servant of the Lord would know what to say "Fears", "obeys", "trust" – these three are

servant of the Lord would know what to say "Fears", "obeys", "trust" – these three are

949 ISAIAH 50:10

See, you have sold yourselves for your

nor did I turn back. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who plucked

wicked deeds, and your mother was sent away for

your transgressions. 2 Why was there no man when I came? When I called, why was there no one

off the hair. I did not hide my face from insult

and spitting. 7 For the Lord God will help me; therefore I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame. 8 The one who vindicates me is near; who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near me. 9 Look, the Lord God will help me; who is the one who condemns me? See, they will all become old like a garment;

to answer? Is my hand shortened at all so that

it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to rescue? See, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; because there is no water their fish

stink and die from thirst. 3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering."

4 "The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, so that I would know how to speak a

the moth will eat them up."

10 Who among you fears the LORD, who obeys the voice of his servant,

word in season to the weary. He awakens me morning by morning; he awakens my ear to hear as the learned. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious,

who walks in darkness,

and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD,

look beyond Isaiah's day to the time of exile. God says that the exile of the people of Jerusalem and Judah was their fault, not His. He had not "divorced" Zion, the mother (compare 49:15,16). But there was a temporary separation because of Israel's many sins.

(4:2-6; 52:1; 60:1-3), would be no easy matter. It would mean extreme dishonor and suffering for the Messiah, the servant of the Lord (Ps 22:6-18; Matt 27:26,30,67; Mark 14:65; 15:19; Luke 22:63; John 19:1). 50:7 The Lord Jesus courageously faced everything that came to Him (Luke 9:51; 22:42; John 18:10,11). He knew He would not fail or be disappointed in His work of providing salvation to the world (49:6; Heb 12:2,3). 50:8,9 The Lord Jesus was charged with blasphemy and executed as a criminal with criminals (Matt 26:65,66; 27:35-40). How did God vindicate Him? This passage in Isaiah does not say, but we know from the New Testament that it was by raising Him from the dead and exalting Him to His right hand (Acts 13:28-31; Rom 1:4; Phil 2:9). Will anyone still accuse the Lord Jesus? Will any say He is a madman or a liar or possessed by Satan (as some people did when He was on earth)? Let them come forward! They will find they are fighting against God, and will be destroyed like old clothes that moths devour. 50:10 Isaiah now speaks by God's Spirit about the Servant of the Lord who has spoken in vs 4-9.

"When I came" (v 2) – God came again and again to the people but no one paid any attention (64:7. See Jer 7:13,25; 25:3,4). "To rescue" – God could have saved them from the Babylonians, but He determined that the nation must be punished for its evil.

"A desert" – 43:16,17; Ex 14:29. The God who did that was not lacking in strength to rescue His people. 50:3 See 13:10; Joel 2:10,31; Rev 6:12,13. Sackcloth in the Bible is a sign of mourning (Gen 37:34; Est 4:1; Ps 35:13). 50:4-9 The servant of the Lord (Christ) now speaks (v 10; 42:1-4; 49:5-7). He is of Israel, represents Israel, and will bring Israel back to God (49:5). 50:4 "Tongue of the learned" – true of Christ (Ps 45:2; Luke 4:22; John 7:16,17; 12:49,50; 14:24). God instructs men's mouths too – 51:16; Ex 4:12; Jer 1:9; Matt 10:19,20; Mark 13:10; Gal 1:1,11,12.

"To the weary" – 40:29; 42:3; Matt 11:2830. God has compassion on the weary. The servant of the Lord would know what to say to the weary because morning after morning he would get his instructions from God. 50:5 As a servant the Messiah would not be like Israel (42:19,20), or like Jonah (Jonah 1:1-3). 50:6 Bringing Israel back to God (49:5), making Zion a place of holiness and glory

"Fears the LORD" – notes at Gen 20:11; Job 28:28; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Prov 1:7.

"Fears", "obeys", "trust" – these three are essential to the full enjoyment of the salvation the Messiah provides. Days of darkness may come to God's people, days when they do not know what God is doing or what they should do. If they show awe, reverence, and obedience to God and to the Lord Jesus Christ all else they need to do is

ISAIAH 50:11 950

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth below; for the heavens will vanish away like smoke, and the earth will become old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner. But my salvation will be forever,

and rely on his God. 11 Look, all you who kindle a fire, who surround yourselves with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and of the

sparks you have kindled. This is what you will have from my hand: you will lie down in torment.

and my righteousness will not be abolished. 7 Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Do not fear the reproach of men,

"Listen to me, you who follow righteousness, you who seek the LORD. Look to the rock from which you are cut, and to the quarry where you were dug out. 2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you. For I called him alone, and blessed him

or be afraid of their insults. 8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But my righteousness will be forever,

and my salvation from generation

to generation."

and increased him."

9 Awake! Awake! Put on strength, O arm of the LORD! Awake, as in days long ago,

3 For the LORD will comfort Zion. He will comfort all her waste places, and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD.

in the generations of old. Are you not the arm which cut Rahab,

Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the sound of melody.

and pierced the serpent? 10 Are you not the arm which dried the sea, the waters of the great deep, that made the depths of the sea a way

4 "Listen to me, my people, and give ear to me, O my nation. For a law will proceed from me,

for the ransomed to cross over? 11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD will return, and come to Zion with singing; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning will flee away.

and I will make my justice rest as a

light for the people. 5 My righteousness is near. My salvation has gone forth, and my arms will judge the peoples; the islands will wait for me, and they will trust in my arm.

12 "I, I myself, am the one who comforts you.

simply to trust, to lean on God. 50:11 "Who kindle a fire" – this could mean one of two things. It could signify those who engage in wicked practices which burn like fire (9:18). Or it could signify those who refuse the light the Lord Jesus will give (42:6), and try to create their own light. Many people try to do this, and God will leave them to it. The end in either case will be torment in the fire that is never quenched – Matt 25:41; Mark 9:43; Luke 16:24; Rev 20:15. 51:1-3 This passage looks forward to the time of the Babylonian captivity. God addresses those who would seek God (v 1) and return to Jerusalem (compare Jer 29:1014). They would be few in number but God tells them to think of the father of their nation. When God called him he had no children at all, but later Israel became a great people (Gen 22:7; Ex 1:7). God promises to make Zion a paradise where, presumably, a great many will have cause for rejoicing. 51:4,5 God has in mind more than the blessing of Jerusalem (2:2-4; 9:7; 42:1,4).

"Arms" – power – 40:10; 50:2; 52:10; 59:16; 63:5; Ps 98:1. "Islands" – 11:11; 24:15; 41:1,5; 42:4,10,12; 49:1; 59:18; 60:9; 66:19. 51:6 See 34:4; 24:4; Heb 1:10-12; 12:25-29. "Salvation. . .forever" – v 8; 45:17; Titus 1:2. What then should we choose – a temporary world or an eternal heaven? 51:7 "Righteousness" – v 1. "Heart" – Deut 6:6; Ps 119:11; Jer 31:33. "Reproach" – if they despise and insult the master (49:7; 50:6;) the servants will hardly escape (Matt 10:25; John 15:18-20). But instead of fear believers can have joy (v 12; Rom 5:3; 2 Cor 12:10; 1 Pet 4:12-16). 51:8 See 50:9; Mark 9:48. 51:9,10 Isaiah inspired by God's Spirit now speaks for the righteous. God has promised great things. He prays for their fulfillment. Let God act again for His people as He did at the Red Sea (Ex 14:21-31).

"Rahab" – Egypt (Job 9:13; etc). 51:11 Note at 35:10. 51:12 Again God begins to speak. "Comforts" – v 3; 40:1; 49:13.

"Is near" (v 5) – 50:8; 2 Pet 3:8,9; Rev 1:3.

951 ISAIAH 52:2

Who are you, that you should be afraid

who will mourn for you? Desolation and destruction,

of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be

and famine and sword; by whom will I comfort you? 20 Your sons have fainted. They lie at the head of every street,

made like grass? 13 And you forget the LORD your maker, who has stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and you have been afraid continually

like an antelope in a net. They are full of the fury of the LORD,

every day because of the fury of

the rebuke of your God. 21 Therefore, now listen to this, you afflicted, and drunk,

the oppressor, when he seemed ready to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon,

but not with wine: 22 Thus says your Lord, the LORD and your God who pleads the

nor will his food fail. 15 For I am the LORD your God who divided the sea, whose waves roared. The LORD of hosts is his name. 16 And I have put my words in your mouth, and I have covered you with the

cause of his people: "See, I have taken out of your hand

the cup of trembling, the dregs of

the cup of my fury. You will not drink it again. 23 But I will put it into the hands of those who afflict you, who have said to your soul, 'Lie down, so that we may walk over you. ' And you made your backs like the

shadow of my hand, that I may

establish the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion: You are my people."

17 Awake! Awake! Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the

ground, and like the street,

to those who walked over you. "

LORD the cup of his fury. You have drunk the dregs of the cup of

Awake! Awake! Put on your strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful garments,

trembling, and drained it . 18 There is no one to guide her among all the sons whom she has brought forth. Nor among all the sons she has

O Jerusalem, the holy city! For from now on the uncircumcised and

the unclean will no longer come into you. 2 Shake yourself from the dust. Arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem. Loose yourself from the shackles on your neck,

brought up is there any who take

her by the hand. 19 These two disasters have come to you;

"A man who will die" – v 7; Matt 10:26-28. "Grass" – 40:6. 51:13 Fear of men can make even God's people forget His comfort and power. 51:15 "Sea" – Job 26:12; Ps 107:24,25; Jer 31:35. Can, then, the Babylonians or any other enemy of God's people stand against Him? 51:16 "In your mouth" – v 7; Ex 4:11,12; Jer 1:9.

John 18:11; Rev 14:10. 51:18 "No one" – 64:7; Jer 5:1; Ezek 22:30. 51:21 "You afflicted" – Jerusalem. 51:22 "Pleads the cause of his people" – 49:24; Zech 14:3. "You will not drink it again" – this is evidence that this whole passage looks beyond the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. For after that Jerusalem once again had to drink of the cup of God's wrath (Luke 19:41-44; 1 Thess 2:16). And it will yet be a cup in the Lord's hands that its enemies must drink (Zech 12:2). 52:1,2 Jerusalem captured and enslaved and lying prostrate in the dust will be set free, will rise again. Compare 2:2; 49:14,22,23. "Beautiful garments" – 61:10 "The uncircumcised and the unclean" – those not in covenant relationship with Jehovah (Gen 17:9-14), those who remain in their sins. The literal meaning is that no foreign armies will invade the city again. A spiritual application may also be drawn from

"Hand" – 49:2; Ps 91:1,2. Surely there is safety there!

"My people" – 41:8-10; 43:1,15; 44:1,2,21. 51:17-23 These verses look beyond Isaiah's own day. Jerusalem had to drink the cup of God's wrath because of its wickedness. This cup meant "desolation, destruction, famine, sword" (v 19). The enemy armies would be the cause of these. When God determined that Jerusalem had been punished enough He would comfort her and make her enemies drink the cup of punishment. On "cup" see Jer 25:15-29; Ezek 23:32-34; Zech 12:2;

ISAIAH 52:3 952

O captive daughter of Zion. 3 For thus says the LORD: "You have sold yourselves for nothing, and you will be redeemed without money."

for when the LORD restores Zion they

will see it with their own eyes. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together,

you waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted his people,

4 For thus says the Lord God: "My people went down at first into

he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD has bared his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth will see

Egypt to live there. Afterwards the Assyrian oppressed

them without cause. 5 Now therefore, what have I here",

the salvation of our God.

says the LORD, "that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them make them

11 Depart! Depart! Go out from there! Do not touch any unclean thing ! Go out of the midst of her! Be clean, you who carry the vessels

wail," says the LORD, "and my name continually every day is

of the LORD. 12 For you will not go out with haste, or leave like fugitives, for the LORD will go in front of you,

blasphemed. 6 Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know

that I am the one who speaks. See, it is I."

and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

13 "See, my servant will act wisely. He will be exalted and lifted up and

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good

be very high. 14 Just as many were astonished at you, so his appearance was disfigured

tidings, who proclaims peace, who brings good tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" 8 Your watchmen will raise their voices;

more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. 15 So he will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths at him,

with their voices they will sing together,

proclamation of three things – peace with God, salvation, and God's kingdom among men. 52:9 See 40:1; 44:23; 48:20; 49:13. 52:10 "His holy arm" – 51:5. "Ends of the earth" – 40:5. 52:11,12 Meaning for Israel in captivity in Babylon – leave Babylon, bearing the vessels for the temple (Ezra 1:7-11), and taking nothing from that accursed city, such as idols, that would be unclean. There is also a meaning in this for those who are in the figurative "Babylon" at the end of this age (Rev 18:4), and always a spiritual application to the Church of the New Testament (2 Cor 6:14-18). 52:12 Verse 7. 52:13 "Will act wisely" – or, possibly, "will prosper." 52:13-15 The servant of God, the Lord Jesus, is brought into view again (see 42:14; 49:5-7; 50:4-9). It is through Him alone that the glorious events of this chapter have their fulfillment. Verse 14 describes what would happen to Him at the hands of men (compare 50:6; Ps 22:6-18). Verse 13 describes His behavior and how God exalted Him (see Acts 2:32,33; 3:13; Eph 1:20-23; Phil 2:9-11). Verse 15 states what He would do after God exalted Him.

these words – 35:8; Ps 15:1-5; Ps 24:35; Rev 21:27; 22:15. 52:3 The Lord received nothing by bringing enemies to capture His city – nothing but grief and pain. It would cost Him no money to free the people and bring them back to Jerusalem. But what it cost God to free His people from sin and bring them back to Himself is seen in the next chapter. See also 1 Pet 1:18,19. 52:4 "Egypt" – Gen 46:6; Ex 1:1-14. "Assyrian" – 8:5-8; 10:5,6. 52:5 "Now" – the Lord may be referring to the Babylonian captivity or to a literal captivity long after that.

"Blasphemed" – Rom 2:24. Israel's enemies, because they defeated and crushed them, would think the God of Israel was a weak God unable to help them (compare 37:23,24. See also Ezek 36:20-23). Let us learn that anyone who professes to be a worshiper of the true God and lives a wicked life is bringing dishonor to God's name. 52:6 "Will know my name" – to know God's name here means to know His nature and attributes, to know God Himself. Israel shall enter into this knowledge. 52:7 "Good tidings" – 40:9. Here the good news is that God reveals His sovereignty and power in releasing Zion from captivity to her enemies and reigns in their midst (9:7; 32:1; 33:17). Spiritual application – Rom 10:5; Eph 6:15. The good news is a

"Sprinkle" (v 15) – Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, sprinkled others to confirm the covenant with them (Ex 24:7,8).

953 ISAIAH 53:5

for they will see what they had not

3 He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him. He was despised, and we did not esteem him. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we considered him stricken,

been told, and consider what they had not heard."

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD

been revealed? 2 For he will grow up before him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground. He has no striking form or majesty,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our wicked deeds; the chastisement for our peace was on him,

and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

and by his wounds we are healed.

Sprinkling signified also consecration and purification (Ex 29:21; Lev 8:30; Num 8:5-7). Three elements were used in sprinkling – blood, oil and water. They speak of atonement, cleansing from sin, and the giving of the Holy Spirit and water of life. Moses sprinkled individuals or one nation – Israel. Jesus sprinkles many nations, signifying that they will receive the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit.

He had no appearance of a king. Here Isaiah experiences the feelings that most Jews in Christ's day would have about Christ. They were expecting in the Messiah a mighty conqueror who would deliver them from the yoke of Rome. See Luke 9:11. But Jesus came not like Solomon in his glory, but like Jeremiah in tears. Men are not attracted by poverty, and sorrow. They prefer pomp and outward show. 53:3 "Despised" – 49:7; Ps 22:6; John 15:24. "Rejected" – Matt 26:66; 27:21,22; John 1:11; 19:15,16; Acts 3:13,14.

"Shut their mouths" – in astonishment, or as in Job 40:4,5; Rom 3:19. The last part of v 15 is quoted in Rom 15:21. The work of sprinkling is now going on. But it is far from being finished yet. 53:1 Here is one of the most wonderful chapters in the Bible. It sets forth the sufferings and death of Christ for sinners 700 years before He came into the world. Compare psalm 22. This verse speaks of the unbelief of Israel concerning the message of the Messiah (John 12:38; Rom 10:16). This message in part appears in the last 3 verses of chapter 52.

"Sorrows", "Grief" – Ps 69:7-12,19-21; Luke 12:50; 19:41; John 11:35. We read in the Gospels that Jesus wept, but never that He laughed. Being despised, insulted and rejected by those you are trying to help and save does not produce laughter. Besides this the Lord Jesus felt the awful weight of people's guilt and misery.

"Hid" – many treated Him as if He were an awful sight they could not bear to look at.

"Arm of the LORD" – the arm of Jehovah mightily at work was revealed in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but among the Jews only a few acknowledged that it was the arm of the Lord at work (see Matt 12:24; John 8:48).

"Did not esteem him" – while He lived on earth the leaders, the people, and usually even His disciples failed to see His true greatness, His divine qualities. See references at v 2. 53:4 "Griefs" – the Hebrew also means "infirmities."

"Revealed" – most of the verbs in this chapter are in the past tense, but from the point of view of Isaiah's day the chapter describes events far in the future. It is as though Isaiah were transported forward in time to see these events as history. See note at 55:10,11. God knows the end from the beginning and can reveal events in the future as though they had already happened – so certain is the fulfillment of all that He reveals. 53:2 "Plant", "root" – 11:1. Several times in the prophets the Messiah is called a Branch, etc. Observe that He grew up in God's presence. His life from beginning to end was totally God-oriented. Dry ground probably signifies the barren spiritual condition of the people of Israel.

"Carried" – in Matt 8:17 this is said to mean His ministry of healing. But why then does this not say that He healed our infirmities? Possibly to indicate that He did more than heal them – He experienced them like a burden, He was one with sufferers in their pain. See Matt 9:36. Compassion means to "suffer with." Let us understand too that all of Jesus' sufferings were as our substitute, our representative. He was in our place. (See 63:9. Compare Paul's words in 2 Cor 11:28,29).

"Smitten by God" – when Jesus was on earth many in Israel thought that prosperity was a sign of God's favor. Judging from this verse, they assumed that the poverty, sorrows, and sufferings of Christ were God's punishment on Him. 53:5 "Wounded" – Ps 22:16; John 19:18, 34; Zech 12:10. The Hebrew word indicates wounded to death by sharp instru-

"No beauty" – the Lord Jesus came as a poor man, as a servant, as a person of no reputation (Mark 6:3; Luke 9:58; John 9:28,29; Phil 2:7). He did not come with the pomp and splendor of a royal house.

