The prophet's confidence in spite of terrible conditions
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| 1 ¶ The word of the LORD
that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth [drought].
2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. .3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. .4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. 5 Yea, the hind [female deer] also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. 6 And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass. |
1
- Word of the Lord The beginning of a new prophecy extending,
possibly, to 17:18. The Chaldeans are not
mentioned and this is apparently before they attacked Jerusalem.
4 - Chapt Now spelled "chapped" but not a correct translation. The Hebrew really means "struck with terror." 6 - Dragons From tannim, Should read "jackals." See je0911. |
| .7
O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's
sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
8 O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? .9 Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. |
9 - Astonied "Taken by surprise" NIV. In his prayer, Jeremiah looked forward to the Lord's help and to final restoration. |
| .10
¶ Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander,
they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept
them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. .12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. |
10
- Now remember This is not that He had forgotten but that
He would now give the matter attention to deal with it.
10 - Visit Send punishment for (BBE). See ps00804, ps05905. 11 - Pray not See je0716, je1114. 12 - Fast ... not hear The Lord will not pay attention to their prayers "because their prayers are hypocritical: their hearts are still idolatrous. God never refuses to hear real prayer (Jer 7:21,22; Pr 1:28; Isa 1:15; 58:3)." (JFB). |
| .13
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall
not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured
peace in this place.
.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. |
13
- Prophets say These false prophets were giving false messages.
Remembering that a prophet is one who speaks for the Lord. See what Jeremiah
was to say in the next verse.
13 - Assured peace Compare je0613. |
| .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.
16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them. |
16
- People ... cast into the street In the coming fall of Jerusalem.
16 - None to bury A great dishonor in the Jewish mind. See je0802, je1605,6. |
| .17
¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run
down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter
of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
.18 If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not. .19 Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble! 20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. |
17
- Virgin daughters The people
or city of Jerusalem is3722,
je0821,
la0115,
la0213.
18 - Prophet and priest ... go about Or they "make merchandise." In spite of the terrible conditions, the false religious leaders will enrich themselves from the situation. |
| .21
Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy
glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.
.22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things. |
22 - Vanities The confidence we may have even when situations are very bad. In idols. See on je0205. |
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