(The previous post covered prophecies that showed mercy had run out for Judah and judgment was on its way.)
Jeremiah 10
1 Hear ye the word which Jehovah speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
(Although this was directed towards the "house of Israel," Jeremiah was speaking specifically to Judah since it had been more than ninety-three years since the ten tribes of Israel were destroyed/taken captive.)
2 thus saith Jehovah, Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5 They are like a palm-tree, of turned work, and speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.
(The customs (traditions) of man were unprofitable. The idols being worshipped were made by the hands of men. Even though these idols were great in appearance, they were unable to do good: Right and Just.)
6 There is none like unto thee, O Jehovah; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
7 Who should not fear thee, O King of the nations? for to thee doth it appertain; forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like unto thee.
8 But they are together brutish and foolish: the instruction of idols! it is but a stock.
(Jehovah was great and mighty but the idols were brutish (stupid) and foolish (without understanding). The instruction of these idols was unprofitable, they were made of trees.)
9 There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple for their clothing; they are all the work of skilful men.
10 But Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation.
(Jehovah was the true, living, and everlasting God. Idols were short term and the work of man's hands.)
11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.
12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:
(God used His power, wisdom (Right how), and understanding (Right why) when He created the heavens and the earth.)
13 when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.
14 Every man is become brutish and is without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
(The context of verse 14 was specific to idols and the men who made them.)
15 They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
(The idols were unprofitable and the work of delusion. The word delusion came from the root word that meant "to deceive, to misuse.")
16 The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.
17 Gather up thy wares out of the land, O thou that abidest in the siege.
(The people were told to gather what they could in preparation for the exile.)
18 For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.
19 Woe is me because of my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.
(Jeremiah felt compassion on Judah because of God's Words from verse 18.)
20 My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth from me, and they are not: there is none to spread my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of Jehovah: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.
(The shepherds (pastors) of God's people had become brutish (stupid). They were not taking direction from God and the result was they did not prosper and their flocks (the Jews) were scattered.)
22 The voice of tidings, behold, it cometh, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling-place of jackals.
23 O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
24 O Jehovah, correct me, but in measure: not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
(Jeremiah was asking for God to correct him, not all at once but in measure (with Justice). Jeremiah knew if God showed him everything he needed to grow in, it would cause Jeremiah to be brought to nothing.)
25 Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have devoured Jacob, yea, they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.
(Jeremiah asked for judgment on Israel's enemies after these enemies had served God's purpose to punish Israel.)
Jeremiah 11
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
(Jeremiah continued to speak God's Words to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, the only Jews that were not in exile.)
3 and say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man that heareth not the words of this covenant,
(Cursed was the man that did not hear the words of the Covenant established during the Exodus, the Covenant made on Mount Sinai. This Covenant was renewed with Judah in the days of Josiah and Jeremiah in 2 Kings 23:1-3.)
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 shall ye be my people, and I will be your God;
(If they obeyed God's commands then He would be their God and they would be His people.)
5 that I may establish the oath which I sware unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I, and said, Amen, O Jehovah.
6 And Jehovah said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did them not.
(God continually protested to the Israelites of the past to do His Words and keep their end of the Covenant established on Mount Sinai. However, they did not obey.)
9 And Jehovah said unto 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 saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry unto me, but I will not hearken unto them.
(The Jews living during this prophecy had broken the Covenant, just as their fathers did. Therefore, God would bring evil upon them.)
12 Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry unto the gods unto which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
(The Jew's response would be to cry to the gods they made with their own hands.)
13 For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
(The amount of gods and altars were comparable to the number of cities in Judah and streets in Jerusalem, respectively.)
14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me because of their trouble.
(God would not hear prayers regarding the people receiving judgment during this time. The reason was the trouble the people caused. Again, prayers were answered relative to Justice. These people were on the wrong side of Justice and God would not be able to move for them without being unjust, and God couldn't be unjust.)
15 What hath my beloved to do in my house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
16 Jehovah called thy name, A green olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
(The "green olive-tree" symbolized Judah being broken and judged.)
17 For Jehovah of hosts, who planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have wrought for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense unto Baal.
18 And Jehovah gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then thou showedst me their doings.
19 But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
(The Jews began plotting against Jeremiah because of the words he was proclaiming to them. Did they think if no one was saying these words that the judgment would stop?)
20 But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, I shall see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
(Jeremiah had given the injustice against him to God. Jeremiah must have had an understanding of Justice being equaled out in the long term.)
21 Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of Jehovah, that thou die not by our hand;
(The men who sought Jeremiah's life were from Anathoth. Anathoth was a city that was allotted to the priest and was located about three miles from Jerusalem. This was Jeremiah's birthplace.)
22 therefore thus saith Jehovah 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 unto them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
(In response to Jeremiah forgiving the men who were against him, God told Jeremiah that He would take Justice out for Jeremiah.)
Jeremiah 12
1 Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?
(Jeremiah knew God was Righteous but he still wanted to know why the wicked prospered. Did Jeremiah understand one of the effects of God being Just was that He created man with a free will?)
2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root; they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their heart.
(The wicked produced fruit only in the short term. Did Jeremiah understand this?)
3 But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
(Jeremiah was asking for God's Justice against the wicked.)
4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our latter end.
(Jeremiah wanted to know how long wickedness would prosper. Next, God's answer…)
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and though in a land of peace thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the pride of the Jordan?
6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; even they have cried aloud after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
(God reminded Jeremiah that even his own people were a source of the wickedness Jeremiah was experiencing.)
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 is become unto me as a lion in the forest: she hath uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her.
(God forsook His own people in response to their wickedness. God's own peoples' actions and words were against Him and therefore, He hated them. Remember, hate meant "love less.")
9 Is my heritage unto me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her round about? go ye, assemble all the beasts 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.
(Shepherds (pastors) destroyed God's vineyard. God's vineyard was the Israelites/believers.)
11 They have made it a desolation; it mourneth unto me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
12 Destroyers are come upon all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Jehovah devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh hath peace.
(The destroyers were the Babylonians.)
13 They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and ye shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.
(The destroyers would have no profit.)
14 Thus saith Jehovah against all mine evil neighbors, that 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.
(God would cast away the people who had done evil against the inheritance of the Israelites, including the Israelites who did evil. Was this an answer to Jeremiah's request of Jeremiah 10:25? - "Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have devoured Jacob, yea, they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.")
15 And it shall come to pass, 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.
(After this judgment, God would return the people to their land.)
16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Jehovah liveth; 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, saith Jehovah.
(Even strangers of Israel would be built up if they learned the ways of God's people, and swore by God's Name that He lived.)
(This post covered God's explanation to Jeremiah for the judgment that was about to come.)
Day 227
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