ISAIAH 53:6 954

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; each one of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the

For the transgression of my people he

was struck. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich at his death, though he had done no violence, and no deceit was in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him. He put him to grief. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he will see his offspring,

wickedness of us all.

7 He was oppressed and he was afflicted, but he did not open his mouth. He was brought like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who will declare his generation? For he was cut off from the land of the living.

he will prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD will

ments, so it could be translated "pierced." Again it is emphasized that all Jesus' sufferings were as our substitute, in our place. He endured what we deserve to endure. Our sins were the reason He had to be pierced and crushed. The word "bruised" suggests the weight of the sins of the whole world that were laid on Him (John 1:29; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24). The Hebrew word also means "crushed" and "broken." "Chastisement" – or "punishment." Punishment that brings us peace means that punishment which pays for our sins, which makes it possible for us to be reconciled to God. There can be no peace with God, no peace of God for sinners until sin is removed. The Lord Jesus endured the punishment that our sins deserve. God punished Him in our place. This was to reconcile us to God and bring us peace (2 Cor 5:18-21; Eph 2:13-18; 1 Pet 3:18).

for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due?" (NASB). This translation is as possible as the one in the text above.

"Struck" – see all the words in this chapter which describe the sufferings and death of Christ – "struck", "stricken", "bruised", "wounded", "oppressed", "afflicted", "slaughter", "cut off." 53:9 "Made his grave" – His enemies no doubt intended that the dead body of Christ should be treated as the corpses of crucified criminals were treated – cast into a common grave. But another decision was made which resulted in His burial in a rich man's tomb (see Matt 27:57-60).

"No violence and no deceit" – an indication of the pure, meek, and sinless character of the Lord Jesus. Apart from Him there has been at least some deceit found in the mouth of every person born into the world (Ps 12:2; Jer 9:7,8; 17:9; Rom 3:13; etc). 53:10 From this verse we see that those who afflicted and killed the Lord Jesus were instruments in God's hands. Men made Him suffer and put Him to death, but God was behind them working out His will. See Acts 2:23; 4:27,28; etc. God was thus working through the actions of wicked men in order to make Christ a guilt offering for the sins of men (see Lev 5:14,15; Rom 3:25; 8:3; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 9:12-14; 10:14; 1 John 2:2,4,10). This "pleased" Him, not, of course, in the sense of being happy at Christ's sufferings, but because it was the one way to save human beings. And in all this Christ was not an unwilling victim, but put His Father's will above all else (Matt 26:39; John 10:17,18; Heb 10:5-7). "Prolong his days" – how can it be said He would prolong His days just after it is said that He was put to death and buried? The answer is in His resurrection from the dead. He thus prolongs His days forever (Rev 1:18; 9:7; Ps 45:6; 72:5; Heb 1:1012; 13:8). This explains how He can "see His offspring" – His spiritual children born by His Spirit. He can have these "offspring" only because He was made a guilt offering.

"Healed" – this includes forgiveness but is more than forgiveness. It means also to die to sins and live for righteousness, to come to the Good Shepherd and live under His guidance (1 Pet 2:24,25). It will eventually mean being made sinless, and perfect like the Lord Jesus (Rom 8:29; 1 Cor 15:49; 2 Cor 3:18; Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:2). The wounding to death of the Lord Jesus have made all this possible. 53:6 Going astray from God and turning to one's own way is the sin that is the root of all other sins, and all men since Adam have been guilty of it – Gen 3:6 (Rom 5:12); Ps 58:3; 95:10; 119:67,176; Jer 2:13; Rom 3:12; 1 Pet 2:25. Going astray is described as iniquity in the next sentence. All of our iniquities, including going astray, were caused to fall on Christ (compare Lev 16:20-22). 53:7 Verses 3-6 describe Christ's sufferings. This verse speaks of how patiently He endured them. He did not murmur or complain or defend Himself (Matt 27:1214; Mark 14:60,61; 15:5; Luke 23:8,9; John 19:8-10; 1 Pet 2:21-23).

"Like a lamb" – Ex 12:3-7; Lev 1:10-13; John 1:29,36; Rev 5:6,12. 53:8 "Prison" or "arrest" – after He was arrested and judgment was passed on Him He was taken away to the cross.

"Will prosper in his hand" – He fully accomplished God's will while He was on earth (John 17:4). He will continue to fully accomplish it now that He is in heaven

"And who will declare his generation?" – in some translations this sentence is linked with the following words like this: "And as

955 ISAIAH 54:1

prosper in his hand. 11 He will see the travail of his soul, and will be satisfied. By his knowledge my righteous servant

and he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.

"Sing, O barren one, you who have not borne a child! Break forth into singing,

will justify many, for he will bear their wicked deeds. 12 Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he will divide the plunder with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death, and he was numbered with the transgressors,

and shout aloud, you who have not travailed with child! For the children of the desolate one

are more than the children of the

married woman," says the LORD.

(Eph 1:9,10; Isa 42:1-4; Acts 1:1,2; 2:33; Matt 28:18; John 17:2; Col 1:29). The accomplishing of the will of God could not be in better hands. He will successfully complete all that God has given Him to do just as He did in His life and death on earth. 53:11 In this verse and the next Jehovah Himself is speaking about the Messiah.

15:28. This probably means that He was regarded as one of them.

"Bore the sins of many" – repeated in different words in vs 5,6,8,10,11.

"Intercession for the transgressors" – one of Christ's works before the cross (John chapter 17), on the cross (Luke 23:34), and throughout this age (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25; 1 John 2:1). By intercession He makes sure that His people will share His plunder with Him. But here the intercession may refer primarily to the event on the cross. 54:1 This verse raises some questions that need to be answered if we wish to interpret this chapter correctly. Who is the "barren one," the "desolate one"? Who is she who has a husband? What was Paul trying to show by quoting this verse in Gal 4:27? The answers to these questions are a bit complicated.

"He will see of the travail of His soul, and will be satisfied" – there will be great results from Christ's suffering, enough to fill even His large expectations. These results are the glory of God and a multitude of people forever saved and rejoicing (as appears from the rest of the verse).

"His knowledge" – this may mean the knowledge that people will have of Him as in John 17:3. This knowledge involves learning of Him, trusting Him, experiencing Him. Or it may mean the knowledge that the Messiah has of the true God and of people and of the meaning of His sacrifice for them.

First, the barren and desolate one is Jerusalem or Mount Zion as representing the nation of Israel. We judge this by the context of chapters 49-52 (see 49:14,1921; 51:17; 52:1) and by vs 6-8 of this chapter. This prophecy of the "barren" one looks far into the future from Isaiah's day (as do most of the prophecies of chapters 40-66).

"Servant" – 42:1-7; etc. His righteousness is emphasized here for it is only because He is righteous and righteously bore men's sins and paid the full penalty for them that He is able to give righteousness to others.

"Justify" – notes at Rom 3:24,26,28; 4:25; 5:1; 10:10; 1 Cor 6:11; Gal 2:16; Titus 3:7. "Many" – not every human being; only those who believe in Him. Still there will be an innumerable multitude of those from every nation on earth (Rev 7:9,10; etc). 53:12 Dividing spoils among the great and with the strong suggests a battle and victory and plunder from the battle. This verse indicates that the preceding verses describe warfare. In His suffering and death the Messiah was fighting for His people against their enemies (Satan and his followers). Compare Col 2:15; Heb 2:14,15; etc. The "great" and the "strong" are those called His offspring in v 10, the justified in v 11, many nations in 52:15. On "strong" compare Matt 11:12. They will be great and strong because He makes them so.

Second, she "who has a husband" is also Jerusalem representing the nation Israel. The husband was none other than Jehovah God Himself (v 5; 50:1; Jer 3:14). This means that sometime after the giving of this prophecy, Israel, after being forsaken for a while, will be redeemed and made new and will become far more fruitful than the old Israel.

Third, in quoting this verse Paul was showing the difference between law and grace. The nation Israel under the law speaks of bondage and rejection. Israel under grace will mean freedom, acceptance, and fruitfulness. The difference is between the two covenants – the old given through Moses, the new given through Christ. The writer of these notes does not believe that Paul is teaching in Galatians (or anywhere) that the Church of the New Testament is the new Israel. He is teaching that now whether we are Jews or Gentiles we must be saved in the same way, the way of grace, and that the Jerusalem in heaven, God's holy city, is the mother of all believers. In this chapter and in Isaiah as a whole we see that eventually the nation Israel, the Jewish people, will be brought back to God, brought

"Divide" – see Rom 8:17. "Plunder" – what is this plunder? All that is taken away from Satan's control – earth redeemed, restored, made new, and everything in it.

"Death" – this is the reason and the only reason why there is "plunder" to share and why He and others will share in it.

"Numbered with the transgressors" – Mark

ISAIAH 54:2 956

and a youthful wife when you

2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains

were rejected, says your God. 7 For a brief moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. 8 With a little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will

of your dwelling places. Do not spare. Lengthen your ropes,

and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your offspring will inherit the Gentiles, and cause the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4 Do not fear, for you will not be put to shame, nor be disgraced, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and will no longer remember the

have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer. 9 For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I swore that the waters of Noah

would not again flood the earth, so I have sworn that I would not be

angry with you again, or rebuke you. 10 For the mountains will depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness will not depart from you, nor will my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD who has mercy on you.

reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your Maker is your husband. The LORD of hosts is his name. And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. He will be called the God of the whole earth. 6 For the LORD has called you, a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,

11 "O you afflicted, tossed with a tempest, and not comforted,

into all the blessings of the new covenant; that she will be like a wife restored, and will become far more fruitful than she was during the long ages of the Old Testament.

refer to the Church of the New Testament which is Christ's body. But as elsewhere in Isaiah, after making the proper interpretation of these verses, we can see spiritual truth that may apply to believers now. Since God Himself is our "husband", how fruitful we should be in proclaiming the Gospel and bringing others to experience the new birth!

"Break forth into singing" – the word is given as a prophecy to that future new Israel who had not brought forth a child in Isaiah's day because she did not yet exist as the new Israel. It is no coincidence that this instruction to Israel to sing comes immediately after chapter 53. In what Christ did on the cross there is the foundation not only for the salvation of individual believers now, but for the making of that future new Israel. 54:2,3 Here is a prophecy that the future new Israel will have more territory and more power than ever before. See 26:1,15; 33:20-24. Compare 2:1-3; etc. Is there no spiritual application to the New Testament Church? We may well think so. It is similar to Matt 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-48; Acts 1:8.

"God of the whole earth" – compare Ps 47:2. 54:7 "Moment" – brief compared with the eternal salvation Israel will enjoy. Compare v 8; Rom 8:18; 2 Cor 4:17; 2 Pet 3:8. Observe that the same nation that was God's chosen people and abandoned by God, will be brought back to God. Can this possibly refer to any nation or people other than Israel?

"Great mercies" – v 8,10; 14:1; 49:10. This is an attribute of God He loves to display (Ex 34:5-7; etc). 54:8 "Wrath" – 9:12,17,21; 60:10; 2 Chron 36:15,16; John 3:36. Notes on God's wrath at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7,11; etc.

"Gentiles" – non-Jewish peoples. 54:4-8 For an understanding of these verses an understanding of Rom 7:1-6 and Rom 11:11-29 is necessary. See those portions with their notes. 54:4 "Shame of your youth" – in those days barrenness (v 1) was considered shameful, a lack of God's blessing.

"Redeemer" – note at Ps 78:35. 54:9 The same nation that was an object of His anger will no longer (after He restores them in the future) taste of it again. "Noah" – Gen 9:8-11. In this there is a spiritual application for believers now – Rom 5:9; 1 Thess 1:10; 5:9. True believers in Christ, born of God's Spirit, are forever delivered from God's condemning wrath. 54:10 "Covenant of peace" – 53:5; 55:3; Jer 31:31-37; 33:20,21; Eph 2:17,18. The new covenant was actually made with representatives of the nation Israel, and now people of other nations participate in it because they are brought into the olive tree which is Israel (Matt 26:28; Heb 8:7,8; Rom 11:16-24). 54:11,12 These gems indicate something of the future glory of Jerusalem.

"Widowhood" – the nation for centuries has been like a woman whose husband is dead. But all that will change. 54:5,6 Jehovah was husband to Israel under the law, but because of her sin, He rejected her as a nation. The husband was as though dead to her. Israel in the future will be "remarried" to Jehovah (see Hosea chapter 2; 3:5). Eventually God will restore the nation to Himself, not as Lawgiver, but as Maker and Redeemer. It is very difficult to see how verses like these can possibly

957 ISAIAH 55:4

see, I will lay your stones with fair colours, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 And I will make your battlements of rubies, and your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. 13 And all your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be the peace of your children. 14 In righteousness you will be established. You will be far from oppression,

that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of

the LORD, and their righteousness is from me,"

says the LORD.

"Ho, everyone who is thirsty,

come to the waters; and he who has no money, come,

buy and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without

and you will not fear; and far from terror, for it will not come

money and without cost. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread? and your labour for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me,

near you. 15 See, they will surely attack, but it will not be from me; and whosoever attacks you will fall for

your sake. 16 See, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, and who brings out an instrument for his work; and I have created the destroyer to

and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Turn your ear and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live, and I will make an everlasting

produce ruin. 17 No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and you will condemn every tongue

covenant with you, the sure mercies of David. 4 See, I have given him as a witness to the people,

54:13 "Taught by the LORD" – 30:19-21; Jer 31:34. This is something all of us need to experience now. See Psalm 25:4,5.

the Lord says that He Himself is the "spring of living water"). What is required to obtain the water of eternal life is simply to come to Christ and drink.

"Peace" – 9:7; 66:12. 54:14 "Righteousness" – 1:26; 4:3; 26:2; 58:8; 62:2. "Oppression", "terror" – 9:4; 14:34; 33:17-19; Zeph 3:15; Zech 9:8. 54:15-17 Jerusalem (and the nation it represents) will be absolutely secure and victorious. After their final restoration God will never again send enemies against them as He did before. 54:16 "I have" – 10:15; Jer 51:1,11,20; Rev 17:16,17. 54:17 Whether we think the people addressed in this chapter (and similar chapters) in Isaiah means a future new nation of Israel or the present Church of the New Testament has no bearing on the spiritual lessons and practical applications of truth we can learn from them. We may certainly apply a verse like this to ourselves now as believers.

"Buy" – not with money, not with offerings, not with good deeds – we cannot buy the benefits of the gospel of Christ with things like these. We "buy" from Him by coming to Him in faith and giving Him our hearts. Compare Rev 3:18.

"Wine and milk" – these signify other abundant blessings of the Gospel.

"Cost" – the blessing of the Gospel are freely given by God's grace (Rom 3:24; 6:23; Eph 2:8,9; Titus 3:3-7). The cost of it all was paid by Christ (chapter 53). 55:2 "Why?" – men continually spend money and labor for that which cannot permanently satisfy. Compare Eccl 1:2; 2:11; Jer 2:13. The world with its pleasures, works, and religions leave men at last empty and lost (1 John 2:16,17).

"Listen" – God wants us to enjoy something fully satisfying. The Gospel of Christ is like a feast of good things, the richest of fare (25:6; Ps 22:26; Matt 22:2; Luke 14:15,16; John 6:27). 55:3 "Your soul will live" – the Gospel brings new, spiritual life to those who hear and come (John 5:24; 20:31).

"No weapon. . .will prosper" – Matt 16:18; Rom 8:37; 1 Cor 15:57; Heb 13:6.

"Their righteousness is from me" – 53:11; Acts 13:38,39; Rom 8:33; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21. 55:1-13 Here is a great chapter full of grace and sweet promises to all who will trust in Christ, whether now or in some future time, whether Jews or Gentiles. 55:1 "Thirsty" – 44:3; Ps 107:9; John 7:37; Rev 21:6; 22:17. "Come to the waters" – these waters signifies Christ and the Holy Spirit (John 7:38,39. See Jer 2:13 and 17:13 where

"Everlasting covenant" – God promised David a royal line that would go on forever (2 Sam 7:14-16). This will be fulfilled by God's faithful love in the Lord Jesus. In Isaiah we often see Him in prophecy as king (9:6,7; 11:1-9; 32:1-5; 33:17). See also Ps 2:6-9; 45:6; 72:5-11; 89:28,29,35-37; Acts 13:34. 55:4 "I have given him" – the "him" refers

ISAIAH 55:5 958

a leader and commander to the people. 5 See, you will call a nation that you do not know, and nations that did not know you will

but waters the earth,

and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater, 11 So will my word be that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me void,

run to you because of the LORD your

God, and the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you."

but it will accomplish what I please, and it will succeed in the thing I send

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call to him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,

it to do. 12 For you will go out with joy, and be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills will break

and let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him;

out in front of you into singing, and all the trees of the field will clap

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,"

their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn the fir tree will come up, and instead of the briar the myrtle will

says the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,

come up; and it will be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that will not be cut off."

and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and does not return there,

"Preserve justice, and do the right; 56

Thus says the LORD,

to David, mentioned in the preceding verse. He may here represent the Son of David, the Lord Jesus. Compare Ezek 37:24,25; Hos 3:5. 55:5 "You will call" – who is meant here? Possibly the Messiah, but more likely the nation Israel, redeemed, restored, made new; or possibly Israel together with the Messiah their king (2:2,3; 44:23; 60:2,3; 66:18-21; Jer 3:17; Zech 14:16. 55:6 "Seek" – Deut 4:29; Jer 29:13,14; Hos 3:5; Amos 5:8; Matt 7:7,8.

fulfill God's purposes for which they were designed so will God's Word. God's Word came from His mouth into the mouths of His prophets and from there out into the world working God's will (compare 44:26; 46:10; Jer 1:9,10; 25:15-17; Ezek 37:9,10; Matt 4:4; John 6:63). God saying something makes it absolutely certain (for an example of this see Genesis chapter 1). This is why prophecies of the future in God's word may use past tenses of the verbs. When they were uttered it was as if they were fulfilled, though their actual fulfillment might have been many hundreds of years later. 55:12,13 This is one of the purposes God will accomplish. It is as good as done because God has said it. The picture is Israel redeemed and the land blessed and fruitful – 35:1,2,10; 41:18-20; 44:23; 52:9. Compare Ps 96:11-13; 98:7-9. Joy, peace and song are natural elements of the kingdom of God in all ages (Rom 14:7).

