Gather yourselves to flee from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,
And set up a signal-fire in Beth Haccerem;
For disaster appears out of the north,
And great destruction.
2 I have likened the daughter of Zion
To a lovely and delicate woman.
3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her.
They shall pitch their tents against her all around.
Each one shall pasture in his own place.”
4 “ Prepare war against her;
Arise, and let us go up at noon.
Woe to us, for the day goes away,
For the shadows of the evening are lengthening.
5 Arise, and let us go by night,
And let us destroy her palaces.”
6 For thus has the LORD of hosts said:
“ Cut down trees,
And build a mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city to be punished.
She is full of oppression in her midst.
7 As a fountain wells up with water,
So she wells up with her wickedness.
Violence and plundering are heard in her.
Before Me continually are grief and wounds.
8 Be instructed, O Jerusalem,
Lest My soul depart from you;
Lest I make you desolate,
A land not inhabited.”
9 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
“ They shall thoroughly glean as a vine the remnant of Israel;
As a grape-gatherer, put your hand back into the branches.”
10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
That they may hear?
Indeed their ear is uncircumcised,
And they cannot give heed.
Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them;
They have no delight in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD.
I am weary of holding it in.
“ I will pour it out on the children outside,
And on the assembly of young men together;
For even the husband shall be taken with the wife,
The aged with him who is full of days.
12 And their houses shall be turned over to others,
Fields and wives together;
For I will stretch out My hand
Against the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD.
13 “ Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is given to covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the priest,
Everyone deals falsely.
14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
When there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
No! They were not at all ashamed;
Nor did they know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time I punish them,
They shall be cast down,” says the LORD.
16 Thus says the LORD:
“ Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 Also, I set watchmen over you, saying,
‘ Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
18 Therefore hear, you nations,
And know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth!
Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people—
The fruit of their thoughts,
Because they have not heeded My words
Nor My law, but rejected it.
20 For what purpose to Me
Comes frankincense from Sheba,
And sweet cane from a far country?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”
21 Therefore thus says the LORD:
“ Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people,
And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them.
The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”
22 Thus says the LORD:
“ Behold, a people comes from the north country,
And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.
23 They will lay hold on bow and spear;
They are cruel and have no mercy;
Their voice roars like the sea;
And they ride on horses,
As men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion.”
24 We have heard the report of it;
Our hands grow feeble.
Anguish has taken hold of us,
Pain as of a woman in labor.
25 Do not go out into the field,
Nor walk by the way.
Because of the sword of the enemy,
Fear is on every side.
26 O daughter of my people,
Dress in sackcloth
And roll about in ashes!
Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation;
For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.
27 “ I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people,
That you may know and test their way.
28 They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers.
They are bronze and iron,
They are all corrupters;
29 The bellows blow fiercely,
The lead is consumed by the fire;
The smelter refines in vain,
For the wicked are not drawn off.
30 People will call them rejected silver,
Because the LORD has rejected them.”
Jeremiah 6 NKJV
Sins of Judah and her people -
- Oppression of the weak (verse 6)
- Violence (verse 7)
- Plundering (verse 7)
- The word of the Lord is a reproach to them (verse 10)
- Covetousness (verse 13)
- False dealings (verse 13)
- False prophesies (verse 14)
- Refusal to be ashamed for their wickedness (verse 15)
- Refusal to walk in the paths God set before them (verse 16)
- Refusal to listen to God's warnings (verse 17)
- Refusal to heed God's words
- Rejection of God's law
- Offering sacrifices with a heart not in tune with God (verse 20)
- They were rebellious (verse 28)
- Slander of the righteous (verse 28)
- Corruption (verse 28)
Chapter six is a message of warnings to God's people. A list of sins of the people of Judah are mentioned as cause for the removal of God's protection. This list is not exhaustive, as many other sins are mentioned in other places in Jeremiah to describe the condition of the people and the wickedness they were prepared to do and did. It is however instructive to us. As we read the list, how many do we recognize as being present in our own lives. In verse eight, God tells them to be instructed lest His soul depart from them. In verse sixteen, God tells them to stand in the old ways and ask for the old paths where the good way is. The old ways were when they were faithful to the true God of heaven and walked after His ways. He told them that by walking in the paths where he directed them, they would have rest for their souls. How many today are searching for rest for their souls. They search in many places, most of which don't even make sense, hoping that they can find something to fill themselves with happiness and peace. God offers them peace in the old ways where they walk in the old paths of faithfulness to Him. There they will have rest in their souls. In our hectic way of living today most could use rest in their souls. Jesus offers us rest and peace. We need to walk in the way God directs us, then we can have the quiet assurance that God gives to His children. God has sent a watchman over us to tell us to listen to the warnings of His word. When we listen we will know when we must be most on guard against the dangers that come upon us, and like Judah in Jeremiah's day we have dangers coming upon us.
Judah and it's people refuse to listen to God and reject His law. They rejected Him and turned away from Him, effectively cutting themselves off from His love and protection. In their desire to be totally independent of God and do the things they wanted without regard to the effect upon themselves and others, they refused to walk in the paths that God directed them to. They refused to follow God's way, insisting on going their own way. I can see the results of their foolishness, but do I do the same thing? I too need to walk in the paths God sets before me. My selfish heart, however, tells me to ignore those paths and go my own way. When I do reject God and His law and do the things that seem good to me, the result is the same as for Judah. Fear, guilt, despair all encompass me. Better for me to trust in Him who can save me and give me the rest and peace I need.
Verses twenty-nine and thirty compares what happens to Judah as to the refining of precious metal. The fire is bellowed so hot the lead is consumed, but it is in vain. The silver is rejected because it refuses to be made pure. Judah had a choice, God or themselves, and they chose themselves. God will burn a fire in our hearts to make them pure. Would that we welcome that fire and allow Him to cleanse us of our wickedness.
Lord,
Help me today to accept Your cleansing of my heart. The impurities that I have chosen to hold onto need to be burned away. Help me to accept Your fires in my life and allow You to cleanse my life of all that would separate me from You. Help me to listen and hear Your words for me. Help me to look and see the path You have for me. Give me today the strength I need to trust You with my whole being. Thank You for Your love for me and Your forgiveness of my sin.
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