Jer. 7:1 ¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer. 7:2 Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.
This chapter begins with YHWH instructing Jeremiah to deliver another message of truth and warning to the people of Jerusalem. He is to stand at the entrance to the temple to deliver this message. You would think that those entering the temple “to worship the LORD” would want to hear God’s message, but, sadly, that does not prove to be the case.
This brought a question to my mind: How many attend “God’s house” throughout our nation and the world with the intent to worship Him? With the desire to hear what He has to say to them?
Jer. 7:3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.
Jer. 7:4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.
Jer. 7:5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;
Jer. 7:6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:
Jer. 7:7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
Yet again, the LORD is calling His people to repentance and obedience. God loves His people; His desire is to bless them. He warns them that the temple does not make them immune to judgment. In fact, its presence should have served to remind them of their covenant with God and the consequences for rejecting Him.
God’s plea (my paraphrase): Diligently work to mend your ways and execute righteous judgment among the people. Treat strangers in the land, the orphans and widows with kindness and compassion. Value life. Honor Me with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Disobedience only serves to hurt you. If you will follow me as your LORD, I will allow you to dwell in this land, the land that I gave to your fathers as an everlasting inheritance.
The fact that God is going to bring destruction to the land and send the people into captivity in no way negates His promise to the founding fathers of Israel— Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is God’s land to do with as He chooses, and He has chosen to give that land to the descendants of Abraham through Jacob. Sadly, the people had become so wicked that God needed to judge them and purify the land and the nation. That is a truth that many people today still do not understand. Because they do not believe in God and/or accept Him as LORD and His word as true, they think they have the right to determine to whom the land belongs. The land belongs to the Jews by the sovereign decree of God Almighty, and the nations are going to find this out the hard way.
Jer. 7:8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
Jer. 7:9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
Jer. 7:10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
Jer. 7:11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
The prophet goes on to declare that the people are trusting in lies. What lies? That God will protect them just because His temple is there.
Again, my paraphrase of God’s message: Do you actually think that you can steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely and burn incense to Baal and other foreign gods and then come to the temple, the house called by My name, and claim my protection? Do you think I intend to protect people known for violence and destruction in My house? You can’t deny that you do this because I have seen it with My own eyes.
Jesus echoed the voice of the prophet when He cleansed the temple the week before His crucifixion.
Matthew 21:13 “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Again, I can’t help but make application to much I see in Christendom today. The people allow themselves to be led by false teachers that are misrepresenting God’s truth. We congregate in houses of worship while embracing the sad morals of our society including abortion (or the right to choose as they prefer to call it—I call it murder), lack of commitment in marriage, cohabiting outside of marriage, homosexuality, deceptive business practices, and allowing idols in our lives that we use to justify not giving God the priority in our lives. We allow the false teachers to defraud the innocent by supporting their misrepresentation of the truth of God’s word, e.g., the prosperity gospel, because we are so concerned about being politically correct and/or not being tagged as intolerant.
I read an article by a good man that took issue with Christians taking hold of the promises of God that are presented in context to Israel, such as that God is giving to His people here. I think the important point that He is missing is that the people of Israel were God’s chosen people who were to declare Him to the world. No, the church hasn’t replaced Israel; but at this point in time, the true church are God’s chosen people through whom He is declaring Himself to the world. Scripture is clear that God doesn’t change. Therefore, the principles that He establishes for dealing with His people are valid for His people of all times. I believe that if the church would “humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14) It’s the same principle Jeremiah is declaring to the people in this passage. The problem is not with God—the problem is the lack of the fear of God among His people. The problem is our pride. I speak this to our shame.
Jer. 7:12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.
Jer. 7:13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;
Jer. 7:14 Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.
Jer. 7:15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.
In this section of verses God is basically saying that the people should remember what happened to Shiloh, the place in Israel that housed the tabernacle and the ark (the representation God’s presence) in the beginnings of the nation. It was destroyed and the people judged.
1 Samuel 4:4–11 “So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubim’s….And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.…O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight. And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken….”
Psalms 78:56–62 “Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.”
Shiloh was located in the Northern Kingdom, which at the time of Jeremiah’s ministry had been taken captive by the Assyrians. God is basically saying that just as surely as I brought judgment then, I will bring judgment now.
Jer. 7:16 ¶ Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.
The LORD is instructing Jeremiah not to pray for this people. If he tries to intercede for them, God will not listen.