"While he may be found" – Ps 32:6; 49:8. "Call" – Ps 50:15; Isa 65:24; Jer 33:3; Rom 10:12,13. 55:7 2 Chron 7:14; Prov 28:13; Ezek 18:27,28. A striking example of this is in 2 Chron 33:1-20. "Thoughts" – the wicked must forsake evil inwardly as well as outwardly. Men's inner thoughts are the source of their evil actions (Gen 6:5; 8:21; Matt 5:28; 15:19; 2 Cor 10:5). We must repent of our thoughts as well as our deeds.

"For a name" – see Jer 33:4-9. The redemption and restoration of Israel will bring eternal glory to God. It will be a marvelous display of grace, love, and faithfulness to His Word. 56:1 God here speaks in general terms of some great event that was coming. What the event means specifically and when it would take place are not at all clear. Some think this revelation of God's salvation and righteousness refers to His righteous rescue of Israel from Babylon in 538 BC (compare 41:2; 44:28; 45:1-7). Others think it refers to the first coming of the Lord Jesus when salvation and righteousness were

"Pardon" – 43:25; 44:22; 53:5; Mic 7:18,19; Eph 1:7; 1 John 1:9. 55:8 It is not like fallen men to pardon those who sin against them. Their thoughts do not delight in showing mercy to others. 55:9 Ps 145:3; Rom 11:33-36. Our thoughts can't even begin to understand all God has made, let alone the depths in God Himself. It is not surprising that books like this prophecy of Isaiah, inspired by God and surging with His thoughts and plans, should in places seem to us mysterious and hard to understand. 55:10,11 Just as surely as the rain and snow

959 ISAIAH 56:12

for my salvation is about to come,

every one who keeps the Sabbath

and my righteousness is ready to be

from polluting it, and takes hold of my covenant, 7 Them I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of a man who lays hold of it, who keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. 3 Do not let the son of a foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD,

will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of

prayer for all people."

speak, saying, 'The LORD has utterly separated me

8 The Lord God who gathers the exiles of Israel says:

from his people', nor let the eunuch say, 'Here I am, a dry tree.' 4 For thus says the LORD to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me,

"I will gather still others to him,

besides those who are gathered to him."

9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, all you beasts in the forest. 10 His watchmen are blind. They are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs; they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down,

and take hold of my covenant: 5 To them I will give a place in my house and within my walls, and a name better than that of sons

loving to slumber. 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds who cannot

and of daughters. I will give them an everlasting name

that will not be cut off.

understand. They all look to their own way,

6 And as for the sons of a foreigner, who join themselves to the LORD to

every one for his gain, from his own border. 12 "Come," they say, "I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink.

serve him, and to love the name of the LORD,

to be his servants,

"Eunuch" – Deut 23:1. Here they probably represent all who had some physical defect (see Lev 21:16-23). 56:4-7 A promise which means that God will not exclude anyone from His temple and His fellowship if they bind themselves to Him and keep His covenant. The mention of the Sabbath in verse 6 indicates that the old covenant is meant. The foreigners would be Jewish proselytes (like Cornelius – Acts chapter 10). "Burnt offerings" and sacrifices (v 7) also suggest the old covenant. They are unnecessary under the new covenant. The Lord Jesus quoted the last part of v 7 (Mark 11:17). 56:8 "Gathers" – 11:10-16. "Others" – many more "foreigners" would be gathered to Israel than the comparatively few proselytes of the past (2:2,3; 49:5,6; 55:5; 60:3; Zech 8:2; John 10:16; Rom 11:11-18). 56:9-12 Verse 9 indicates a coming danger to Israel. Sometimes in the Bible wicked nations are called beasts – lion in Jer 4:7; beasts in Daniel chapters 7 and 8. The leaders, priests and prophets of Israel were all blind and corrupt. Even a dog knows to bark at danger, but these watchmen could bark only for more food for themselves (v 11).

revealed in a marvelous way. Still others think it may refer to the second coming of Christ when salvation and righteousness will be revealed and established in all the earth (11:3-9; 32:1-5). In any case the event is used as a basis of appeal to the people in Isaiah's day to live righteous lives. Compare 2 Pet 3:11-14. 56:2 "Sabbath" – Jer 17:19-27. The Sabbath was a sign of the old covenant God made with Israel (Ex 31:12-18). It was a part of the law of Moses. Here it represents the whole law that Israel was to keep. Believers now under the new covenant are not under the law and there is no command from God anywhere in the New Testament that Christians should keep the Sabbath. It is, in fact, the only one of the ten commandments not repeated to Christians as a principle of behavior. But the principle of one day (whatever the day may be) set apart for rest and worship is certainly of great benefit when practiced. Christians usually set apart Sunday for this purpose when it is possible to do so. See Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2; Rev 1:10. 56:3 No non-Jew would ever dream of saying such a thing now under the new covenant. But in those days, because of verses like Deut 23:3,7,8 and because of the teaching that Israel was a special people, separate from all others, some foreigners might well have thought like this.

"Shepherds who cannot understand" – Jer 23:1; Ezek 34:1-6. "Own way" – 53:6. "His gain" – 57:17; Jer 8:10; 22:17; Ezek 13:19; Mic 3:11; Eph 5:5; 1 Tim 6:9,10.

ISAIAH 57:1 960

And tomorrow will be like today,

8 Also behind the doors and the door posts you have set up your signs. Away from me you have uncovered

and even more so."

yourself, and have gone up; you have made your bed wide, and made a covenant with those idols ; you loved their bed where you saw it. 9 And you went to the king with ointment, and increased your perfumes, and sent your messengers far away, and debased yourself even to hell. 10 You were wearied by the length of your road, but you did not say, 'There is no hope'. You found your strength revived,

The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, no one understanding that the righteous

is taken away from evil. 2 He will enter into peace. They will rest in their beds,

each one having walked in his uprightness.

3 "But come here, you sons of the sorceress, the offspring of the adulterer and the

prostitute. 4 At whom do you mock? At whom do you make a wide mouth,

therefore you were not grieved.

11 And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied and have not

and stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression,

remembered me, or taken it to your heart? Is it because I have kept silent that

descendants of falsehood, 5 Inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys,

you did not fear me? 12 I will declare your righteousness, and your works; but they will not profit you. 13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! But the wind will carry them all away. A breath will take them away. But the one who puts his trust in me

under the clefts of the rocks? 6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion. They, they are your lot. To them you have poured out a drink offering, you have offered a grain offering. Should I relent concerning these things? 7 On a lofty and high mountain you have made your bed; there you went up to offer sacrifice.

will possess the land, and will inherit my holy mountain.

57:1,2 God in mercy took away some of the righteous by death before a time of wrath and judgment. But the wicked who remained did not understand what was happening. They may even have thought that their death was God's judgment on them.

57:8 "Signs" – some symbols to remind them of the gods they went after.

"Loved" – worldly allies with their gods, and idols of other nations is what they loved (Jer 3:2; Ezek 16:26; 23:7). 57:9 "To the king" – this could be translated "to Molech." Molech means king, but he was also a false god. See Lev 18:21; 1 Kings 11:7; Jer 32:35. But probably this verse indicates the alliances with foreign powers Israel frequently tried to make.

"Peace" – see v 21. "Rest" – Dan 12:13; Rev 14:13. 57:3,4 "You sons of the sorceress" – this means the wicked who made up most of the nation as described in 1:2-4,10-17. No doubt they thought they were God's children. Compare Matt 3:7-9; 12:34; 23:33.

"Hell" – in Hebrew "Sheol", world of the dead. Compare 28:15. 57:10 They thought that foreign alliances had brought them strength. They were hopelessly wrong. 57:11 They feared foreign powers, and mere men (51:12,13).

"The adulterer" – from what follows it is probable that spiritual adultery is in view (see Jer 2:2; 3:14; 31:32; Ezekiel chapters 16 and 23). "You mock" – 28:9,14. The wicked in Israel mocked and sneered at all the true prophets of God. 57:5 "Every green tree" – where idols were placed.

"Silent" – 42:14; Eccl 8:11. "Fear me" – notes at Gen 20:11; Job 28:28; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Prov 1:7. 57:12 "Righteousness" – 58:2,3; 64:6. 57:13 44:17; Jud 10:13,14. This is the nature of man. He will do what he pleases without God, and when trouble comes cry to God for help.

"Slaying the children" – Lev 18:21; Deut 18:10; Ps 106:37,38; Ezek 16:20. 57:6 "Should I relent" – Jer 5:7-9,29; 9:9. 57:7 "Your bed" – suggests spiritual adultery (v 3).

"Land" – 49:8; Ps 25:12,13; 37:9,22. 57:14-19 Again God speaks through the prophet about the future.

"Offer sacrifice" – at shrines on the mountains and hills (Jer 3:6; Ezek 16:16; 22:9).

961 ISAIAH 58:4

14 And it will be said: 'Raise it up, raise it up! Prepare the way! Take away the stumbling block from

says the Lord; and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." 21 "There is no peace", says my God, "for the wicked."

my people's path.'

15 "For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place,

"Shout aloud! Do not spare!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their

and with him who is contrite

and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 16 For I will not contend forever, and I will not always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the souls which I have made. 17 For the sin of his covetousness I was angry, and struck him. I hid myself, and was angry,

transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as if it were a nation that acts in

righteousness, and has not forsaken the ordinance of

their God. They ask me for just decisions. They take delight in approaching God. 3 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'And you have not seen it ? Why have we afflicted our soul,

and he went on turning back in the

way of his heart. 18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will also lead him, and restore

and you have paid no attention?' Look, on your day of fasting you find pleasure, and exploit all your labourers. 4 Look, you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness.

comforts to him and to his mourners. 19 I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to the one who is far away, and to the one who is near,

57:14 "Way" – the way for their unimpeded return (11:16; 35:8-10; 62:10). 57:15 "High and lofty One" – 6:1; 52:13. "Holy" – note at Lev 20:7. "Contrite" – or "crushed" – "humble" – the most high God loves the most lowly of men. He lives in the highest heaven and in the humblest heart, the heart that turns from sin and feels crushed because of its sin and trembles at His Word (66:2; Ps 51:17; Matt 5:3,4). Note on God's dwelling with men at Ex 25:8. He resists those who think they are high and mighty – 2:10-18; 1 Pet 5:5,6.

Israel's apostasy God says "I will heal him" (see also Deut 32:39; 2 Chron 7:14; Isa 30:26; 32:3-5; 35:5-10). "Lead" – 30:21; 42:16; 48:17. "Comforts to him" – 40:1; 49:13. This will be all of grace. Israel deserved and deserves nothing but eternal condemnation. "Far" and "near" – probably means the whole nation wherever they may be, but it may mean both Jew and Gentile (2:4; 26:3,12; 32:17; Eph 2:17). Healing to the whole earth will come when Israel is healed (Rom 11:12,15). 57:20,21 48:22. Even if all Israel and all the world had peace the wicked would never enjoy peace themselves. Their inward nature makes peace impossible. It seethes with evil thoughts, desires and ambitions (Gen 6:5; 8:21). To have peace men must repent and be changed by God's power. 58:1 When God's people sin God's prophets in every era must boldly and openly point those sins out to them. 58:2,3 See again what can go along with a life of sin and rebellion – much religious activity and prayer, inner deception, and a conviction that God is not treating them as fairly and graciously as they desire. Jer 17:9 gives the inner cause of such madness of men.

"Revive" – Ps 85:6; 38:7; Hab 3:2. New spiritual life will come to those who humble themselves before God and accept His rule in their lives. 57:16 He disputes with men now (3:13,14; Ps 50:21; etc), and is angry with their sin – John 3:36; Rom 1:18; Eph 5:6; Rev 19:15. Notes on God's anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11; John 3:36; Rom 1:18; etc. He will not be angry with every single individual forever. If He were to be, no one could ever have strength to stand before Him (54:9; Ps 103:9-14; Jer 3:12). 57:17-19 These verses look forward to the future restoration of the nation Israel. The nation is viewed as an individual ("his", "him", "he"). Compare 41:8-16; 42:1922; 44:1,2; 48:4-11. In spite of experiencing God's punishments the nation kept on its own sinful way. The root of Israel's sin is referred to in v 17. In spite of

"Exploit" – 3:14,15; 10:2. 58:4-7 Their fasting was not from good motives, nor from an understanding of what God wanted. Fasting (and all religious

ISAIAH 58:5 962

You do not fast as you do today to

and you will be like a watered garden,

make your voice heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen? Merely a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes

and like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail. 12 And from among you there will be those who build up the old waste places. You will raise up the foundations of

under him ? Will you call this a fast, and an

many generations,

and you will be called, 'The Repairer of the Breach', 'The Restorer of Streets to Dwell in'.

acceptable day to the LORD?

6 "Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring to your house the poor

13 "If you turn away your foot from trampling on the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honourable,

and will honour him, not acting according to your own ways,

who have been thrown out? When you see the naked, to cover him,

or finding your own pleasure, or speaking your own words, 14 Then you will delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride on the high

and not to hide yourself from those of your

own flesh? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring forth speedily, and your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your

places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of

Jacob your father; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it."

rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and he will say,

See, the LORD's hand is not so short that it cannot save, and his ear is not so dull that it cannot hear, 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face

'Here I am '. If you take away the yoke from among you,

the pointing the finger, and speaking evil, 10 And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise in darkness, and your dusk will be like noonday, 11 And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make your bones fat;

from you, so that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with wickedness. Your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered unjust things.

activities) with them (and with a great many people since then) was only another means of gaining what they thought was merit and of displaying what they considered their own righteousness – Matt 6:16; Luke 18:10-12. 58:6,7 God intended fasting to be associated with repentance, with a desire to live justly, with a determination to keep God's instructions, especially as regards the poor and weak and helpless (1:17; Ezek 18:5-9; Matt 25:35,36). This is what God wants to see, not men boasting in their righteousness because they observe a day of fasting. If our religion is not compassionate, does not cause us to help others, it is a vain and useless thing (Jam 1:27). 58:8-12 If Israel repented, sought God as they ought, and put into practice God's word there would be marvelous results. Believers now also – in the measure they obey God's Word – will enjoy the blessings listed in these verses: light, healing, righteousness

marching before them, God's glory guarding them, answered prayer, guidance, satisfaction, strength, fruitfulness, power to build and restore. 58:13 "Sabbath" – see 56:2-8. "Call the Sabbath a delight" – for them this would be the same as delighting in the Lord and His law (Ps 1:2; 37:4; 84:2,10). 58:14 "Delight yourself in the LORD" – Ps 37:4. "High places" – Deut 32:13; 33:29; Ps 18:33; Isa 33:16. "Heritage" – the land of Israel (Ps 105:10,11). 59:1,2 God is neither helpless nor deaf (50:2; Ps 65:2). If He does not hear His people and work on their behalf the fault is not His but theirs. Sin separates us from God's fellowship and is the reason for much unanswered prayer (1:15; Ps 66:18). 59:3-8 A summary of the evil ways of the people of Israel that had been denounced before.

963 ISAIAH 59:16

4 No one calls for justice, no one pleads for truth. They trust in emptiness, and speak lies. They conceive mischief,

yes, we grope as if we had no eyes. We stumble at noonday as in the night. We are like dead men in desolate places. 11 We all roar like bears, and mourn bitterly like doves. We look for justice, but there is none;

and bring forth evil. 5 They hatch the viper's eggs, and spin the spider's web. He who eats any of their eggs dies,

for salvation, but it is far away from us.

12 For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us. For our transgressions are with us,

and from one that is crushed

a viper breaks out. 6 Their webs will not become garments, nor will they cover themselves with

and as for our evil deeds,

their works. Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness. Wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8 The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their ways. They have made crooked paths for themselves. Whoever goes in them will not know peace.

we know them: 13 Transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing from our God,

speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart

words of falsehood. 14 And justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance; for truth has fallen in the street,

and integrity cannot enter. 15 Yes, truth is missing, and he who departs from evil makes

9 Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us. We wait for light, but see darkness;

himself a prey. And the LORD saw it, and it

for brightness, but we walk in the dark. 10 We grope for the wall like the blind;

displeased him that there was no justice. 16 And he saw that there was no just man, and wondered that there was no

59:5 Their plans are pure poison to others, useless to themselves (1:2,4,15-17,21-23; 5:7,23). 59:7,8 See Rom 3:15-17 where Paul uses these verses in his general description of the human race as a whole. Verses 1-6 apply equally well to fallen man. As for Israel though this describes the bulk of the people as God saw them, they still thought that God should answer their prayers (58:2,3)!

had not wanted God's light and truth. This was the result. 59:11 "Like doves" – 38:14; Ezek 7:16; Nah 2:7. 59:12-15 Isaiah makes it very clear why the nation is in darkness. He confesses the nation's sins, first generally, then more specifically. In verses 13-15 it seems almost as if he were speaking of conditions so common in our day. 59:13 "Transgressing" – or "rebelling" – 1:2; 46:8; 48:8. "Departing" – 1:4; 2 Chron 29:6; Jer 2:27. "Oppression" – 3:14,15; 5:7; 30:12. "Falsehood" – in this chapter notice the emphasis on the sin of lying (vs 3, 4, 13, 14, 15). Men often think lightly of this, one of the worst of sins. Notes on lying at Prov 6:16-19; etc. 59:14 All through Isaiah there is emphasis on justice and righteousness. The words are used nearly sixty times. 59:15 Those who stand for righteousness and holiness should be honored, but in a corrupt society they are often opposed, persecuted, and sometimes destroyed. And will the one true God who loves justice, honesty and truth be pleased with that kind of society? Compare Gen 6:5,6. 59:16 "No just man" – 63:5; 64:6; 2 Kings 14:26; Jer 5:1; Ezek 22:30. "Wondered" – or "was desolate" – 63:4.

"Run" – Prov 1:16. This indicates the eagerness with which men commit sin.

"Thoughts" – Gen 6:5; 8:21. "In their paths" – 53:6; Acts 13:10; Gal 1:7.

"Way of peace" – 57:20,21. 59:9-15 The prophet Isaiah identifies himself with his people Israel in this confession of the nation's sinful condition. Compare 64:5-7; Ezra 9:6,7; Jer 3:2225; Dan 9:4-19; Rom 3:9. The prophets and saints of the Bible did not set themselves up as some superior beings, more holy and righteous than others. 59:9,10 "In the dark" – sin separates men from God who is light (1 John 1:5). In Him there is no darkness at all. In Israel, at the time of these words, there was no light at all. This fulfilled Deut 28:15,28,29. See too Isa 6:9-12. The people of Israel did not see what they were or where they were going or how this darkness of mind and heart and spirit was a punishment for their sin. They

ISAIAH 59:17 964

intercessor. Therefore his arm brought victory to him, and his righteousness sustained him. 17 For he put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; and he put on the garments of

21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit who is on you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouth of your offspring, or from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "from now on and forever."

vengeance as clothing, and was clothed with zeal like a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, so he will repay: fury to his adversaries, retribution to his enemies; to the islands he will mete out retribution.

