Jeremiah 15:1-9

1 Then the LORD said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth. 2 And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD:

“ Such as are for death, to death;
And such as are for the sword, to the sword;
And such as are for the famine, to the famine;
And such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.”’

3 “And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction,” says the LORD: “the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. 4 I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.
5 “ For who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem?
Or who will bemoan you?
Or who will turn aside to ask how you are doing?
6 You have forsaken Me,” says the LORD,

“ You have gone backward.
Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you;
I am weary of relenting!
7 And I will winnow them with a winnowing fan in the gates of the land;
I will bereave them of children;
I will destroy My people,
Since they do not return from their ways.
8 Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas;
I will bring against them,
Against the mother of the young men,
A plunderer at noonday;
I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly.
9 “ She languishes who has borne seven;
She has breathed her last;
Her sun has gone down
While it was yet day;
She has been ashamed and confounded.
And the remnant of them I will deliver to the sword
Before their enemies,” says the LORD.
Jeremiah 15:1-9 NKJV

The discussion between the LORD and Jeremiah is apparently continued from chapter 14. God invokes the names of two of Israels revered leaders of the past and states that not even if Moses and Samuel stood with the Jews would He change His mind toward the people. The wickedness of Manasseh is cited as being reason for God's judgments. Perhaps this portion of Jeremiah occurred early in Jeremiah's ministry as part of the reformation efforts under Josiah. The reign of Manasseh was so wicked and led the Jews to embrace such wickedness it seems that nothing can bring them back from the precipice of the disaster the nation is to be subjected to. God promises a winnowing, where the chaff will be blown away. Since the majority of the people have turned away from God and forsaken Him, what will remain of them? Fear, death, destruction is promised to those who are proud in their rejection of the Lord. God is issuing what may be the final warning. The mercy of God cannot override the justice of God. How Jeremiah must have felt a great sadness at the message of despair he is called upon to deliver. Surely Jeremiah searches the faces of those to whom he speaks, looking for signs of an awakening to the danger that is surrounding the people of Judah. Jeremiah longs for the people to see the results of the path they are choosing, that they will turn back to give God the honor and respect that will lead to the saving of his homeland. God promises only woe upon them for their rejection of Him and His saving grace. The Jews have reveled in their wickedness and their rejection of God during the light of the relative peace of the day. Now night approaches, and the light God wishes to send upon them is being rejected. Jeremiah can see the darkness approaching, the people see only the desires of their hearts and plot against each other and against God.

Lord,
Help me today to listen as You warn me of the future. Help me to trust in You and to give all my being to You. There is no hope and there is no salvation apart from You. You know your plans for me, plans for peace and not of evil. You want to give me a future and a hope. Help me to accept the hope and a future of eternity with You. Help me to seek You with all my heart, and fulfill Your promise that I will find You. Renew me today, with Your spirit filling me with Your love and giving me the courage to share Your love with all whose paths cross mine today.