good, but the context of these verses clearly identifies these shepherds as the enemy. They are surrounding Jerusalem in the position of a siege. They are coming against Jerusalem in war. Some of the commentaries indicate that the enemy is eager as indicated by their desire to attack at noon (when it is hottest) and to continue their attack into the night in spite of the lack of light.

Jer. 6:6 For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

Jer. 6:7 As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.

It is obvious from these verses that the LORD is on the side of the enemy. He is expressing His encouragement for the enemy to cut down trees and build a siege ramp. He intends for the city of Jerusalem to be punished (visited) for her wickedness. Her wicked actions are pictured as waters gushing from a fountain—many and affecting those surrounding her. God declares that the sounds coming from her testify to the violence and oppression that characterize her. Instead of a place in which He can delight, all He sees when He looks at her is sickness and wounds—a place in need of healing.

Jer. 6:8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

Jer. 6:9 ¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

God’s prophet calls for the people of Jerusalem to listen to His message of warning. God is still pleading with them to repent; otherwise, He is going to distance Himself from them and cleanse the land of their wicked presence by causing them to be taken captive by the enemy. He paints a word picture by comparing them to a vine that will be thoroughly gleaned. The vine won’t be completely destroyed, but all the fruit will have been removed. It is very clear from the wording that God is in control.

Jer. 6:10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

Jer. 6:11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

Jer. 6:12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

The prophet is wondering if there is anyone willing to listen to the word of God. He observes that their ears are uncircumcised; in other words, their ears were not attuned to hearing spiritual truth.  This prevented them from understanding that they were in danger. They took no delight in being confronted with their sin and told that they needed to repent and obey. I wonder how many in the “church” today have uncircumcised ears?

Verse 11 seems to picture the prophet in righteous anger and exhausted from the lack of response of the people. He calls out for God to pour out His wrath on the city—from youngest to oldest. He urges the LORD to give the enemy success, and the LORD affirms that He will.

Jer. 6:13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Jer. 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Jer. 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

The LORD testifies to the depravity of the people. Every level of society is described as covetous—even the prophets and priests, those who should be representing God to the people, cannot be trusted. They have told the people that God is going to give them peace, while His true prophets are declaring judgment to come. They are blatant and unashamed in their sin; it was to the point that couldn’t even blush in light of their wicked actions. Bottom line—God is going to destroy them in punishment for their sin.

Again, I can’t help but make comparison to the prevalent culture in America today. What was clearly identified as sin when I was young is now openly embraced as acceptable behavior today. Evangelical churches were known for teaching according to the truth of God’s word and identifying sin and the need for repentance and salvation. It seems to me that the number of churches doing the same today is much fewer, and those who do are being categorized as radical and intolerant. I believe we are incurring God’s wrath just as surely as did Israel and can expect to be punished with His judgment with the same certainty.

Jer. 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Jer. 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Again the LORD entreats His people to stop and look at themselves. Pay attention to the conditions of the covenant promises declared by Moses and follow them. If they will do this, they will find rest and protection. But the belligerent response of the people—We will not obey the LORD. The LORD was faithful to give them watchmen who were faithful to declare His truth; the response of the people—We will not listen. They are determined to live their own lives according to their own desires. The mantra in America and much of the world today is the same—just stated a little differently: If it feels good, do it.

Jer. 6:18 ¶ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

Jer. 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

Jer. 6:20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

The LORD now calls for the Gentile nations and the earth to witness His declaration. My paraphrase—I am going to judge my people according to their own way of reasoning since they have chosen to reject Me as LORD. I don’t know why they are still going through the motions of offering incense before Me. These offerings are unacceptable and mean nothing to Me.

This type of thinking is in tune with the thinking of so many today. They expect God to be happy with the offerings they bring to Him of their own choosing without any regard as to what He wants. God is sovereign. His way is the only acceptable way to approach Him. He will reject anything we try to offer Him outside of His declared will.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Samuel was very clear in declaring God’s heart regarding sacrifices and offerings.

1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Solomon adds to our understanding from the Proverbs.

Proverbs 21:2–3 & 27 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice…. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?”

Jer. 6:21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

Jer. 6:22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

Jer. 6:23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

In this section of verses YHWH is basically saying that He is going to ensure that His wicked people are destroyed with a vicious refining fire. The word for stumblingblock means “cause to fall” and is from a root that means to cause the ruination of or to cause to be overthrown. He is going to send a people from the north, a great nation (later to be identified as Babylon) against Judah. The enemy will be strong, cruel and merciless. They will be so great in number that their approach on horseback will sound like the roaring of the sea.

Jer. 6:24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Jer. 6:25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

Jer. 6:26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

Jeremiah indicates that the people knew about this mighty nation. Just the thought of their approach provoked fear and great anxiety comparable to a woman in the throes of childbirth or as the pain caused by the loss of an only son. The warning is to expect attack from every direction. Jeremiah calls for his people to clothe themselves in sackcloth in mourning and repentance of their sin.

Jer. 6:27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

Jer. 6:28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

Jer. 6:29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

Jer. 6:30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

It seems that the LORD is declaring Jeremiah to be a strong tower of truth among the people with the gifts of knowledge and discernment regarding the people of Judah. He can verify God’s declaration that the people are “hardened rebels (NIV) and liars. They are comparable to bronze and iron, inferior metals (as noted by the CJB). They are corrupters—those who are spoiling and ruining the health of the nation.

Verse 29 represents what is supposed to be a refining fire that will burn away the waste and leave what is pure. In fact, the fire is so hot that the bellows used to fan the flame is burned. The problem—there is just too much dross; the nation is wicked to the core. They are identified as “rejected silver,” because the LORD has rejected them.

The prophet Isaiah declared this same message.

Isaiah 1:21–22 “How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:”

This is a very sad commentary on a nation that was established with such blessing and promise. How do you think America would emerge from this process today? I believe we too would be identified as rejected silver.