"Arise, shine! For your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen

on you. 2 For, see, the darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the people, but the LORD will rise upon you, and his glory will be seen over you. 3 And the Gentiles will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

19 So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy comes in like a flood,

4 "Lift up your eyes all around and look. They all assemble, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar,

the Spirit of the LORD will lift

up a banner against him. 20 "And the Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from

and your daughters will be nursed

at your side. 5 Then you will see, and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and

transgression in Jacob",

says the LORD.

"His arm" – 51:9; 52:10. "His righteousness" – there was no righteousness whatever in Israel that could be a foundation for His work. 59:17 "Breastplate" and "helmet" – see Eph 6:14,17. "Vengeance" – v 18; 1:24; 34:2,8; 35:4; 47:3; 61:2; 63:4. "Zeal" – 9:7; 26:11; 37:32; 42:13. 59:18 See 65:6,7; 66:6; Rom 2:6; Rev 22:12. 59:19 All nations will realize that Jehovah is the one true God and will learn to fear Him – 2:2,3; 11:10; 40:5; 45:6; 52:10. "He" in verse 18 refers to the Redeemer seen in verse 20, the Lord Jesus. The last sentence of this verse may also be translated "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will put him to flight." 59:20 This is a key verse in the interpretation of Isaiah. Paul applies this verse to the literal Israel in Rom 11:25,26. And since all Israel will be saved after the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, the time points to the time of Christ's second coming. It is when Israel is redeemed and restored that the nations of the earth will turn to God as in v 19 (Rom 11:12,15). To Paul Zion meant Jerusalem as representing the literal nation of Israel. 59:21 "Covenant" – 42:6; 55:3; Jer 31:31-34. "You" – the nation spoken to as if an individual.

"Forever" – after Israel's restoration at Christ's second coming there will be succeeding generations of offspring, so that for the fulfillment of this a literal millennium is needed. 60:1-22 "Your light" – means Jerusalem as the representative of the nation Israel – vs 10,14,15,18,21. Some scholars teach that the nation of Israel has no future and that this chapter and similar prophecies refer exclusively to the Church of the New Testament. The author of these notes does not deny that spiritual application of these passages can be made to the New Testament Church, but he does deny that they will have no fulfillment in the literal nation of Israel. It may well be that Old Testament prophecies of God's kingdom can have a fourfold reference – to the historical circumstances of the prophets themselves; to a spiritual or typical fulfillment in the Church; to a literal fulfillment in the millennium; and to some sort of eternal fulfillment in the new heavens and earth. 60:1 "Light", "glory" – 4:56; 9:2; 58:8. 60:2 Darkness speaks of the spiritual blindness that results from sin – 9:2; 59:9; Eph 4:17,18.

"The LORD will rise upon you" – the Lord Himself is the light that dispels spiritual darkness (Mal 4:2; John 8:12; 2 Cor 4:3-6). 60:3 Verses 5,10-12; 2:2-4; etc. It is repeated again and again in Isaiah that the salvation and restoration of Israel will mean marvelous blessing for the whole earth (Gen 12:3). The Gentiles mean non-Jewish peoples. 60:4 See 49:18,22. 60:5 "Radiant" – Ps 34:5.

"My words. . .in your mouth – 51:16. It indicates a complete change in the nation that had cast God's words behind its back. Word in the mouth here indicates word in the heart also. Compare Matt 12:34.

965 ISAIAH 60:15

swell with joy. For the abundance of the sea will be

and their kings will minister to you. For in my anger I struck you,

turned to you, the riches of the Gentiles will come

but in my favour I have had mercy

on you. 11 Therefore your gates will be open continually; they will not be shut day or night,

to you. 6 A multitude of camels will cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah,

so that people may bring to you the

all those from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and incense,

riches of the Gentiles, and their kings led in procession. 12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you will perish; yes, those nations will be utterly ruined.

and they will declare the praises of

the LORD. 7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will come up on my altar and be

13 "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the fir tree, the pine tree,

and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14 The sons of those who afflicted you will also come bending down to you, and all those who despised you will

accepted, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8 Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? 9 Surely the islands will wait for me; and at first will come the ships of

bow down at the soles of your feet; and they will call you, 'The City of the LORD', 'The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.'

Tarshish bringing your sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them,

to the name of the LORD your God, and to the Holy One of Israel,

15 "Although you have been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence,

because he has glorified you.

10 "And the sons of strangers will build up your walls,

a joy for many generations.

"Joy" – 35:2,10; 66:14. "Riches" – v 11; 18:7; 23:18; 45:14; 61:6; 66:12. 60:6 "Midian" – Gen 37:28; Num 31:2,3; Jud 6:2; Ps 83:9. Ephah was a son of Midian.

Jerusalem representing the nation of Israel.

"I struck you" – Lev 26:27-33; Deut 28:22; Lam 1:12; Isa 1:5; 5:25; Luke 19:41-44; 20:14-18; 1 Thess 2:16. "Mercy" – 54:7,8. 60:11 The language is very similar to Rev 21:24-26. This does not mean there can be no fulfillment for the literal city of Jerusalem. The city of Rev 21:9-27 was never struck and abandoned by God, as the literal city of Jerusalem was (54:7). Nor was the true Church ever abandoned by God. 60:12 Does this not speak again of the political supremacy of the nation Israel in the future? See 14:2; 49:23; Zech 14:16-19. 60:13 "Lebanon" – 35:2; famous for its magnificent trees used in constructing Solomon's temple (1 Kings 5;10,18). During Solomon's reign Israel reached the pinnacle of its glory and political power in Old Testament times. The glory and power will return in greater measure them before. 60:14 Verses 10,12; 49:7,23. "City of the LORD" – one of several names the future Jerusalem will have – 1:26; 62:4; Ezek 48:35; Zech 8:3. It will be an earthly picture of the heavenly city of God (Heb 12:22). 60:15 "No man went through you" – true enough of the literal Jerusalem and Israel (6:11,12; 62:4; Jer 30:17; Ps 106:40; Lev 26:14-39; Deut 28:15-68).

"Sheba" – located in the southern Arabian peninsula.

"Praises" – indicates a complete change in the nation. Notice the word "all." 60:7 "Kedar" – note at 21:16. "Nebaioth" – son of Ishmael. "Flocks" and "rams" and "altar" suggest offerings. See also 56:6,7. But will there be animal sacrifices in the future millennium? This is a difficult question. See note at Ezek 40:38-43. If God then has Israel offer such sacrifices there will be a perfectly good reason for it. And if God reveals, in such verses as this, that there will be such sacrifices, believers now have no business denying it. 60:9 The answer to the question of v 8. See 11:11,12. The day is coming when all nations will honor the true God. See Rev 21:24,26. "Tarshish" – 2:16; 23:1; 2 Chron 9:21; Ps 48:7; 72:10. 60:10 It is true that believers of many nations now are builders of some sort in the New Testament Church (1 Cor 3:10-13), and that the Church is now being built (Eph 2:22). And even kings have had their part in it. But the words which follow obviously refer to

"Eternal excellence" – Jerusalem will be

ISAIAH 60:16 966

16 You will also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and be nursed at the breast of kings. And you will know that I, the LORD,

21 And all your people will be righteous. They will inherit the land forever,

the branch of my planting,

am your Savior and your Redeemer,

the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 A little one will become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I the LORD will hasten it in its time."

the mighty One of Jacob. 17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, and instead of wood bronze, and instead of stones iron. I will also make peace your officials,

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the meek. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those

and righteousness your lords. 18 Violence will be heard in your land no more, nor ruin or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls 'Salvation', and your gates 'Praise.' 19 By day the sun will be your light no more, and the brightness of the moon will not

who are bound, 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God,

give light to you; but the LORD will be an everlasting

to comfort all who mourn, 3 To transform those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty in place of ashes, the oil of joy in place of mourning, the garment of praise in place of

light for you, and your God your glory. 20 Your sun will go down no more, and your moon will not withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be

the spirit of heaviness, so that they might be called 'Trees of Righteousness',

ended.

restoring Israel it will not take long. 61:1 Old Testament prophets, priests and kings were those who were anointed. Here the ministry of prophet is in view. In Luke 4:16-21 the Lord Jesus applied these verses to Himself. He is the great prophet foretold in Deut 18:17-19. The Spirit of God had anointed Him for His ministry before that (Luke 3:21,22; Acts 10:38). Jesus, speaking in Nazareth, meant that the fulfillment of Isaiah's words was in progress that day.

the brightest and best spot on earth, the center of truth and spirituality. 60:16 "Breast" – vs 5,11. "You will know" – 49:26 says all mankind will know. Israel will fully enter into an experiential knowledge of it. 60:17 "Gold" – another suggestion of Solomon's reign (1 Kings 10:21,27).

"Peace", "righteousness" – 9:7; 32:17; 48:18; 54:13,14. 60:18 "Violence" – 14:4; 49:19; 54:14. "Salvation", "praise" (26:1) – complete security and praise to the God who accomplished it. 60:19,20 See 4:5,6; conditions in the millennium. Compare Rev 21:23; 22:5 which gives conditions throughout the eternal ages.

"Good news" – Matt 11:4-6; this was part of Jesus's ministry. The good news is defined in the rest of the verse. Fallen men are captives of Satan and servants of sin (John 8:34,44; Rom 6:20; Eph 2:1,2; 2 Tim 2:26). Jesus came and proclaimed the way of release. The last sentence in this verse probably refers to spiritual blindness. The word translated "opening" usually in Isaiah means opening of eyes or ears. And the Septuagint has "the blind" instead of "the prison." So a possible translation is "recovery of sight for the blind." 61:2,3 After reading the first sentence of verse 2, Jesus stopped reading (Luke 4:18,19). The year of the Lord's favor is not a literal year but the whole time of His favor (2 Cor 6:2). The day of vengeance had not come (34:2,8; 35:4; 63:4), nor had the time to comfort all who mourn in Zion (40:1,2; 49:13), nor to transform those who grieve in Zion. The things mentioned in v 3 – beauty, gladness, praise – signify the complete redemption and restoration of the nation Israel (12:1-6; 26:1-4; 35:1-10; 51:3; etc.). Is there no spiritual application

"Mourning will be ended" – 25:8; 35:10; 40:1; 51:11; 65:19; Rev 21:4. 60:21 "Righteous" – 4:3; 35:8; Rev 21:27. "Land" – signifies the land of Israel promised by God to them. The promise was repeatedly confirmed (Gen 12:6,7; 15:18,19; 17:8; 28:13; Ps 37:11,22; Isa 49:8; 61:7).

"Branch" – this branch is the nation Israel (5:1,2,7; Ex 15:17; Ps 44:2; 80:8-11). They will be planted again – Amos 9:15.

"Glorified" – 49:3; 61:3. What a glory it will be to God when He takes that stiffnecked, rebellious, unbelieving, sinful nation that rejected and crucified His Son and makes it humble, holy and splendid. 60:22 "Thousand" – 51:2; 54:3 – speaks of great increase in numbers.

"Hasten it" – once God starts the work of

967 ISAIAH 62:2

'The Planting of the LORD',

among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge them, that they are the offspring whom the

that he might be glorified.

4 "And they will build up the old ruins; they will raise up the former desolations, and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 And foreigners will stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of aliens will be your

LORD has blessed."

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD. My soul will be joyful in my God,

for he has clothed me with the

plowmen and your vine dressers. 6 But you will be named 'The Priests of the LORD'; people will call you

garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of

righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with

'The Ministers of our God.' You will eat the riches of the Gentiles,

ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as the garden causes what is sown

and in their glory you will boast. 7 Instead of your shame you will have a double amount, and instead of disgrace they will

in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause

rejoice in their portion. So in their land they will possess a

righteousness and praise to spring

up before all the nations.

double amount. They will have everlasting joy.

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,

and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until its righteousness goes forth like brightness, and its salvation like a burning lamp. 2 And the Gentiles will see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name,

8 "For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery in the burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth,

and I will make an everlasting

covenant with them. 9 And their descendants will be known

of these things in this age of grace? Of course there is. The Lord Jesus now gives them to those who turn to Him in trust and obedience. But this does not exhaust the meaning of the passage (note on 60:1-22).

61:9 "Gentiles" – non-Jewish peoples. "Offspring" – 43:5; 48:19; 59:21. "Blessed" – 32:20; 44:3; 65:23. Notes on God's blessings at Gen 12:3; Num 6:2227; Ps 1:1; 119;1. 61:10 "Rejoice" – 25:9; 35:10; here either Jerusalem, representing the future redeemed people of Israel, or Isaiah is speaking.

"Trees of Righteousness" – 1:26; 4:3; 26:2; 35:8; 60:21. "Glorified" – 44:23; 46:13; 49:3; 52:1; 55:5; 60:9,21. 61:4 "Build up" – 49:8; 54:3; 58:12. 61:5 "Foreigners" – 14:1,2; 60:10,11. Israel will be the chief of the nations. 61:6 "Priests" – in the present age all believers are priests. See notes at Ex 28:1; 1 Peter 2:5,9. At the end of this present age believers will be caught up to be with Christ. After that, in the millennium, it seems there will be a priesthood in the hands of Israel, redeemed and restored to be God's representative on earth (66:21; Jer 33:17,18; Ezek 40:44-46). It is not clear just how the outworking of this will be, but not understanding it should not be a reason for denying it.

"Garments" – v 3; 52:1; Rom 13:14. "Robe of righteousness" – this is a righteousness God gives, the opposite of man's own (64:6; note at Gen 3:21; Rom 3:21; 1 Cor 1:30; Phil 3:9). It can be put on only by faith. The words "bridegroom" and "bride" indicate the beginning of something new in the relationship between God and Israel, or the consummation of a progressive relationship. Compare Hos 2:19,20. 61:11 Righteousness and praise will spring out of the earth – 45:8; 55:10,11. This means that God's righteousness will eventually produce righteous people, righteous nations and a righteous world. 62:1-5 "I" – who is speaking? Some think it is Isaiah representing succeeding generations of believers. Others think the speaker is the Messiah as in 61:1, and this seems more likely. The truth revealed is the same in either case. Jerusalem will be filled with righteousness and eternally saved – 4:3,4; 26:1,2; 46:13; 59:20,21; 60:18; Jer 23:5,6. 62:2 "Gentiles" – 2:2; 52:10; 60:3. "New name" – vs 4,12; 1:26.

"Riches" – 60:5,11. 61:7 Zech 9:12. Israel was like God's "firstborn" (Ex 4:22; Jer 31:9). The firstborn among Israelites received a double portion (Gen 25:31; Deut 21:17). 61:8 "Truth", "covenant" – this is the reason why there is a future for Israel as a nation. God made many promises to them and He will keep them. On "covenant" see 55:3; 59:21; Jer 31:35-37; 32:40.

ISAIAH 62:3 968

which the mouth of the LORD will name. 3 You will also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 You will no longer be called "Forsaken", nor will your land any longer be

Build up, build up the highway! Take away the stones! Lift up a banner for the people!

11 See, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth: "Tell the daughter of Zion: Look, your salvation is coming; look, his reward is with him, and his wages accompany him." 12 And they will call them, "The Holy People," "The Redeemed of the LORD",

called "Desolate", but you will be called "Hephzibah"

and your land "Beulah," for the LORD delights in you,

and your land will be married. 5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you. 6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never keep silent, day or night. You who make mention of the LORD,

and you will be called, "Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken."

Who is this who comes from Edom,

from Bozrah, with garments stained red? This One who is glorious in his apparel,

do not keep silent, 7 And give him no rest, until he establishes Jerusalem, and until he makes it a praise in the earth.

travelling in the greatness of his strength?

"I who speak in righteousness,

mighty to save."

2 Why is your clothing red, and your garments like one who

8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand,

and by the arm of his strength, "Certainly I will no longer give your grain

treads the winepress?

to be food for your enemies, and the sons of foreigners will not drink

3 "I have trodden the winepress alone, and none of the people was with me; for I have trod on them in my anger,

your wine, for which you laboured; 9 But those who have gathered it will eat it,

and trampled them in my fury, and their blood was sprinkled on

and praise the LORD, and those who have brought it together

my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.

will drink it in my holy courts.

10 Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people!

62:3 Compare 28:5; Zech 9:16. Crown speaks of authority and political power. 62:4 "Desolate" – Lev 26:43; Isa 5:5,6; 6:12; 54:6,7; 60:15; Jer 30:17. Hephzibah means "my delight is in her." Beulah means "married." Observe that it is the same city and the same land which were deserted and desolate which will experience the wonderful change. What else but a literal Jerusalem and a literal land of Israel could be meant? 62:5 This means that the people of Israel will again possess the land, and God will again regard Israel as a wife. 62:6,7 The speaker is either the Messiah the Son of God, or the Father. The truth revealed is the same in either case. For watchman see 52:8; 56:10; Jer 6:17; 31:6; Ezek 3:17; 33:7. They should pray unceasingly for the restoration of Jerusalem. For "a praise in the earth" see Jer 33:9; Zeph 3:19,20. 62:8,9 The word "sworn" indicates a very solemn and emphatic way of making a

promise. The promise is that after Jerusalem's restoration, oppression from enemies will cease forever.

"My holy courts" – compare Lev 23:39,40; Deut 14:22-26. 62:10 See 11:10,16; 57:14; 48:20; 60:11. 62:11 "Your salvation is coming" – since the next words speak of the giving of rewards, this coming is doubtless the second coming of Christ – 40:10; Matt 25:14-19; Rev 11:18; 22:12. 62:12 "Holy people" – 4:3; 26:2; 45:25; 52:1; 60:21. "Redeemed" – 35:9; 44:23; 51:11. Only after the second coming of Christ will this verse have its fulfillment. 63:1 See 34:6. 34:1-8 gives a picture very similar to the first six verses of this chapter. This can refer only to the Messiah. He is pictured as coming to deliver Israel. 63:2,3 Rev 14:17-20; 19:15. 63:4 See 34:2,8; 35:4; 61:2. The time of vengeance on God's enemies will be the time of redemption for His people.

969 ISAIAH 63:17

of old, Moses, and his people, saying, "Where is the one who brought

5 And I looked, and there was no one to help;

and I wondered that there was no one

to give support; therefore my own arm brought salvation

them up out of the sea with the

shepherd of his flock? Where is the one who put his Holy

for me, and my fury gave me support. 6 And I trampled the peoples in my anger,

Spirit within him, 12 Who led them with his glorious arm, by the right hand of Moses, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name, 13 Who led them through the deep, like a horse in the wilderness, so that they would not stumble?" 14 The Spirit of the LORD caused them to rest, like cattle going down into the valley;

and made them drunk with my fury, and I brought their strength down to

the ground."

