Author: cackywalker@yahoo.com

Jeremiah’s Complaint

Then I said, “What sorrow is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at childbirth! I am hated everywhere I go. I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose nor a borrower who refused to pay-yet they all still curse me.”

Then the Lord replied, “I will take care of you, Jeremiah. Your enemies will ask you to plead on their behalf in times of trouble and distress. Can a man break a bar of iron from the north, or a bar of bronze? At no cost to them, I will have over your wealth and treasures as plunder to your enemies. For sin runs rampant in your hand. I will tell your enemies to take you as captives on a foreign land. For My anger burns like a fire and will burn forever.” (vv. 10-14, NLT)

Jeremiah Questions the Lord’s Justice

Lord, You always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy? You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you are fare from their hearts. But as for me, Lord, You know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts. Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered! Set them aside to be slaughtered!

How long must this lan mourn? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land. For the people have said,”The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us!” (vv. 1-4, NLT)

Judah’s Broken Covenant

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said “Remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the terms of My Covenant with them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of My covenant! For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, “If you obey Me and do whatever I command you, then you will be My people, and I will be your God. ” I said this so I could keep My promise to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey- the land you live in today.”’

Then I replied, “Amen, Lord! May it be so.”

Then the Lord said, “Broadcast this message in the streets of Jerusalem. Go from town to town in throughout the land and say, ‘Remember the ancient covenant, and to everything it requires. For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, “Obey Me!” I have repeated this warning over and over to this day, but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubborny followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I bough upon them all the curses described in this covenant.”’ (vv. 1-8, NLT)

Judgment for Disobedience

“My people bend their tongues like blow that shot out lies. They refuse to stand up for the truth. They only go from bad to worse. They do not know me, “says teh Lord. “

“Beward of your neighbor! Don’t even trust your brother, and friend slanders friends. They all fool and defraud each other; no one tells the truth. With practiced tongues they tell lies; they wear themselves out with all their sining. They pile lie upon lie and utterly refuse to acknowledge Me,” says the Lord. ( vv. 3-6,NLT)

Deception by False Prophets

“Jeremiah, say to the people,’This is what the Lord says:

“‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back? Then why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done?” No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! Even the stork that files across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each hear. But not My people! They do not know the Lord’s laws.

“‘How can you say, “We are wise because we have the word of the Lord,” when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies? These wise teacher will fall in to the trap of their own foolishness, for they haver rejected the word of the Lord. Are they so wise after all?”‘

Judah’s Persistent Idolatry

“Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don’t beg Me to help them, for I will not listen to you. Don’t you see what they are doing throughout all the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? No wonder I am so angry! Watch how the children gather wood and the fathers build sacrificial fires. See how women kneed dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven? An they pour out liquid offerings to their idol gods! Am I the one they are hurting”: says the Lord. “Most of all, they hurt them selves to their own shame.” (vv. 16-19, NLT)

Jeremiah Speaks at the Temple

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go to the entrance of the Lord’s Temple, and give this message to the people: ‘O Judah, listen to this message from the Lord! Listen to it, all of you who worship here! This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says’:

“Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simple because the Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here! But i will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice, only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.” (vv. 1-7, NLT)

Judah Rejects the Lord’s Way

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ I posted watchmen over you who said, ‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’ But you replied, ‘No! We won’t pay attention!’

“Therefore, listen to this, all you nations. Take note of My people’s situation. Listen, all the earth! I will bring disaster on My people. It is the fruit of their own schemes, because they refuse to listen to Me. They have rejected My word. There’s no use offering Me sweet frankincense from Sheba. Keep you fragrant calamus imported from distant lands! I will not accept your burnt offerings. Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma to Me.”

Therefore, this is what the Lord says:”I will put obstacles in My people’s path. Fathers and sons will both fall down over them. Neighbors and friends will die together.” (vv. 16-21, NLT)