Jeremiah

Jeremiah 9:1-2

This seems to be God speaking by context, but by content sounds like Jeremiah, the weeping prophet.  It is Jeremiah conveying the words with a heart for the things of the Lord.  At this point, its hard to separate the two; a good lesson for us! 

There was both mourning and offense.  There was weeping for the dead and the feeling of being appalled by the living.  The offense caused the idea of God leaving His people.  Their sinfulness offended and brought judgment and more death.  The 'crowd of unfaithful' is the word for the solemn religious assemblies during times of feasts.  We shouldn't miss the irony of the religious gathering of the unfaithful.

Jeremiah 9:3-6

Speech containing lies is a dangerous weapon.  The picture is that of the mouth like a bow loaded with the lying arrow, pulled back and ready to be released.  They don't function in the basis of truth.  Their failure to acknowledge God has lowered, or eliminated, any standard of righteousness, truth and justice.

A warning is issued to 'beware' of friends.  The deception is everywhere and no one is recognizing it for what it is.  Every friend is portrayed as a slanderer; not really a friend at all, but someone drawing near to cause harm.  Everyone seems to be out for themselves.  This narcissism seems to be a default when God is rejected (2 Tim 3).  Jeremiah lived in the midst of a time of great and widespread deception due to a people's refusal to acknowledge the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:7-9

Due to this sin, the Lord is compelled to 'refine and test' the people.  This is the refining fire of affliction that will be used to purify them.  It is in affliction we learn of what's really important in our lives.  Only that which is stable and true withstands the fires. 

The people do not see or comprehend the deception they continue with the lies and deceit they spread.  It's a dark setting; the neighbor speaking kindly but inside they are setting a trap for them.  It's the appearance of love countered by the action of deception, driven by hatred.  Is there any argument for not punishing this? Asked the Lord. 

Jeremiah 9:10-11

We can imagine the once thriving and bustling cities now lie quiet, destroyed, with only the ruins visible.  Even the wild animals would be cautious understanding the drastic difference in appearance.  The Jackal would initially be hesitant as it came to the desolate cities to scavenge; but there it would find a home.

Jeremiah 9:12-16

Who is wise enough to even understand this?  The question is somewhat rhetorical in that the Lord already said their only wisdom was to be wise in doing evil (Jer. 4:22).  True wisdom would understand that rebellion, rejection and disobedience would bring punishment by a loving Father.  Also, recognizing the punishment as such and finding the cause, the sin that brought it on, and taking appropriate action.

This failure will cause them to be scattered to the nations.  This is the punishment for breaking covenant (Dt 28:64; Lev 26:33).  They would know the sword until they were completely destroyed.  The complete destruction must only be seen as the complete elimination of this disobedience in light of Jeremiah 5:18 and 30:11 among other places where the Lord promises a remnant.

Jeremiah 9:17-21

The Lord Almighty said this but who is speaking is at times confusing.  To 'consider' is to weigh it out, give the thought.  The Lord is hiring professional mourners to mourn over Zion.  The most skillful were required for the depth and breadth of mourning to come.  They were called to teach their daughters and teach others a lament because death had arrived.  It is personified, climbing in through the windows, unexpected, surprising them and invading their life.  The sound of wailing is a is in the future, part of the vision playing out of those things yet to come.

Jeremiah 9:22-24

The bodies of the dead will lie about as if dung in the open field, abandoned and worthless.  It also brings to mind the sheaves left behind when cut down in harvest.  No one will gather them.  Many of the dead won't be buried according to 7:33 also.

The wise, strong and rich have nothing to boast about; their wisdom, strength and riches will do nothing for them in judgment.  The Lord is not impressed.  The only acceptable boast is that of the one who had understanding enough to know the Lord and what He wants.  To know He is Lord, He is kind, but He is also just and righteous.  The Lord delights in people who have this understanding.

Jeremiah 9:25-26

To understand the Lord and what He expects is to know Him as Lord.  To know Him as Lord is to experience and change of heart, to be born again (John 3).  The day is coming when those who haven't experienced a heart change will stand in their sin and be punished.  The unbelieving nations were portrayed as Israel's neighbors, but Israel herself was also uncircumcised in heart. 

©2018 Doug Ford