7 I will mention the acts of loving kindness of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD,

according to all that the LORD has

granted to us, and the great goodness toward the

so you led your people, to make yourself a glorious name.

house of Israel which he has

granted to them, according to his mercies and according

15 Look down from heaven and see from your holy and glorious dwelling place. Where is your zeal and your strength,

to the multitude of his acts of

loving kindness.

the stirring of your heart and of your mercies toward me? Are they restrained? 16 Doubtless you are our father, though Abraham was ignorant of us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our father, our redeemer; your name is from everlasting. 17 O LORD, why have you caused us to stray from your ways, and hardened our heart from your fear? Return for the sake of your servants,

8 For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not lie." So he was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and he bore them and carried them all

the days of old. 10 But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned to become their enemy,

and he fought against them. 11 Then they remembered the days

the tribes of your inheritance.

63:11-14 The people, remembering the past, ask what has become of the God of such mighty works. Ex 14:22,30.

63:5 See 59:16 and note there. 63:6 "Drunk" – compare Jer 25:15-31. 63:7-14 A brief look at God's great goodness toward Israel in the past, similar in tone to psalms 105, 106. 63:8 "Children who will not lie" – the Hebrew here should probably be translated "sons who must not be false to me." God knew in advance that they would be sinful and rebellious. 63:9 This is the nature of God as revealed in the Bible. He is not distant, uncaring, hard and cold. He feels what His people suffer. He endures it with them, in them. The word "compassion" means to suffer with. The Hebrew expression here is equally strong. In the New Testament see Matt 25:35-40; Acts 9:4. "Angel" – Ex 14:19; 23:20-23; 33:12,14,15; Num 20:16; note at Gen 16:7. "Carried" – Deut 1:31; 32:10-12. 63:10 "Rebelled" – Num 20:10; Deut 9:24; Ps 78:40; 106:40.

"Holy Spirit" – vs 10,14; Gen 1:2; Num 11:17,25; Ps 51:11; John 14:17. 63:12 See 51:9; 52:10; 53:1; Ex 15:16. 63:14 "Name" – Ex 9:16. 63:15 Here begins a prayer of Isaiah. He represents the people of Israel. The people felt that God had completely withdrawn from earth to heaven, and is no longer active among them.

"Zeal" – 9:7; 26:11; 42:13. 63:16 See 64:8; Ex 4:22; Deut 32:6; Jer 3:4; John 8:41. In Israel God was regarded as the Father of the nation. But the people of Israel had fallen so low, were so rebellious against God's will, that if Abraham and his grandson Israel were there they would not be able to recognize them as their descendants. 63:17 This prayer probably has reference to 6:9,10. Whatever God did to them in this way was a perfectly just punishment for their sins. Note on hardening at Ex 4:21.

"Grieved" – Ps 106:33; Eph 4:30. "Enemy" – Lev 26:17; Jer 21:5; Ezek 15:7. 63:11 "Then they remembered" – or it could be translated "he remembered."

"Inheritance" – Ex 6:7; 34:9; Deut 4:20; 7:6; 32:9.

ISAIAH 63:18 970

18 Your holy people have possessed it only a little while. Our adversaries have trampled down

you who acts on behalf of the one

who waits for him. 5 You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. See, you have been angry,

your sanctuary. 19 We are yours. You have never ruled over them; they have not been called by your name.

for we have sinned. We have long continued in them. And we need to be saved.

Oh, that you would rend the heavens! That you would come down! That the mountains might tremble at

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteous deeds are like

your presence, 2 As fire makes the brushwood burn, as fire causes water to boil, to make your name known to your

filthy rags, and we all fade like a leaf,

and our iniquities, like the wind,

have taken us away. 7 And there is no one who calls on your name, who stirs himself up to take

adversaries, that the nations may

tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome things which we did not look for, you came down, the mountains trembled at your presence. 4 For since the beginning of the world people have not heard or perceived

hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us,

and have consumed us because of

our iniquities.

8 But now, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay, and you are our potter,

with the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides

by God's power. Notes on God's anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11; John 3:36; Rom 1:18. When men anger the only God who can help them, the only God there is, it is a hard matter to gain assurance of salvation. There is a recognition here that they had deserved all God's anger, all that had come upon them. 64:6 "All like an unclean thing" – if the best works men can do are like filthy rags, what must their worst be like? And what right do men have to present their filthy rags of socalled merit to God and expect salvation in exchange for them? Happy are those who understand what this verse means and go to Christ for His righteousness (Phil 3:9).

63:18 See 64:10,11. This had not happened in Isaiah's day. Therefore we may judge that he is looking forward to a future time and making this prayer for a future generation. 63:19 Here the contrast is between God's people Israel and the enemies mentioned in v 18. This verse may possibly be translated "We are like those you have never ruled, like those never called by your name." 64:1-12 He continues his prayer which begins at 63:15, a marvelous prayer of confession of sin and of pleading that God might come again in mighty power, and forgive and restore his people. 64:1,2 He prays that God will come suddenly, powerfully, shaking the earth and the nations, blazing like fire against His enemies. This prayer will yet be fully answered (24:18-20; 30:27,28; 2 Thess 1:7; Heb 12:26-29; Rev 19:11,12). "Tremble" – closer to the meaning of the Hebrew word than "flow down."

"Leaf" – sin blights and kills as disease destroys a leaf.

"Away" – away from truth, away from righteousness, away from God. 64:7 Men call on their many gods, but none by nature call on the name of the true God. If we call on Him it is because He has stirred us up to do so.

"Name" – 30:27; 59:19. 64:3 Deut 7:21; 10:21. "Awesome" – Ps 65:5; 66:3-6; 106:21,22; 145:6. 64:4 This prayer is directed to the only God who can perform great and awesome deeds – Jehovah. And He is still at work for those who wait confidently for Him – 25:9; 30:18; Ps 27:14; Jer 33:3. Let us continue to look to Him! 64:5 "Works righteousness" – mere waiting for God to act is not sufficient. If we expect God to work for us we must willingly work for Him.

"Consumed us" – or "made us waste away." Isaiah is speaking of Israel, but there is truth here for all. We sin, God hides His face, we fail to pray, and waste away. And our lack of prayer is blameworthy and the cause of more sin. 64:8-12 Reasons why God should hear this prayer. 64:8 "Father" – 63:16. The prayer is to one who is intimately concerned with their condition.

"Potter" – 29:16; 45:9; Jer 18:1-6. With such a wise and skillful potter at work with them there is still hope for the nation. Compare Ps 138:8.

"We have sinned" – Isaiah well knows why God has ceased to perform wonderful deeds for them (59:1,2). Continuing in sin is what all men do until they are changed

"Work of your hands" – compare

971 ISAIAH 65:8

3 A people who provoke me to anger continually to my face, who sacrifice in gardens,

and we all are the work of your hands. 9 Do not be very angry, O LORD, or remember iniquity forever. Look and see, we beg you,

and burn incense on brick altars, 4 Who sit among the graves, and spend the night among the tombs, who eat swine's flesh, and in whose pots is the broth of

we are all your people. 10 Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness,

Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you,

abominable things, 5 Who say, 'Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you.' These are smoke in my nostrils,

is burned up with fire, and all our pleasant things are laid waste. 12 Will you restrain yourself for these things, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and afflict us

a fire that burns all day. 6 See, it is written before me: 'I will not keep silent,

very severely?

but will repay, repay into their bosom 7 Your evil deeds, and the evil deeds of your fathers together, says the LORD, you who have burned incense on the

"I am sought by those who did not ask for me; I am found by those who did not seek me. I said, 'See me, see me',

mountains, and blasphemed me on

the hills. Therefore I will measure into their

to a nation that was not called

by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good,

bosom repayment for their

former deeds."

8 Thus says the LORD: "As the new wine is found in the

after their own thoughts,

Eph 2:10; Phil 1:6. 64:9 These requests are based on what God had revealed – as our requests must always be, if we want our prayer answered.

nation Israel. He begins by describing their character and behavior. 65:2 "Rebellious" – 1:2-4; 30:1,9. "Own thoughts" – 59:7; Gen 6:5; 8:21. Anyone who follows his own imaginations will certainly walk in ways not good. 65:3 Idolatry provokes God to anger as much as anything men can do (Lev 26:30; Deut 4:25; Jud 2:12,13). 65:4 "Graves" – 8:19; 57:9; Deut 18:11. "Swine's flesh" – Lev 11:7,8. Note at Lev 11:2-23. They had contempt for God's very specific instruction to them. 65:5 These rebels, idolaters, sorcerers, eaters of forbidden food, thought they were very superior people. They were selfrighteous hypocrites. Compare Matt 9:11; Luke 7:39; 18:9-12. 65:6,7 "Silent" – 42:14; 57:11; Ps 50:21; Hab 1:13.

"Angry" – 54:7,8. "Iniquity" – 40:1,2; 43:25. "Your people" – 63:17-19. This was reminding God of their covenant relationship with Him (Gen 17:7; Lev 26:40-45; Deut 7:6). 64:10 Notice "Your" holy cities – an appeal to God to look with concern on His own property as well as on His own people (v 8,9).

"Holy cities" – 48:2. Zion and Jerusalem here are regarded as twin cities. The original Zion was a part of the larger city that was called Jerusalem. But often in the Old Testament Zion refers to the entire city. 64:11 Isaiah was a prophet looking into the future and describing things that had not yet happened as though they had. Note at 55:10,11. The temple was not destroyed for another hundred years. Another temple erected in its place was not destroyed for some hundreds of years after Isaiah's day. 64:12 "Will you keep silent?" – 62:1,6,7. "Very severely" – Ezra 9:13; Ps 103:10. 65:1,2 God begins to speak in answer to the prayer of 63:15 - 64:12. Paul quotes these two verses in Rom 10:20,21. See note there. God is speaking in v 1 of other nations who did not know the God of Israel. In pure grace He would turn to them (49:6; Matt 28:19; Acts 13:46; 28:28). 65:2-16 God reveals what He will do to the

"Hills" – they had their shrines to other gods on high places.

"Repayment" – 59:18; Deut 32:40,41; 2 Chron 6:23; Rom 12:19. 65:8-10 God will not completely destroy the nation but will preserve a remnant who will seek Him – 1:9; 10:20,21,22; 11:11,16; 46:3. Jacob (v 9) probably signifies the northern kingdom that had gone into captivity to Assyria.

"My mountains" – represent the whole land of Israel. God promised it to Israel forever (Gen 17:8; etc). Sharon (v 10) is along the Mediterranean Sea, Achor near the Jordan river. Those who possess the

ISAIAH 65:9 972

cluster of grapes, and someone says, 'Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it,' so I will act for the sake of my servants, that I may not destroy them all. 9 And I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah an heir of my mountains. And my chosen ones will inherit it,

but you will cry for sorrow of heart,

and will wail for grief of spirit. 15 And you will leave your name as a curse for my chosen, for the Lord God will slay you, and call

his servants by another name, 16 That he who is blessed on the earth will be blessed in the God of truth; and he who takes an oath on the earth

and my servants will live there. 10 And Sharon will be a pasture for flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for

will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles will be forgotten, and because they will be hidden from my eyes.

herds to lie down in, for my people who have sought me. 11 But you are those who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain,

17 "For, see, I will create new heavens and a new earth; and the former will not be remembered,

who prepare a table for Fortune, and who furnish a drink offering for Destiny. 12 Therefore I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called,

nor come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create, for, see, I will create Jerusalem a rejoicing,

you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen,

and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and the voice of weeping no longer

but did evil before my eyes, and chose what I had no delight in."

will be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: "See, my servants will eat, but you will be hungry. See, my servants will drink,

20 "No longer will there be an infant who lives only a few days, or an old man who has not completed

but you will be thirsty. See, my servants will rejoice,

his days; for the child will die a hundred years old; but the sinner being a hundred years

but you will be put to shame. 14 See, my servants will sing for joy of heart,

land will be those who seek God (v 10; 51:1. Compare Jer 29:12-14). 65:11-16 The happy future belongs to those in Israel (or in any nation) who seek God. The wicked and rebellious should not think they have any part in it. 65:11 "Fortune" and "Destiny" – the Hebrew words may refer to certain gods of "good fortune" and "good luck." Some Jews mistakenly thought they could combine the worship of those with the worship of Jehovah. Compare Matt 6:24. See 1 Kings 18:21. 65:12 See 41:28; 50:2; Prov 1:24-32; Jer 7:27. 65:13,14 The wicked will justly receive the exact opposite of the righteous. Compare Ps 102:8. 65:15 "Curse" – Jer 29:22. "Another name" – See 1:26; 60:14; 62:2,4,12; Rev 2:17. 65:16 After the final restoration of Israel (Amos 9:15) no one there will ever again swear by any false god (such as Baal – see Jer 12:16).

65:17 "New earth" – Rev 21:1-4. 65:18-25 These verses can hardly apply to conditions as they will be in the new heaven and earth for they speak of birth and death (death is the result of sin – Gen 2:17; Rom 5:12; 6:23, and will have no place in the new heaven and earth where sin will not exist). Yet it will be a time of great blessing for Israel, a time of striking differences from the present. Evidently these verses describe the same time Isaiah wrote about in 2:2-5; 4:2-6; 9:7; 11:1-16; 25:6-9; 26:1-4; 32:1-5; 35:1-10; 40:1,2; 49:8-23; 51:3; 52:1,2; 54:1-17; 60:1-22; 61:3-7; 62:1-12. The New Testament speaks of this future time in Rev 20:4-6. 65:18 See 54:11-13. 65:19 See 62:4,5. 65:20 This speaks of a great change from the present in the length of time people live. Compare Genesis chapter 5.

"The sinner being a hundred years old will be accursed" – in Hebrew this sentence is obscure and difficult. It could be translated "the sinner who reaches a hundred will be considered accursed." The sentence may mean that if someone fails to live at least one hundred years people will think him accursed. Or possibly it means God may permit even the worst of sinners to live to be a hundred.

"God of truth" – the literal translation of the Hebrew here is "God of Amen." It means the God who is absolutely faithful to His Word. Note on God of truth at Ps 31:5.

"Will be forgotten" – v 17.

973 ISAIAH 66:7

old will be accursed. 21 And they will build houses and live in them, and they will plant vineyards and eat

"But to this person I will look, to the

one who is lowly and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.

their fruit. 22 Others will not live in what they build; others will not eat what they plant; for the days of my people will be like

3 "He who kills a bull is as if he killed a man; he who sacrifices a lamb is as if he cut

off a dog's neck; he who makes an offering is as if he

the days of a tree, and my chosen ones will long enjoy

offered swine's blood; he who burns incense is as if he

the work of their hands. 23 They will not labour in vain, or bear children for trouble; for they will be the descendants of

blessed an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways,

and their soul delights in their abominations. 4 So I will choose their hardships, and will bring on them what they fear, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they did not listen,

those blessed by the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24 And it will come about that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like a bull, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will not hurt or destroy in all my

but did evil before my very eyes, and chose what I did not delight in. 5 Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word. Your brethren who hated you, who threw you out for my name's sake,

holy mountain," says the LORD.

said, 'Let the LORD be glorified.' But he will appear to your joy,

Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; where is the house that you will build for me? And where is the place of my rest? 2 For my hand has made all those things, and so all those things came to be,"

and they will be put to shame."

6 A sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD who repays his

enemies: 7 "Before she was in labour, she gave birth. Before her pain came,

says the LORD,

65:21 See 62:8,9. 65:22 "Like the days of a tree" – some trees live for many hundreds of years. Compare with v 20. 65:23 See 61:9. Notes on blessing and blessed at Gen 12:2,3; Num 6:22-27; Ps 1:1; 119:1; etc. 65:24 See 30:19; 58:9; Zech 10:6. Compare 1:15; etc. 65:25 See 11:6-9. 66:1-24 God continues to speak through Isaiah. Here He emphasizes what kind of people He wants His people to be, and what the results will be when Israel becomes that kind of people. He reveals also what the end will be for those who refuse Him and His Word. 66:1,2 40:21,22; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps 2:4; Matt 5:34,35; Acts 7:48-50; 17:24,25. The God of Israel is the mighty Creator of the universe – 40:26; Gen 1:1. And the whole universe is not big enough for Him. God does not need a material temple. He much prefers a spiritual one – the humble hearts and bodies of a believing people (57:15; 1 Cor 6:19; Eph 2:21,22). "contrite" – or "wounded."

and affection. For "lowly and contrite" see 57:15; Ps 51:17; Matt 5:3,4; Luke 18:13,14; Jam 4:6. Trembling at God's word means a sense of unworthiness combined with reverence and fear to offend its Giver, and in haste to obey it – Ezra 9:4; Hos 3:5. Compare Ps 2:11; 99:1; 114:7; Jer 5:22. 66:3 Compare 1:11-14. No offering of the wicked is acceptable to God – Prov 15:8; 21:27. "Their own ways" – 53:6; 57:17. Men are very far gone into depravity when they "delight" in their abominations. Compare Phil 3:18,19. 66:4 See 65:7,12; Ps 18:25,26. 66:5 In this world those who tremble in humility at God's word will sometimes be hated even by those who should love them (59:15; Ps 38:20; Micah 7:6; Matt 10:36). 66:6 "City", "temple" – 64:10,11; Jer 52:12-14. The Lord often uses human instruments to take vengeance or repay His enemies (10:5,6; etc). 66:7-11 This speaks of the fruitfulness of Zion representing the nation of Israel. Compare 49:14-20; 54:1-8. The "male child" of v 7 is the country, the nation of v 8. So great will be the change in Israel that it will be as though the country and the people were made completely new.

The Hebrew word translated "look" is used in Gen 4:4,5; Ex 2:25; Num 16:15; Jud 6:14; Ps 25:16. It implies both approval

ISAIAH 66:8 974

she delivered a male child. 8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will the earth be made to give birth in

and your bones will flourish like grass; and the hand of the LORD will be known

to his servants, and his indignation to his enemies. 15 For, see, the LORD will come with fire and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury,

one day? Or will a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labour,

she gave birth to her children. 9 Will I bring to the point of birth, and not give delivery?" says the LORD. "Will I bring to birth,

and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For the LORD will execute judgment by fire and by his sword on all flesh; and the slain of the LORD will be many.

and shut the womb ?" says your God. 10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her. Rejoice and be happy with her,

17 "Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the middle of those who eat the meat of pigs and the abomination and the mouse, will be consumed together," says the LORD.

all you who mourn for her, 11 That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance

18 "For I know their deeds and their thoughts. The time will come when I gather all nations and tongues, and they will come, and see my glory. 19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those of them who escape to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud (who draw the bow), to Tubal and Javan, to the islands far away, who have not heard my fame or seen my glory; and they will declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20 And they will bring all your brethren as an offering to the LORD out of all nations on horses and in chariots and on litters and on mules and on swift animals, to my holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD, "just as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take some of them as priests and as Levites",

of her glory.

