As noted in Li Lian's intro post, the book does not follow chronological order - so if you are interested in seeing how it fits together chronologically, check out this link (and there are many other resources online for this). Also a good resource is this Intro to Jeremiah - the main things we need to be aware of reading this book are the history of rejection of God that Judah has gone through - before Hezekiah, then again with Manasseh and Ammon, then after Josiah's partial reform the reversion in the next generation - Jeremiah preaches during Josiah's reign and continues into the degeneracy afterwards all the way into the Babylonian captivity.
There are a number of themes we have seen before: the potter working the clay after his idea's not the clay's ideas - the condemnation of the deceit and abuse of the poor - the continual going after idols and other nations. I do like one analogy God uses here - the destruction of the fresh spring of water to build their own cistern (place to hold water) that is broken and can never hold any water, and yet they prefer it to the fresh spring! We also see the heart attitude coming out again and again - mentioned 34 times in the section considered here. Interesting to see the contrast in character when it refers to the heart of the righteous and the wicked -
Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
vs.
15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
We see the insight of the Lord:
17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
And the burning of the heart of the righteous to speak up for God, in contrast to the wicked who ignore Him:
20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
The other major theme I noticed through this passage was the continued talking about false prophets. The people would not listen to the prophets of God:
Jeremiah 7:25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: (26) Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
Yet there were plenty of false prophets around that would tell the people what they wanted to hear, despite it all being untrue and deceitful.
Jeremiah 5:13 And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. (15) Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
Their words are empty, and do not come true, but many listen to them. It is good to think about who we listen to in the world. The media is a classic example of something practically set up to tell us what we want to hear - but there are often things closer to home spiritually as well. Sometimes we can dismiss the media as unimportant or realise its bias and counter-act that influence, but we need to be aware of how much we do absorb. Closer to home spiritually, there are many pastors and churches that will just tell the congregation what they want to hear. There are many people in the church not in leadership role who will do the same, either through being deceived themselves or deliberately. Do we ever do it ourselves, to fit in with friends? There is a place for letting things go and not provoking unprofitable arguments, but it is another thing if we tell them all is fine/that doing good is ok/it doesn't matter what you believe - when we know they are heading to Hell for eternity. We are the watchmen of the city - it is our duty to warn!
I've quoted from chapter 17 already above, but there was a beautiful bit in the middle of the quoted verses I've chosen to end with:
Jer 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. (8) For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Let us always be fruitful in the Lord and resting in Him for our grounding and strength!
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