It’s always interesting to me that God seems to give multiple opportunities for His people to repent in spite of His omniscience. I believe that is for the benefit of individuals. Though judgment upon the nation is sure, I believe God is reaching out to the hearts of the few in the nation that will respond in repentance and faith—the remnant through whom He will fulfill those covenant promises and through whom the Messiah will be given.
Jer. 7:17 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
Jer. 7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Jer. 7:19 Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?
YHWH continues to justify His instruction by pointing out how wickedness is so prevalent and public. Whole families participate in preparing offerings to present to “the queen of heaven” and other false gods. They are knowingly provoking God to anger. Don’t they understand that they are bringing about their own judgment and ruin?
It is very obvious from the context that this “queen” is part of the pantheon of false gods worshipped among the nations at that time. It is interesting to note that Catholics use the title “Queen of Heaven” in reference to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the apparitions appearing around the world that claim to be she. If you do much reading at all regarding the messages of this apparition, you will soon find that many are in conflict with scripture. I can only conclude that she is one of those deceiving “angels of light” associated with Satan and his cohorts.
2 Corinthians 11:14–15 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
You can read much more on this subject at the following website: http://www.eternal-productions.org.
Wiersbe: “ A nation’s decay begins in the home, and God saw whole families in Jerusalem working together to worship idols.”
Jer. 7:20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
When reading this verse, I couldn’t help but be reminded of God’s words as recorded by Moses.
Exodus 34:14 “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God….”
Deuteronomy 6:13–15 “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.”
Another thing that stood out in this verse is how sin brings consequences to the surrounding environment. When men are judged, the land and other creatures in it experience the consequences.
These are words that should provoke fear and trembling—“mine anger and my fury shall be poured out…and shall not be quenched.” I think that just like the great majority people today, Israel no longer feared God.
Jer. 7:21 ¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.
Jer. 7:22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
Jer. 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
I think the NIV translation is much easier to understand for this section of verses: “Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves! For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.”
It’s interesting how much energy man will invest in performing rituals and adhering to routines to project a desired appearance of spirituality. When it comes to actually serving God according to His will as revealed in His word, however, we choose to follow our own inclinations while trying to justify actions that go against that very revelation. We seem to be wired to try to meet God on our own terms rather than His.
Jer. 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
The sad truth—God’s people chose not to listen to Him. They chose to act according to their own purposes and their own desires as stated above.
The Hebrew for the word imagination was interesting. It stated “in the sense of twisted” from a root that stated “to be hostile; enemy.” It was actually emphasizing the fact that their purposes were rooted in a heart that was hostile to God; their thinking was twisted; it wasn’t rooted in the truth. Instead of growing spiritually, they were in spiritual decline.
Stedman: “When people get so blind that they cannot see what they are doing, and they really think that God is like them, that he cannot see any further than the outward appearance of a life, then the only thing left which will open their eyes is judgment.”
Jer. 7:25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:
Jer. 7:26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
The prophet continues God’s message to the people. He declares that God has been faithful to send His prophets to declare His truth and His judgment. Sadly, the people had chosen to ignore the prophets and the truth they declared. As they continued in their sinful ways, they became even more entrenched in sin than were their fathers. That is an important truth—Sin unrestrained results in even worse sin.
Jer. 7:27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.
Jer. 7:28 But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
The LORD reminds Jeremiah that the people are going to reject the message he declares; his message will fall on deaf ears. They will refuse to repent of their sin. However, he is not to quit; he is to be faithful to continue to proclaim God’s word. He is to confront them with their sin and warn them of the judgment to come.
The church today would do well to follow his example. We have become so focused on talking about God’s love that the message of identifying sin and declaring judgment has become almost nonexistent. We need to declare the whole counsel of God.
Jer. 7:29 ¶ Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.
Jer. 7:30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.
Jer. 7:31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
This is yet another call to mourning and repentance. YHWH has rejected this generation, the generation of His wrath. God’s long-suffering has reached its limit. Judgment is necessary because of the wickedness of the people. It has gotten to the point that even the temple is no longer exempted from their wickedness. They have brought their idols into the temple. They pay homage to these false gods by sacrificing their own children in the fire. YHWH, the one true God, had never asked for such sacrifices; in fact, this type of sacrifice never entered His heart.
I can hear someone now saying, but what about Abraham and Isaac. That was a personal time of testing for Abraham that Abraham knew would result in the resurrection of Isaac if necessary for God to keep His covenant.