12 For thus says the LORD, "See, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a

flowing stream. Then you will nurse, you will be

carried on her hips and dandled on

her knees. 13 I will comfort you like one whom his mother comforts; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And when you see this, your heart will rejoice,

Compare 4:2-6; 11:6-16; 27:6; 35:1-10. The change in Israel will take place very suddenly without the travail of birth. See Zech 12:10-13:2; Rom 11:26,27; Rev 1:7. 66:10 See 65:18; Ps 122:6; 137:6. 66:11 Verse 12; 49:23; 60:16. Jerusalem in the millennium will be like a mother. It will at last be a true reflection of the Jerusalem which is above, who is the mother of all who believe (Gal 4:26). 66:12 See 48:18; 60:5. 66:13 God has the tender compassion that a mother has and He will comfort those concerned with the future of Jerusalem (40:1,2; 49:13-16; 54:7,8). 66:14 "Grass" – not as 40:6-8, but as 44:4. "Hand of the LORD" – 53:1; Ezra 7:9; 8:31. Here this means God's power at work to bless His people. 66:15,16 See 2:11,17,20; 26:20,21; 30:27,28; 34:2; 42:25; 2 Thess 1:1,710; Rev 19:11-16. 66:17 Is it surprising to see in this grand finishing chapter of the great book of Isaiah any sort of emphasis on eating food forbidden by the law of Moses? See also 65:4. Does this not indicate that literal Israel is in view? The wicked among them

are thus shown as those who have contempt for God's commands. Of all the instructions of the law probably the easiest to keep were the ones about clean and unclean animals. Those who will not keep those will hardly be of a mind to keep any other laws. For notes on meaning of prohibition of certain foods see Leviticus chapter 11. 66:18 "Their thoughts" – 65:2. "All nations" – Joel 3:2; Zeph 3:8; Zech 14:2-5. They will see God's glory in the rescue of His people and the destruction of their foes, as the Egyptians did at the Red Sea (Exodus chapter 14). 66:19-21 Judging from the context, and from other prophecies in Isaiah (and other books of the Bible) these verses probably describe some events in the future millennium. Some of the words here fit the activities of the Church of the New Testament, but others do not. 66:19 "Them" – the Jews. "Pul" – the Septuagint has "Put" which probably signifies Libya. 66:20 See 11:11,12; 49:22; 60:4. 66:21 Note at 61:6. In this New Testament era all believers are priests, not some only (1 Pet 2:5,9). And they are not serving as

975 ISAIAH 66:24

says the LORD.

all mankind will come to worship before me," says the LORD. 24 "And they will go out, and look at the corpses of the men who have transgressed against me; for their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched; and they will be loathsome to all mankind."

22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will remain before me," says the LORD, "so your offspring and your name will remain. 23 And it will happen from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, that

Levites. 66:22 See 65:17. "Remain" – 60:20,21; Jer 33:19-26. 66:23 Notice again the emphasis on "all mankind." 66:24 Rebellion is a theme found often in Isaiah (1:2,23; 30:1,9; 60:10; 65:2). The picture here is of those in the city of Jerusalem going and looking into the valley

of Hinnom or Tophet (30:33; Jer 7:31-33; 19:6). This verse gives the destiny of those who rebel against God. In the New Testament Tophet or Hinnom became a symbol for hell, and part of this verse is quoted in Mark 9:48. The only escape from the punishment revealed in this verse is through the suffering servant depicted so clearly in the 53rd chapter of this book.

JEREMIAH

Author:

Jeremiah was a priest from the village of Anathoth. He began his public ministry at the age of 20, during the 13th year of the reign of king Josiah (626 BC), and his service continued for more than 40 years. By nature he was gentle and had a tender heart, but he was very courageous when God asked him to preach harsh messages and warn of coming judgment on the people. So, though loved by God, he became unpopular with men. The whole nation rejected both him and God's message through him. It is no wonder that he is known as "the weeping prophet." Sometimes he found his responsibility as God's prophet very hard to bear, and longed to escape from it (20:9). But in the face of much persecution and sorrow he continued in this ministry, and by the grace of God stood as an "iron pillar" and like "bronze walls" (1:18).

Date:

Sometime about 580 BC.

Themes :

In the year 586 before Christ the armies of Babylon came, captured Jerusalem, and took many of its people into exile in Babylon. Up to then Jeremiah, with compassion and tears, had warned the people and pled with them to turn to God in repentance. When they refused to listen, he make God's message known to them: They would be in Babylonia for seventy years and then return to Jerusalem and Judah. He also revealed to them the new covenant that God would make with Israel, and the just judgments that would fall on Babylon and certain other nations. There are many lessons in this book for God's servants today. In many ways Jeremiah was an ideal person to show what a true servant of God should be like. The following verses speak of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ: 23:5; 30:4-11; 31:31-34; 33:15-18.

Contents:

God calls Jeremiah to his work ....................................................................... 1:4-19 Israel's sin and ingratitude ............................................................................ 2:1-3:5 Israel's unfaithfulness, God's continuing love ................................................... 3:6 - 4:4 Prophecy of coming destruction from Babylon .................................................. 4:4 - 6:30

Judah's dishonesty and corruption ............................................................. 5:1-13 Judah's false religion .................................................................................... 7:1-31 Punishment for false religion .......................................................................... 7:32 - 8:17 Jeremiah's sorrow ........................................................................................ 8:18 - 9:2 God's sorrow ............................................................................................... 9:3-26 The true God compared with the people's idols ................................................ 10:1-16 The coming destruction and Jeremiah's prayer ................................................. 10:17-25 Judah had broken God's covenant ................................................................. 11:1-17 Sinners plot to murder Jeremiah ..................................................................... 11:18-23 Jeremiah's complaint and God's answer ........................................................... 12:1-17 The sign of the linen belt ............................................................................... 13:1-11 Warning about captivity ................................................................................ 13:15-27 The drought and God's message .................................................................... 14:1 - 15:14 Jeremiah's prayer and God's promise .............................................................. 15:15-21 God's message to the unmarried prophet ........................................................ 16:1 - 17:18 Warning regarding the Sabbath ..................................................................... 17:19-27 God's message at the potter's house .............................................................. 18:1 - 19:15

God the potter ........................................................................................ 18:5,6 The temple officer has Jeremiah beaten.......................................................... 20:1-6 Jeremiah's complaint ..................................................................................... 20:7-18 King Zedekiah's request, God's reply............................................................... 21:1-14

977 JEREMIAH

Evil kings condemned .................................................................................... 22:1-30 Evil shepherds and the righteous Branch ......................................................... 23:1-8 Deceitful prophets........................................................................................ 23:9-40 Two baskets of figs ...................................................................................... 24:1-10 Prophecy concerning the 70 years of exile ...................................................... 25:1-14 The cup of God's anger ................................................................................. 25:15-38 Priests and prophets want to kill Jeremiah ....................................................... 26:1-24 Object lesson with a yoke: Judah to serve Babylon .......................................... 27:1-22 A false prophet named Hananiah ................................................................... 28:1-17 Jeremiah's letter to the Jews in Babylon.......................................................... 29:1-23 Judgments against the false prophet Shemaiah ............................................... 29:24-32 God promises to bring Israel back from exile .................................................... 30:1 - 31:30 The New Covenant ...................................................................................... 31:31-40 Jeremiah buys a field; God's message about it ................................................. 32:1-44 Future blessing for Israel .............................................................................. 33:1-33 God warns king Zedekiah .............................................................................. 34:1-7 Slaves and God's message ............................................................................ 34:8-22 The obedient Rechabites, disobedient Judah ................................................... 35:1-19 King Jehoiakim burns Jeremiah's writings ......................................................... 36:1-32 Jeremiah in prison ........................................................................................ 37:1-21 Jeremiah in a well ......................................................................................... 38:1-13 Zedekiah removes Jeremiah from the well

and questions him ............................................................................... 38:14-28 Jerusalem is captured ................................................................................... 39:1-18 Jeremiah is freed ......................................................................................... 40:1-6 Governor Gedaliah is killed ............................................................................. 40:7 - 41:3 Wicked Ishmael ............................................................................................ 41:4-15 The Jews take Jeremiah and go to Egypt ........................................................ 41:16 - 43:13 Warnings to the Jews in Egypt ...................................................................... 44:1-30 God's message to Baruch .............................................................................. 45:1-5 Prophecies about the nations ........................................................................ 46:1 - 51:64

About Egypt ........................................................................................... 46:1-28 About Philistia ......................................................................................... 47:1-7 About Moab ............................................................................................ 48:1-47 About the Ammonites ............................................................................... 49:1-6 About Edom ............................................................................................ 49:7-22 About Damascus ..................................................................................... 49:23-27 About Kedar and Hazor ............................................................................ 49:28-33 About Elam ............................................................................................. 49:34-39 About Babylon ........................................................................................ 50:1 - 51:64 The fall of Jerusalem again recorded .............................................................. 52:1-34

Judah's fall and captivity .......................................................................... 52:1-30 Jehoiachin's liberation in Babylon ............................................................... 52:31-34

JEREMIAH 1:1 978

The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. 2 The word of the LORD came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, up to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until Jerusalem was carried away into exile in the fifth month.

speak, for I am a child."

7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a child,' for you will go to all to whom I send you, and you will speak whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to defend you," said the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put out his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Look, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I have set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant."

4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?"

And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." 12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well; for I will watch over my word to fulfil it."

nations."

13 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, "What do you see?" And I

6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Look, I cannot

4:1,10-17. 1:8 "Afraid" – Gen 15:11; 26:24; Deut 31:6; Josh 1:6-9; 8:1; etc. "With you" – Gen 26:3; Josh 1:5; Jer 15:20. "Deliver" – v 19; 15:21; 26:24; 36:26; 42:11. 1:9 Ex 4:12; Num 22:38; 23:5,12,16; Deut 18:18; Isa 51:16. So the prophets who wrote the Bible could, and did, speak the very words of God without error of any kind. They spoke God's words by the inspiration of God's Spirit (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21). 1:10 It was the Word of God sent by God through Jeremiah that would accomplish these things among the nations. See Isa 55:10,11. Jeremiah's utterances by God's Spirit were to have two effects – one destructive, one constructive. God's word will always have these two results depending on the condition and response of those who hear it. Sometimes for the good to flourish it is necessary to destroy the bad. 1:11,12 God sometimes used object lessons to bring His message to the prophets (v 13; Amos 7:8; 8:2; Zech 4:2; 5:2). The two He gave in the next few verses are basic to the teaching of the book of Jeremiah. In Hebrew the word for "almond tree" and the word for "watch over" are very similar (sha'ked and sho'ked). Aaron's rod that budded was from the almond tree. See Num 17:1-13. 1:12 God will fulfill His word, in spite of unbelieving Israel and a world of nations and peoples who do not know Him, and Jeremiah was not to fear that He would not (compare Isa 55:11; Matt 5:17,18). This is God's very first message to Jeremiah after His appointment as prophet. It is one of the first things God wants all of His servants in any time or place to be sure about. 1:13-16 The second message concerns destruction on Israel. Nations would come from the north, hot and agitated as boiling water, and overflow the land (4:6; 6:1).

1:1 Anathoth was a town about 5 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It was set apart for the priests of Israel (Josh 21:18; 1 Kings 2:26). 1:2 "The word of the LORD came" – this phrase is very common in the prophets of the Bible (Ezek 1:3; Jonah 1:1; Haggai 1:1; Zech 1:1; etc). It indicates a revelation from God. The prophets spoke and wrote the very words God gave them – v 9. 1:3 The time period covered by vs 2 and 3 was 40 years, between 626 and 586 BC. Afterwards Jeremiah continued to prophesy a few more years. Of the kings mentioned here only Josiah was a good one. A brief history of those years is found in 2 Kings chapters 22-25 and 2 Chronicles chapters 34-36. 1:5 "Formed" – Ps 139:13; 119:73; Isa 44:24; 49:5. "Knew" – Ps 139:16; Rom 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pet 1:2. The same Hebrew word translated "knew" in this verse is translated "chosen" in Gen 18:19 and Amos 3:2, and may mean that here also.

"Sanctified" – this means that Jeremiah was set apart in God's plan to be a servant of God even before his birth. Compare Isa 49:1,5; Luke 1:13-15; Gal 1:15; Eph 1:4. "I ordained you" – God has a place and a work for each of His people (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:27-31). What we do we should do because we know it is God's appointment for us. Note on prophet at Gen 20:7. Jeremiah had a very high place in God's plans. He was a prophet not simply to Israel but to the nations of earth – v 10; 25:1526; chapters 46-51. 1:6 Jeremiah's response was like that of Moses (Ex 4:10), unlike that of Isaiah (Isa 6:8). He did not think he was capable of being God's spokesman and would gladly have escaped the responsibility.

"LORD God" – see the note at Gen 15:2. 1:7 When God appoints a man for a task He will accept no excuses he may make to escape from it. Compare Ex 3:10-13;

979 JEREMIAH 2:7

Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the LORD:

said, "I see a boiling pot, and its face is toward the north."

"I remember you, the kindness of your

14 Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north a disaster will burst out on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, see, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, says the LORD,

youth, the love of your bridal days, when you went after me in the wilderness,

in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was holiness to the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase. All who devoured him were guilty; disaster came on them,

"And they will come, and each of them

will set his throne at the entrance

of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its surrounding walls, and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, because they have forsaken me and

says the LORD."

4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.

burned incense to other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

5 Thus says the LORD: "What evil did your fathers find in me, that they went away far from me,

17 "Therefore make yourself ready, and arise and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be afraid of their faces, so that I do not make you fear before them. 18 For, see, today I have made you a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19 And they will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you."

and walked after emptiness,

and became empty? 6 And they did not say, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up

out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and the

shadow of death, through a land that no man passed

through, and where no one lived?' 7 And I brought you into a land of plenty,

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Go and cry out in the ears of

As far as Jeremiah's lifetime is concerned this happened when Babylon and its allies invaded and conquered Judah. See chapter 39; 2 Kings chapters 24,25; 2 Chronicles chapter 36. Perhaps a more complete fulfillment will come at the end of this age (see Ezekiel chapters 38, 39 and Zechariah chapter 12). 1:16 The reason for God's judgment is plain. They habitually broke the most important commandment of the law and forsook the Creator to worship things they had made. See Ex 20:1-6; Lev 26:14-39; Deut 27:14-26. 1:17 This is always the principal responsibility of God's spokesman – to speak His word just as it is, without fear of men. This can be done when there is the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). The choice is always between fearing men or fearing God (Matt 10:28; Isa 8:12,13). 1:18,19 Verse 8. Everyone would be against Jeremiah – rulers and people and religious leaders (the very ones who should have stood with him). He was to be alone against the world, but he was to know the truth later recorded in Rom 8:31. See also Ps 118:6; Heb 13:6. 2:2 "Bridal days" – the nation Israel was the special people of Jehovah, the nation having a special intimate spiritual relationship with Him (the meaning of the

reference to a bride here). This chapter (and the next few chapters) pictures that nation as having become unfaithful and adulterous. In connection with this theme read Isa 54:5; Jer 3:14; 31:32; Ezekiel chapters 16 and 23; Hos 2:7,16; John 3:29; Rom 7:4; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25-27; Rev 19:7-8. "Wilderness" – refers to events recorded in Exodus and Numbers. 2:3 "Holiness" – Ex 19:6; 7:6; Note at Lev 20:7. "Disaster" – refers to the defeat of Israel's enemies recorded in Exodus and Numbers. 2:4 The great king of the universe surely has the right to demand that His people listen to Him (Isa 1:2,10; Ezek 13:2; Hos 4:1; Amos 7:16; Heb 12:25). 2:5 God asks this as a faithful husband would ask an unfaithful wife who runs after other men. Israel ran after other gods and thus showed their lack of love for the true God and a contempt for His word (Ex 20:26). God's jealousy was aroused just as He said it would be.

"Emptiness" – probably a reference to false gods and idols. Notes at Ps 115:4-8; 135:15-18. 2:6 They forgot God, something God repeatedly warned them about. See note at Deut 8:1-5. 2:7 "Land of plenty" – as recorded in Joshua.

JEREMIAH 2:8 980

to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled my land, and made an abomination of my inheritance. 8 The priests did not say,

14 "Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave ? Why is he plundered? 15 The young lions roared over him, and growled, and they laid his land waste. His cities are burned, without inhabitant. 16 Also the people of Noph and Tahpanes have broken the crown of your head. 17 Have you not brought this on yourself, by your forsaking the LORD your God,

'Where is the LORD?' And those who dealt with the law did

not know me. The leaders also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and followed after worthless things. 9 Therefore I will bring charges against

when he led you in the way? 18 And now why should you go on the way to Egypt to drink the waters of Sihor? Or why should you go on the way to

you again", says the LORD, "and I will bring charges against your

children's children. 10 For cross over the coasts of Kittim and see; and send to Kedar, and consider carefully, and see if there is such a thing as this. 11 Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? But my people have exchanged their

Assyria to drink the waters of the

Euphrates River? 19 Your own wickedness will chasten you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. Therefore know and see that it is an

evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you,"

glory for what is worthless. 12 Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the LORD. 13 "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain

says the Lord God of hosts.

20 "For long ago I broke your yoke, and tore off your bands; and you said, 'I will not transgress,' when on every high hill and under

of living waters, and dug out cisterns for themselves,

every green tree you wandered,

broken cisterns that can hold no water.

acting like a prostitute.

"Fruit" – Ex 3:8; Num 13:27; Deut 8:79; 11:10-12. "Defiled" – 3:9; 7:39; 16:18; Ps 106:34-39; Ezek 11:21; 36:17. In fact, all the world belongs to God, and they who sin are defiling His world (Isa 24:5). 2:8 There was complete failure by all the leaders of Israel – priests, rulers, prophets. Those who knew God's law did not know God. Those who were raised up to rule for God rebelled against Him. Those who should have prophesied for God spoke for the false god Baal. Note on Baal at Jud 2:11. 2:9 25:31; Hos 4:1; 12:2; Mic 6:2. If God Himself brings a case against us how can we stand? 2:10,11 Israel acted in a more perverted and strange way than any nation to the east (Kedar was the home of nomadic tribes in the Syro-Arabian desert), or to the west (Kittim is Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea). Though the gods of those peoples were false and worthless they remained faithful to them.

2:13 This two-fold sin is the sin of all humanity. Only God has the eternally satisfying water of spiritual life – in fact, He Himself is the "spring" of it (17:13; Ps 36:9; John 4:13,14; 7:37,38; Rev 22:17). To turn from Him and try to create some other source of satisfaction is wickedness, folly, madness. 2:14-17 The nation Israel was like a son to God, not a slave (31:9; Ex 4:22); like a wife, not a servant. Then why did disasters come on them? Why were their enemies able to destroy them? Why had Egypt (Memphis, Tahpanhes) been able to humiliate them? The answer is in v 17. They brought all their trouble on themselves by forsaking God (4:18). 2:18 They will find there is no satisfaction, no safety, no enjoyment anywhere apart from God (2:36).

"Assyria" – note at 2 Kings 15:19. 2:19 Wickedness itself will be a rod on the sinner's back, a knife in his heart, and his own backsliding will be a terrible teacher. God has arranged matters that sin will be shown to be an evil and bitter thing (4:18). Observe here the importance of the fear of God (notes at Gen 20:11; Job 28:28; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; 130:3,4). "Lord God of hosts" – note at 1 Sam 1:3. 2:20 5:5; Hos 4:16. They behaved like the peoples in Ps 2:3 which did not know God.

"Exchanged" – Ps 106:20; Rom 1:23. This is the choice the Bible often speaks of – whether to serve the God of eternal glory or to have gods which are not gods at all (Ps 115:4; Isa 37:19; Jer 16:20; Gal 4:8). 2:12 Israel's sin was so great that the heavens themselves should feel the horror of it (compare Deut 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; Isa 1:2).

981 JEREMIAH 2:37

21 Yet I had planted you a choice vine, a fully right seed. How then have you turned against me

have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in

the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your

into the degenerate plant of a

cities are your gods, O Judah.

strange vine to me? 22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,"

29 "Why do you bring charges against me? You have all transgressed against me,

says the LORD. 30 In vain have I struck your children; they received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your

says the Lord God. 23 "How can you say, 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals?' See your way in the valley, know what

prophets, like a destroying lion. 31 O you of this generation, see the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel?

you have done. You are a swift she-camel rushing here

and there, 24 A wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs at the wind in her desire; in her heat who can turn her away? Those pursuing her will not tire

A land of darkness? Why do my people say, 'We are lords; we will not come to you any more'? 32 Can a maiden forget her jewels, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days

themselves out; in her month they will find her.

25 "Keep your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst. But you say, 'There is no hope;

without number. 33 How gladly you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have taught even the

no, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.' 26 As the thief is disgraced when he is found out, so is the house of Israel disgraced, they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, 27 Saying to a piece of wood, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You have given me birth'; for they have turned their backs on me,

wicked women your ways. 34 Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search,

but on all these. 35 Yet you say, 'Because I am innocent, surely his anger will turn from me.' See, I will bring charges against you

because you say, 'I have not sinned.' 36 Why do you go around so much to change your way? You will also be ashamed of Egypt,

and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they

will say, 'Arise, and save us.' 28 But where are your gods that you

as you were ashamed of Assyria. 37 Yes, you will go away from him with

God's help. Compare Judges 2:10-19. Such is the sad nature of man. People want God to rescue them from danger, but then forget God and do all that God hates after the danger is removed. 2:29 As all other people the people of Israel, instead of confessing their great wickedness, wanted to argue with God (v 35). 2:30 Isa 1:4-9; Lev 26:18-35. God's punishments were sent in love to correct the people. And all God's words here are in the language of pleading love. 2:31 What fault did they find in God that they decided to wander away from Him? 2:32-35 Four of the grievous sins of Israel – forgetting God, spiritual adultery, cruelty to the poor, and self-righteousness. They were utterly corrupted by their sins and yet thought and said they were innocent. Such is the spiritual blindness of men in general (Prov

"Prostitute" – those hills and trees were spots where idols of false gods were placed. Forsaking God to go after them was behaving like a prostitute – Ex 34:15; Lev 17:7; 2 Chron 21:11. 2:21 Ps 80:8-16; Isa 5:1-7; Ezek 17:1-10; Hos 10:1,2; John 15:1-8. 2:22 No effort of sinners to cleanse themselves will be successful. But God can do what man cannot – Ps 51:2; Zech 13:1; Heb 9:14; 1 John 1:9. 2:23-25 Israel denied that she had fallen as God said she had (see Prov 16:2; 30:12). But she passionately ran after other gods like an animal in heat. 2:26 2:8; 1:18. 2:27,28 People of each town turned their backs on the God who made them, and they made their own favorite gods from wood or stone. But in times of trouble they wanted

JEREMIAH 3:1 982

your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust, and you will not prosper by them.

behaved like a prostitute. 7 And after she had done all these things, I said, Return to me. But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 And when, for all the causes backsliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away, and given her a certificate of divorce, I saw that her treacherous sister Judah had no fear, but also went and behaved like a prostitute. 9 And it happened through her thoughtless prostitution, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and wood. 10 And in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, says the LORD."

"They say, 'If a man divorces his wife, and she goes away from him and

becomes another man's, may he return to her again? Would not the land be greatly polluted? But you have been the prostitute with

many lovers; yet return to me again," says the LORD. 2 "Lift up your eyes to the barren high

11 And the LORD said to me, "Backsliding Israel is less unrighteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say:

places and look. Where have you not been ravished? By the roads you sat for them, like an

Arabian in the desert, and you have polluted the land with

"Return, backsliding Israel,

your prostitution and your wickedness. 3 Therefore the showers have been withheld,

says the LORD, and I will not cause my anger to fall on you; for I am merciful, says the LORD, and I will not remain angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have transgressed against the

and there has been no latter rain, for you had a prostitute's forehead,

you refused to be ashamed. 4 Even at this time did you not cry out

to me, 'My father, you are the guide

LORD your God, and have scattered your favours to

of my youth? 5 Will he remain angry forever?

foreigners under every green tree, and have not obeyed my voice,

Will he maintain it to the end?' See, you have said this, and done what

says the LORD.

evil you could."

14 "Return, O backsliding children, says the LORD, for I am married to you. And I will take you, one from a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 And I will give you shepherds after my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and

6 The LORD also said to me in the days of Josiah the king, "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there has

30:12; Luke 18:9-12; Isa 65:5; Rev 3:17). 3:1,2 "Divorces" – 24:1-4. "Polluted" – Lev 18:25-28. "Prostitute" – 2:20. God showed incredible grace and love toward this fallen people. 3:3 God punished them by causing drought in the land, but this did not produce the desired result. 3:4,5 Their prayers were mere empty words. Their hearts were set on evil. They called God "Father" but lived as if Satan were their father. So their prayers went unanswered (Isa 1:15-17; Prov 28:9; Jam 4:3,4). 3:6-9 About 930 BC, long before the days of King Josiah, the people of Israel had divided into two kingdoms (1 Kings chapter 12). From the beginning the northern kingdom (called Israel) went into spiritual adultery and apostasy and refused to repent. Jehovah God "divorced" Israel and sent her into captivity in 721 BC. The history of all this is recorded in the books of Kings and Chronicles. The southern kingdom (Judah) saw all this but did not learn its lesson.

3:10 There was a revival of religion in King Josiah's day, but it evidently did not go very deep into the lives of the people. There was much pretense and hypocrisy. 3:11 Judah had the example of God's dealings with Israel to learn a lesson. It also had more teaching of the truth, God's temple, and better kings on the whole than Israel. So by comparison they were worse than Israel. Greater opportunities to know God's truth means greater responsibilities to practice it. 3:12 "North" – Israel had been taken captive by Assyria which was to the north. Though God had severely punished His people He had not abandoned them forever.

"I am merciful" – Ex 34:6,7. 3:13 If they desire forgiveness they must understand, confess, and forsake their sin (Prov 28:13). 3:14 "I am married to you" – 2:2. "One", "two" – only a small percentage of the people would be able to return to Jerusalem. 3:15 Shepherds after God's heart instead of the kind they had before (compare 2:8).

"Stones and wood" (v 9) – idols made of these.

983 JEREMIAH 4:3

understanding. 16 And it will come about in those days, when you are multiplied and increased in the land, says the LORD, they will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD', nor will it come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they visit it, nor will it be made again. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem 'The Throne of the LORD', and all the nations will be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem; neither will they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers.

See, we come to you, for you are

the LORD our God. 23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the many mountains. Truly in the LORD our God is the

salvation of Israel. 24 For the thing of shame has devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 We lie down in our shame, and our disgrace covers us, for we have sinned against the LORD

our God, we and our fathers, from our youth up to this day,

19 "But I said, How can I put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of nations? and I said, You will call me,

and have not obeyed the voice of

the LORD our God.

"If you will return, O Israel,"

'My father' and will not turn away from me. 20 Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, says the LORD."

says the LORD, "return to me. And if you will put your abominations

out of my sight, then you will not be moved. 2 And you will swear in truth, in justice, in righteousness, 'The LORD lives'; and the nations will bless themselves

21 A voice was heard on the high places, the weeping and pleading of the

children of Israel; for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God.

in him, and in him they will glory."

3 For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

22 "Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings."

"Break up your fallow ground,

3:16-18 Jehovah God speaks here of a time far in the future. A time not yet come, for some of the predictions here remain unfulfilled. 3:16 This is the last mention in the Old Testament of the ark of the covenant (note at Ex 25:10-16).

repentance of Israel. Neither Israel nor Judah spoke such words in Jeremiah's day. Words like these spoken sincerely are the beginning of the healing God promises. 3:24 "Thing of shame" – possibly a reference to the false god Baal, or idol worship in general. Israel would finally see what terrible things that had done to them, and what it had cost them. See Lev 26:1,1435; Deut 27:15; 28:15-68. 3:25 True enlightenment and the work of God in our hearts will bring us also to this sort of confession. And this is the way to peace with God (see psalms 32 and 51). 4:1,2 Here we have the response of the LORD (Jehovah) to the confession of Israel in 3:22-25. The meaning is that words alone are not enough. There must be deep and genuine repentance, strong and resolute action. When they obey His word great blessing will result, not merely to Israel, but to all nations. A principle is here for us all – our obedience to God brings blessing to many others (Gen 12:1-3; 22:15-18; Rom 5:18). 4:3 Hos 10:12; Mark 4:18,19; Heb 6:8. Much of the "ground" of their hearts and lives lay fallow, unused for God's service, producing thorns, briars and weeds which would choke the word of God. It needed breaking up.

"No longer say" – the ark symbolized Christ. When Christ appears there is no further need of that symbol. 3:17 Does this not still await fulfillment? See note at Isa 2:2-4. Certainly Israel to this day follows the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

"All the nations" – Ps 102:15; Isa 2:2,3; Mic 4:1. 3:18 30:3; Isa 11:12; Ezek 37:19-23; Hos 1:11. 3:19,20 As "sons" Israel had been disobedient; as a "wife" she had been unfaithful to God. 3:21 Suggests the beginning of repentance. 3:22 Here is a wonderful promise for backsliders. God promised not merely to receive them but to heal them – Deut 32:19; Ps 41:4; Isa 57:18; Jer 30:17; 33:6; Hos 6:1; 14:1,4. Healing of the sickness of sin is the greatest of all healing. From the middle of this verse to the end of v 25 we have words that express the future confession and

JEREMIAH 4:4 984

and do not sow among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD;

11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, "A dry wind from the high places in the desert blows toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, or to cleanse, 12 a wind too strong for these will come at my command; now also I will pronounce judgment against them."

circumcise your heart, you men of

Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that my fury does not come out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it,

because of your evil deeds. 5 Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, 'Blow the trumpet in the land!' Cry out, gather together, and say, 'Assemble yourselves, and let us go

13 See, he will come up like clouds, and his chariots will be like a whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! for we are plundered. 14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long will your evil thoughts lodge

into the fortified cities'. 6 Set up the signal toward Zion. Take refuge! Do not delay! For I will bring disaster from the north,

within you? 15 For a voice declares from Dan, and proclaims affliction from

and a great destruction. 7 The lion has come out of his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles

Mount Ephraim:

16 "Make mention to the nations, see, proclaim against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and raise their voice against the cities

is on his way. He has come out of his place to make

your land desolate; and your cities will be laid waste,

of Judah. 17 Like keepers of a field, they are against her all around, because she has been rebellious

without an inhabitant." 8 Because of this, tie on sackcloth! Lament and wail! For the fierce anger of the LORD has

against me," says the LORD. 18 "Your way and your deeds have brought these things on you. This is your wickedness. How bitter it is! How it reaches to your heart!."

not turned away from us.

9 "And it will happen in that day", says the LORD, "that the heart of the king will fail, and the heart of the princes; and the priests will be astonished, and the prophets will wonder."

19 My soul, my soul! I am pained to my very heart. My heart makes a noise in me. I cannot keep silent, because you have

10 Then said I, "Ah, Lord God! Surely you have caused this people and Jerusalem to go utterly astray, saying, 'You will have peace', while the sword reaches for the heart."

heard, O my soul, the sound of

the trumpet, the alarm of war.

4:4 Lev 26:41; Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 6:10; 9:25,26; Ezek 44:7,9; Acts 7:51. People cannot, of course, literally circumcise their hearts to make them new and obedient. The meaning is that Judah should turn their hearts to God who could make them new. Circumcision was a symbol of faith and obedience to God's covenant (see Gen 17:10).

who led them astray by promising peace, but false prophets speaking in God's name. See 6:14; 14:13,14; 23:16,17. 4:11,12 God's coming wind of judgment would be only for the purpose of destruction, not for correcting or refining the people. 4:13-17 The Babylonians (Hab 1:5-8). 4:14 This was the only hope for the people of Jerusalem to escape disaster (compare Isa 1:16; Jam 4:8). They could cleanse their hearts by coming to Him who alone can do so, and by obeying His word (John 15:3; Ps 119:9). Otherwise, "evil thoughts" would control them. 4:19 "Soul" – literally, "bowels". 4:19-26 8:21; Lam 2:11. In a vision Jeremiah sees the Babylonian destruction of Israel as though it had actually happened (see note at Isa 55:10,11). And he expresses his terrible grief. Can we not say he expresses God's grief as well? (See 48:36-39; Gen 6:6,7; 2 Sam 24:16; Luke

"Fury" – 21:12; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Heb 12:29. Notes at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11. 4:5-8 "From the north" – note at 1:13-16. The lion was a symbol of Babylon (Dan 7:4). Concerning Babylon's destructive power see Habakkuk 1:5-11. Observe what God says – "I will bring disaster." The cause of the destruction to come on Judah was "the fierce anger of the LORD" (vs 4,8). 4:9 Rulers, priests and prophets will get what they deserved (2:8). 4:10 How boldly Jeremiah accused God of leading the people astray (the Hebrew word also means "to deceive")! But it was not God

985 JEREMIAH 5:3

They will go into thickets,

20 Destruction on destruction is announced, for the whole land is ruined. Suddenly my tents are ruined,

and climb up on the rocks. Every city will be forsaken, and not

and my curtains in an instant. 21 How long will I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? 22 "For my people are foolish; they have not known me; they are senseless children, and they have no understanding. They are clever in doing evil, but to do good they have no knowledge."

a man will live in them. 30 And when you are ruined, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with crimson, though you deck yourself with gold ornaments, though you enlarge your eyes with paint, you will make yourself beautiful in vain; your lovers will despise you,

they will seek your life. 31 For I have heard a voice like a woman in labour pains, and like the anguish of one who gives

23 I looked at the earth, and saw that it was formless and empty, and the heavens, and they had no light. 24 I looked at the mountains, and saw that they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth. 25 I looked, and saw that there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. 26 I looked, and saw that the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at

birth to her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion,

crying out for herself, spreading

her hands and saying, 'Ah, now woe to me! For my soul is worn out

because of murderers.'

"Run to and fro through the streets

of Jerusalem, and look now and understand, and seek in its wide squares; if you can find a man, if there is

the presence of the LORD,

and by his fierce anger.

27 For thus says the LORD, "The whole land will be desolate; yet I will not make a full end. 28 For this the earth will mourn, and the heavens above be black, because I have spoken it,

anyone who acts with justice and seeks the truth, I will pardon it. 2 For though they say, 'As the LORD lives,'

they certainly swear falsely."

3 O LORD, are not your eyes on the truth?

I have purposed it,

You have struck them, but they have

and will not repent, nor will I turn back from it.

not grieved; you have consumed them, but they

29 "The whole city will flee from the noise of the horsemen and archers.

have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder

19:41-44). God does not punish His people gladly. He is afflicted when they are afflicted (Isa 63:9). In this passage Jeremiah's heart and God's heart are united in suffering. 4:22 God speaks here (5:21; 10:8). The Hebrew word translated "foolish" means lacking moral sense. See Ps 14:1 and Prov 1:7.

4:30 The nation of Judah may behave like Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30), but will not escape any more than she did.

"Your lovers" – Judah sought the help of foreign countries and lusted after their gods. 4:31 6:24; 13:21; 22:23; 30:6; Mic 4:10; 1 Thess 5:3. 5:1 In chapter 4 God speaks of the fearful punishment to come on Judah. In this chapter He continues to set forth the reasons why He must send such punishments. The first reason He gives is that there is no honesty, no love of truth whatever in the whole of Jerusalem. Such corrupt conditions whether in Jerusalem or anywhere cry out for God's punishment. 5:2 4:2; Lev 19:12. 5:3-6 Jeremiah, from his experience with both the people and their leaders, is compelled to agree with God's judgment. 5:3 2:30; Lev 26:23. Their faces reflected the state of their hearts (Ezek 36:26; Zech 7:12).

"Have not known me" – Isa 1:3; Hos 4:1. When those who are called God's people do not know God, they are ignorant of the one thing above all they should know and are headed for terrible trouble. Such people will not know how to do good but will develop great skill in doing evil. This is the story of mankind. This is what the human heart is like without God (17:9; Gen 8:21; Rom 1:18-23; Eph 4:17-19). 4:23 Jeremiah's vision seems to go beyond the destruction of Israel by the Babylonians. 4:27-29 God would not change His mind unless His people repented, and He knew they would not. Nothing else could avert the coming disaster.

JEREMIAH 5:4 986

said: 'He is saying nothing. No disaster will come on us, and we will not see sword or famine. 13 And the prophets are but wind, and the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them.'"

than a rock; they have refused to return. 4 Therefore I said,

"These are only the poor. They are foolish, for they do not know

the way of the LORD, or the justice of their God. 5 I will go to the great men, and will

14 Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts:

"Because you have spoken this word,

speak to them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the justice of their God." But they had completely broken the

see, I will make my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood,

and it will consume them. 15 See, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,"

yoke and torn off the bonds. 6 Therefore a lion out of the forest will

says the LORD. "It is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, and whose speech you do not understand. 16 Their quiver is like an open grave; they are all mighty men. 17 And they will eat up your harvest, and your bread, which your sons and your daughters

slay them, and a wolf from the

desert will ruin them, a leopard will watch over their cities. Everyone who goes out will be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings have increased.