Hebrews 11:17–19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
It was an example of righteous faith and obedience to God. These sacrifices to false gods were acts of murder done with selfish motives—to gain the favor of impotent gods.
Though we do not place babies in the burning arms of an idol as sacrifices today, we have resorted to a different type of burning to get rid of unwanted babies before they can be born. Consider this quote from an article at www.liveactionsnews.org by Cassy Fiano on November 30, 2016: “Saline abortions fall under the method known as “instillation abortion”—a method where substances including saline, digoxin, potassium chloride, or prostaglandin are injected into a mother’s womb….In a saline abortion, the baby is not only poisoned, but also chemically burned alive from the inside out.”
Jer. 7:32 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.
Jer. 7:33 And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.
Jer. 7:34 Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.
The LORD declares that the time is coming when the carcasses of His wicked people will provide a great feast to the carnivorous birds as they fill the very valley where they sacrificed their children. At that time Judah will be a place of sadness and desolation.
Jer. 8:1 ¶ At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:
Jer. 8:2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
Jer. 8:3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.
This chapter continues in flow from the previous chapter regarding the time of desolation that is to come to Judah and Jerusalem. Indication is that the invading forces will even desecrate graves of royalty and priests in search for treasure. The IVP OT Commentary cited a specific example from history regarding motivation other than just seeking treasure: “Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, attacked the Elamite capital of Susa and carried off the bones of the dead with the purpose of ‘imposing restlessness upon their spirits and depriving them of food offerings and libations.’”
Most translations infer that once taken into exile, many will wish they had died. After looking at the Hebrew, I’m not sure but what it indicates that many will choose suicide.
Of particular note is the declaration that the passion and energy the people of Judah had invested in the worship of the false gods that they identified in connection with the sun, moon and stars will be proven ineffective on their behalf.
Also being emphasized is the fact that it is YHWH in sovereign control over what is happening to His people. Their exile, though accomplished through wicked foreign nations, will be a result of His judgment against His people because of their sins.
Jer. 8:4 ¶ Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?
Jer. 8:5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
Reminder is given that it is the LORD telling the prophet what to say. He is to pose a few questions to the people to cause them to think. The NLT expresses the intent quite clearly I think: “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 these people keep going along their self-destructive path, refusing to turn back, even though I have warned them?”
The prophet seems to be declaring that the response of the people is not normal. It’s normal to get up again when you fall down. It’s normal to make correction when you know you have made a mistake. It’s abnormal to continue down a path of self-destruction when you have been warned of the consequences. It’s like the people have become addicted to their sin.
Point is made that these people are making their own choices, acting of their own free will. They are clinging to belief in lies and refusing to repent because the message is according to their own desires. Their sin isn’t being identified or even recognized by their spiritual leaders; they see no need to repent. This is the same situation that exists in much of “Christendom” today.
Jer. 8:6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
Jer. 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
The LORD is saying that He is listening for the response of the people to the declarations of His prophets. He hears nothing good. No one is repentant. Everyone is making choices according to his own desires.
In verse 7 the LORD is painting a word picture. Even animals know to follow the instincts God has given them; the stork, the turtle, the crane and the swallow dependably follow their migration patterns. Mindless creatures were smarter in their actions than the people of Judah. The people of Judah couldn’t even seem to understand the very clear declarations YHWH had given them of the pros and cons of breaking covenant with Him. I just read through the book of Deuteronomy again these last few days and Moses’ written record is explicit. Not only did they have the Torah (the books of Moses), God had been faithful to send His prophets to warn His people of judgment if they did not repent.
Jer. 8:8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
Jer. 8:9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
I liked the reading of the NIV for verse 8: “How can you say, ‘We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,’ when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?”
This is an important point. Possession of God’s Word means nothing if not rightly divided and understood. Jeremiah is making the point that the scribes had misinterpreted scripture to their own purposes. This is one of the main problems in the “church” today. There are so many in leadership and teaching positions that twist the word of God to make it say what they want it to. They quote it out of context. They insist that it needs to be made relevant for today and can’t be taken literally. It seems Satan has been successful in promoting this type of deception for thousands of years.
The LORD declares that those who declare themselves to be wise are going to be put to shame and caught in the trap of their own lies. They have rejected God’s word, the source of truth and wisdom. Their “wisdom” will be proven to be foolishness.
Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Jer. 8:10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
Jer. 8:11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
The declared judgment for the ones to whom Jeremiah is speaking is specific. YHWH is going to allow their wives to be taken away from them by their captors. Their fields are going to be given to others. He is specific in declaring that the people—from the poorest to the wealthiest—are greedy and intent on making a dishonest profit. Because of this, they are going to lose everything. Even the priests and the prophets can’t be trusted. They are putting the people at ease by assuring them of peace and prosperity when judgment is coming. It’s interesting to note that the prophets and priests are working together. Ezekiel is prophesying in Babylon and makes similar accusation. Following is an excerpt from that journal:
Ezekiel 13:10-12 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
God is declaring judgment upon the people because of their wickedness and the false prophets who are declaring peace. They were working as a team in presenting their lies and deceit. One would make a statement and others would build on that statement with their own lies. I like the wording of the CJB: “…If someone builds a wall without mortar, they ‘plaster’ it with whitewash [to make it appear strong]. Tell these ‘plasterers’ that a cloudburst is coming, with huge hailstones and gale-force winds; and the wall will fall down.”
In other words the LORD is going to fulfill His prophecy of judgment, and then the people will know that they have listened to lies and deceit. They will be quick to lay the blame at the feet of the false prophets. [end of excerpt]
False teachers work the same way today; there is nothing new under the sun. They too are going to be proven for who they really are one day.
Jer. 8:12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Jer. 8:13 ¶ I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
Point is made that they have no excuse for their sin; God has faithfully reminded them over and again of His truth, His will for them. His people aren’t even ashamed of their sin. It had become such an accepted way of life that they weren’t even shamed when confronted with their sin. So God states that He is going to cause them to fall in judgment. His judgment is going to be so harsh that few will be left. Just as they benefitted from the fruit of the land when they conquered Canaan, so their conquerors will consume all that God has given them. Again, they are going to lose everything since they have chosen to reject the One Who has so richly blessed them.
“Were they ashamed…neither could they blush” – Sad to say that this is descriptive of many places in the world today. It is certainly becoming more the norm in America.
Jer. 8:14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
Jer. 8:15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
At this point the prophet seems to indicate that the time will come when the people will understand that he is declaring the truth. According to the next verse, it seems that won’t be until they hear that the enemy is approaching from the north. They will choose to flee to the walled cities for protection; but that will prove futile. Once they realize that judgment is coming, they will finally acknowledge their sin. They will finally realize that instead of the peace and prosperity that was prophesied by the false prophets and assured by the priests, they are going to face trouble and distress.
Jer. 8:16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
Jer. 8:17 For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
Reports have come from the north that the enemy is on the way. The conquering forces are many and mighty. They are leaving a path of destruction. The LORD is clear in stating that He is the One sending the enemy. He compares the soldiers to poisonous snakes that can’t be charmed. Their bite will be sure and deadly.
Jer. 8:18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
Jer. 8:19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
At this point Jeremiah expresses his grief at the plight of his people. It’s like he is visualizing what will happen. He can already hear the cries of his people at the attack of the invading forces. I think that maybe the first part of verse 19 is a reference to the people in captivity in Babylon with Ezekiel. They are wondering if YHWH has deserted His land and His people.
The LORD’s response—Why have my people chosen to provoke Me by worshipping worthless heathen idols?
Jer. 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Jer. 8:21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
Jer. 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
Verse 21 is very descriptive of the heart of the prophet; the CJB expresses it well: “The daughter of my people is broken, and it’s tearing me to pieces; everything looks dark to me, horror seizes me.”
True Christians today should have the heart of Jeremiah. Though we trust God and joyfully embrace His truth, our hearts should be breaking for the judgment we know is to come.
I had to look for some help on the last verse. It reminded me of a song we sang in church in my youth—“There is a Balm in Gilead.” Truth is that healing was available to the people in the form of repentance and obedience to God. The problem wasn’t that there was no physician. The problem was that the people rejected Him.
Stedman: “You see, judgment is not God's way of saying, "I'm through with you." It is not a mark of the abandonment of God; it is the last loving act of God to bring you back. It is the last resort of love. C. S. Lewis put it very beautifully when he said, ‘God whispers to us in our pleasures; he speaks to us in our work; he shouts at us in our pain.' Every one of us knows that there have been times when we would not listen to God, would not pay any attention to what his Word was saying until one day God put us flat on our backs or allowed us to be hurt badly. Then we began to listen. That is what Jeremiah had to learn. He did not understand that this nation had reached the place where the only thing that would heal it, the only chance it had left, was the judgment of God -- the hurt and the pain of invasion, and the loss of its national place. God's love was insisting that that happen.”