7 "How will I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken me,

and sworn by gods who are not gods. When I fed them to the full, then they

should eat. They will eat up your flocks and your herds. They will eat up your vines and your fig trees. With the sword they will destroy your

committed adultery, and trooped to

the houses of the prostitutes. 8 They were like well-fed lusty stallions; each one neighed after his neighbour's wife. 9 Will I not give punishment for these things ? says the LORD. And will I not avenge myself on such

fortified cities in which you trust.

18 "Nevertheless, in those days," says the LORD, "I will not make a complete end of you. 19 And it will come about that when you say, 'Why does the LORD our God do all these things to us?' then you will answer them, 'Just as you have forsaken me, and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.'

a nation as this?

10 "Go up on her walls, and destroy. But do not make a full end. Take away her branches, for they are

not the LORD's. 11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously

20 "Declare this to the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, 21 Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes,

against me," says the LORD. 12 "They have lied about the LORD and

5:5 2:8,20. 5:6 Lev 26:22. Here these animals may signify hostile invading nations. 5:7,8 Again God speaks. "How will I pardon you?" – the people did not give God any reason at all for forgiving them. There was not the slightest stirring of repentance.

5:12,13 They lied by denying God's predictions in their own scriptures (Lev 26:1439; Deut 28:15-68) and God's warnings through the prophets. To them Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc were windbags! They foolishly imagined that denying the truth of God's Word would do away with that Word. 5:14 Ex 24:17; Deut 4:24; 9:3; Heb 12:29. 5:15 "Ancient nation" – by then Babylon had already existed for many hundreds of years (Gen 10:10). 5:18 Mercy and faithfulness in the midst of anger – 4:27; 5:10; Lev 26:44,45. 5:19 Their asking this question reveals their spiritual blindness and ignorance of God's Word. 5:20-31 In this part the Lord fully answers the question of v 19. 5:21 If they had not been so senseless they would have known the answer (Deut 29:4;

"Gods who are not gods" – 2:11; 16:20; Gal 4:8.

"Adultery" – their adultery in spiritual matters resulted in physical adultery and the trampling underfoot of God's laws. When men depart from God they are capable of any evil act. 5:9 5:29; 9:9. Could anyone find any reason at all why God should not punish them? 5:10 Signifies permission to Israel's enemies to partially destroy her.

987 JEREMIAH 6:8

"Will I not avenge myself on such a

but do not see, who have ears, but do not hear: 22 Do you not fear me? says the LORD. Will you not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand as a

nation as this?

30 "A shocking and horrible thing is happening in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority, and my people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?

boundary of the sea by a permanent

decree, so that it cannot cross it? And though its waves toss themselves,

yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot cross

"O children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the

over it.

midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a signal-fire in Beth-Hakkerem; for disaster appears out of the north,

23 "But this people have a stubborn and rebellious heart. They have revolted and gone. 24 Nor do they say in their heart, 'Let us now fear the LORD our God who

and great destruction. 2 I have compared the daughter of Zion to a beautiful and delicate woman. 3 The shepherds with their flocks will come to her; they will pitch their tents against her

gives rain, both the former and

the latter, in its season, who reserves for us the appointed

all around; each of them will pasture in his place."

weeks of the harvest.' 25 Your evil deed s have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things

4 "Prepare war against her! Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! for the day passes away,

from you. 26 For among my people are found wicked men. They lie in wait like one who sets snares; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great

for the shadows of the evening are

lengthened. 5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces." 6 For thus the LORD of hosts has said: "Cut down trees, and throw up a siege

and grown rich. 28 They have grown fat; they are sleek. Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked. They do not plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless; yet they

mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished; she is full of oppression to the center. 7 As a fountain pours out its waters, so she pours out her wickedness. Violence and plundering are heard in her. Grief and wounds are continually before me. 8 Be instructed, O Jerusalem, Isa 6:9; 42:20; Ezek 12:2; Matt 13:15). 5:22 People fear all sorts of things but refuse to fear God who holds their life and eternal fate in His hands. This is evidence of a kind of madness in the hearts of people, the madness Solomon spoke about in Eccl 9:3. Notes on the fear of God at Gen 20:11; Job 28:28; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; 130:3,4. 5:23 Everything in the universe follows the laws God has appointed except human beings, Satan and demons. 5:25 Ps 84:11. God cannot justly bless people as He would like to do if they refuse His voice and trample underfoot His laws (Ps 78:41). 5:26 9:8; Ps 10:8; Mic 7:2. 5:27 "Deceit" – they became rich by deceiving others. 5:28 "Fatherless", "the needy" – Ex 22:21-24; Ps 82:3; Isa 1:23.

prosper; and they do not cause the

needy to get justice. 29 Will I not punish them for these things ?" says the LORD.

5:29 Verse 9. 5:30,31 6:13; 2:8. When God Himself says something is horrible and fearful we may be quite sure it is. Prophets telling lies in God's name and priests ruling arrogantly is bad enough, but it is even worse when God's people love to have it so. To be satisfied with lies brings any people into terrible danger (2 Thess 2:10). 6:1 "North" – though Babylon lay to the east of Judah, invasion routes were not from the east across the desert, but the easier route from the north. 6:3 "Shepherds" – rulers with their armies. 6:4,5 This is the voice of the enemy invaders. 6:6 Signifies God's permission to the enemy to attack Jerusalem. 6:7 Outwardly Jerusalem may be "beautiful" and "delicate" (v 2), but in God's eyes she was filthy and sick to the point of death. 6:8 Ignoring repeated warnings from God

JEREMIAH 6:9 988

so that I do not depart from you, so that I do not make you desolate,

committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed,

a land not inhabited." 9 Thus says the LORD of hosts:

nor could they blush. Therefore they will fall among those who fall. At the time that I punish them they

"They will thoroughly glean the remnant

will be thrown down," says the LORD.

of Israel like a vine. Put your hand back into the branches

16 Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the roads and see,

like a grape gatherer."

and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and 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 for 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! See, I will bring disaster on this people,

10 To whom will I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? See, their ear is not circumcised, and

they cannot listen. See, the word of the LORD is an object

of scorn 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. "Pour it out on the children outside, and on the young men gathered together; for even the husband will be taken with

the fruit of their plans, because they have not listened to my

the wife, the aged with him who is full of days. 12 And their houses will be turned over to others, together with their

words, or to my law, but rejected it. 20 To what purpose does incense come to me from Sheba, and sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,

fields and wives; for I will stretch out my hand on the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD. 13 "For from the least of them to the greatest of them everyone is

nor your sacrifices sweet to me."

21 Therefore thus says the LORD, "See, I will lay stumbling blocks

greedy for gain; and from the prophet to the priest

before this people, and the fathers and the sons will fall

everyone deals falsely. 14 They lightly heal the hurt of the daughter of my people, saying, 'Peace, peace', when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had

on them together. The neighbour and his friend will perish."

22 Thus says the LORD, "See, a people is coming from the north

will bring disaster (19:15; 36:31; Prov 29:1). 6:9 That is, few of the people would be left. 6:10 Jeremiah speaks and reveals the sadness of his heart (and of the hearts of all of Christ's true spokesmen when people will not obey the word of God).

6:15 Their conduct is extremely abominable because they keep people in ignorance and make them ripe for God's judgment. 6:16 "Old paths" – 18:15; Deut 32:17. The true worship of God the Creator set forth in the Bible is the most ancient of all ways. It goes clear back to Adam and Eve the first man and woman and the ancestors of us all. It is the "good" way, the way of rest (Matt 11:29), the way without idols, the way of faith and holiness. 6:17-19 What could God have done to save His people when they repeatedly refused to listen to Him? There remained only just judgment. 6:20 In spite of their wicked rebellion against God the people kept up some form of religion. But God will not accept such. See 1 Sam 15:22,23; Ps 50:7-23; Isa 1:10-17; Ps 51:17; Mic 6:8. Worship without obedience to His Word, and religion added on to a sinful life are detestable to God. 6:22 1:15; 4:6; 6:1.

"Their ear is uncircumcised" – that is, they did not listen to God as those in covenant relationship with God should have done. 6:11 15:17; 20:9. In the first part of the verse Jeremiah still speaks. He is experiencing God's anger against the people and he is filled with an overflowing zeal for God's name. Then God tells him not to try to hold it in but to speak it out and so pave the way for God's judgments to follow (v 12). 6:13 2:8; 5:27,31. 6:14 Isa 30:10; 48:22; 57:20,21. Many so-called preachers in order to fill their pockets will tell the people what they want to hear.

989 JEREMIAH 7:12

30 People will call them rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.

country, and a great nation is being raised up

from the ends of the earth. 23 They will take hold of bow and spear; they are cruel and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea,

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word and say: 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. 3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in lying words, and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!" 5 For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly make justice prevail between a man and his neighbour, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and do not walk after other gods to your harm, 7 then I will cause you to live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.

and they ride on horses, as men of war set in array against you,

O daughter of Zion."

24 We have heard of its fame. Our hands have become feeble. Anguish and pain have seized us,

like a woman in labour. 25 Do not go out into the field, or walk by the road; for the sword of the enemy and fear

are on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, tie sackcloth on yourselves, and roll in ashes. Mourn in most bitter lamentation,

as for an only son, for the despoiler will suddenly come on us.

8 '"See, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, 10 and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, "We are delivered" to do all these abominations? 11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? See, I have been watching, says the LORD.

27 "I have appointed you as a tower and a fortress among my people, so that you may know and test their way. 28 They are all stubborn rebels, going about with slanders. They are brass and iron. They are all corrupters. 29 The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed by the fire; the smelter refines in vain, because the wicked are not purged out."

12 "'But now go to my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.

of all idols and all gods other than the one true and living God will bring great harm to anyone who engages in it. It stirs up the anger of God who has forbidden it (Ex 20:16). It helps to keep those who do it in bondage. It contributes to spiritual blindness (as long as men think God is like their idols they will never understand what God is really like). And at last it brings great punishment from God (Rev 21:8). 7:7 Gen 17:8; Josh 1:6. 7:8 This is true of the great bulk of mankind in every age and every place. Men in general prefer deceptive words that will let them do as they please. See John 3:19,20; 2 Thess 2:10-12. 7:9,10 "Baal" – note at Jud 2:11. In v 9 we see that the people willfully and continually broke five of the ten commandments (Ex 20:1-17), and yet thought God didn't care and would keep them safe from their enemies. 7:11 See Matt 21:13. To them God's temple was like a cave to hide in. Did they think that God was blind?! (16:17; 23:24; 29:23; Ps 33:13-15; Prov 5:21; Heb 4:13). 7:12-15 Shiloh was the place where the

6:23 4:13; 8:16; Hab 1:6-11. 6:24 4:31. Words of Judah facing the Babylonians. 6:26 4:8; 25:34; Ezek 27:30; Job 2:8. 6:27-30 Here God speaks to Jeremiah. The word of God which Jeremiah spoke was that which tested the people. That word was like a fire – 5:14; 20:9; 23:29. Unfortunately, in this refining process, no true gold, no true silver appeared. The wicked would not repent, the hardened rebels would not melt. The Lord rejected them as something worthless. 7:2 Observe that the people still came to "worship" the Lord, though they would not obey Him and lived in wickedness. See 6:20. 7:3-8 Another appeal to the people to repent. See how reluctant God is to punish. 7:4 The deceptive words were spoken by false prophets and backslidden priests (5:31). They told the people that as long as they continued their forms of worship all would be well, that God was not angry, that He would not punish them. 7:5,6 5:28. How important these matters are to God! "To your harm" – v 19; 25:7; Ps 16:4. According to the Bible the worship

JEREMIAH 7:13 990

13 And now, because you have done all these deeds, says the LORD, and because I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you would not listen; and I called you, but you would not answer; 14 therefore I will do to this house, which is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. 15 And I will hurl you out of my sight, as I have hurled out all your brethren, all the offspring of Ephraim.'

your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them or give commands to them concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices, 23 but this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you will be my people; and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, so that it may be well with you.' 24 But they did not listen or turn their ear to me, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 From the day that your fathers came up out of the land of Egypt to this day I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they did not listen to me, or turn their ear to me, but hardened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.

16 "Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, or make intercession to me; for I will not hear you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough to make cakes for the 'queen of heaven,' and to pour out drink offerings to other gods, provoking me to anger. 19 Do they provoke me to anger? says the LORD. Do they not provoke themselves to the shame of their own faces?

27 "Therefore you shall speak all these words to them. But they will not listen to you. You shall also call to them. But they will not answer you. 28 But you shall say to them, 'This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the LORD their God, or receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth. 29 Cut off your hair, O Jerusalem, and throw it away, and take up a lamentation on the barren heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.'

20 "Therefore thus says the Lord God: See, my anger and my fury will be poured out on this place, on man and on beast and on the trees of the field, and on the fruit of the ground. And it will burn, and will not be quenched."

30 "For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, says the LORD. They have set their abominations in the house which is called by my

21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat meat. 22 For in the day that I brought

tabernacle was set up in the land of Canaan (Josh 18:1). It was the place where people went to worship (1 Sam 1:3). It was about 30 kilometers north of Jerusalem in the area of Ephraim. From there the ark of God's covenant was taken by the Philistines. Never again was it placed there (1 Sam 4:17; Ps 78:59-61). Shiloh fell into ruins, and Ephraim and the whole northern kingdom went into captivity (2 Kings 17:1-6). God here says that Judah and Jerusalem should learn their lesson from Shiloh. 7:14 Notice here that the people were not trusting in God but in the temple. 7:16 God speaks to Jeremiah. People can go so far in sin and rebellion that God will no longer even hear prayer for them (15:1; 1 John 5:16). 7:17-19 "Queen of heaven" – 44:17-19. This was a goddess worshiped in many countries in that time under different names. The people of Tyre and Sidon called her Ashtoreth, the Babylonians called her Ishtar, the Greeks named her Astarte. She was the goddess of both fertility and war, their so-called "mother" goddess. 7:20 Verse 29. Notes on God's anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11. 7:21 Burnt offerings were not to be eaten (Lev 1:9). Here God is saying the ones the people were offering were not acceptable to him so the people should eat them.

7:22,23 God first emphasized obedience to Himself and gave the ten commandments (Ex 19:5; 20:1-7). Later God gave commands about sacrifice (Leviticus chapters 1 through 7). 7:24 Since they did not obey God their sacrifices were worthless.

"Evil heart" – 3:17; 9:14; 11:8; 13:10; 16:12; 18:12. In the writings of Jeremiah there is much about the human heart. It is exposed in all its stubbornness, foolishness and wickedness. A key verse for the whole book is 17:9. But not only is the evil heart of man exposed, God's way of dealing with it is also revealed – see 24:7; 31:33. 7:25,26 Some people followed their evil hearts because they knew no better way. Israel and Judah did know the true way, so their sin was worse than that of any other people. Sin without the truth is bad; sin against truth is far worse. 7:27 God knew there had been no change in the people. 7:28,29 Cutting off the hair in the Bible was a sign of grief and mourning (Job 1:20; Micah 1:16). See Lev 21:5. 7:30 4:1; 32:34. How more fully could they have shown their contempt for God and His laws? "Their abominations" – their detestable idols. Though the word "idols" is not in the original, the Hebrew word which means something abominable, a detested

991 JEREMIAH 8:12

name, defiling it. 31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire. I did not command this, and it did not come into my heart. 32 Therefore, see, the days are coming, says the LORD, that it will no longer be called Tophet, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Tophet until there is no room left. 33 And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky and for the beasts of the earth; and no one will frighten them away. 34 Then I will put a stop to the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem; for the land will be desolate.

5 Why then has this people of Jerusalem

slidden back in a perpetual backsliding? They hold firmly to deceit;

they refuse to return. 6 I listened and heard,

but they did not speak rightly. No man repented of his wickedness,

saying, "What have I done?" Everyone turned to his own course, like a horse rushing into the battle. 7 Yes, the stork in the sky knows its

appointed times, and the turtledove

and the crane and the swallow

observe the time of their coming. But my people do not know the

judgment of the LORD.

8 "'How do you say, "We are wise,

"At that time," says the LORD, "they will bring the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of its princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves, 2 and they will spread them out before the sun and the moon and all the starry host of heaven, which they have loved, and which they have served, and which they have followed, and which they have sought, and which they have worshipped. They will not be gathered, or buried. They will be like refuse on the surface of the earth. 3 And death will be chosen rather than life by the remnant, all those who remain of this evil family, who remain in all the places where I have driven them, says the LORD of hosts. 4 "Moreover you shall say to them,

and the law of the LORD is with us?" See, the lying pen of the scribes has

made it into a lie. 9 The wise men are put to shame,

they are dismayed and caught. See, they have rejected the word of

the LORD, so what wisdom is in them? 10 Therefore I will give their wives to others, and their fields to those who will

inherit them, for everyone from the least to the

greatest is greedy for gain, from the prophet to the priest everyone

deals falsely. 11 For they have lightly healed the hurt of the daughter of my people, saying, "Peace, peace", when there is no peace. 12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?

'Thus says the LORD: Will they fall and not rise? Will he turn away, and not return?

thing, here implies idols, as it does also in 4:1; 32:34; Deut 29:17; etc. 7:31 "Tophet" – 19:6,11-14. The Ammonites sometimes offered their children in the fire to their god Molech (Lev 18:21; 20:1-5; 1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 16:2,3; 21:1,6). The people of Judah and Jerusalem adopted this abominable practice and built a place for it just outside the walls of Jerusalem. "Valley of Hinnom" in Hebrew is ge-hinnom. It became Geenna in Greek (Gehenna in English) and was used in the New Testament to indicate hell with its eternal fire (Matt 18:9; Mark 9:47,48). 7:32-34 19:6. Speaks of the slaughter of the people when the Babylonians invade the country. 8:1 The contempt which they deserve will be shown even to their bones. 8:2 They committed the senseless and terrible sin of worshiping and serving creation rather than the Creator (2 Kings 23:5; Jer 19:13; Acts 7:42; Rom 1:25). 8:3 Compare Rev 9:6.

8:4 Prov 24:16; Mic 7:8; Jer 31:19. 8:5 "Deceit" – they refused to abandon the thing that was destroying them. This is common among the people of the world. 8:6 Isa 53:6; 56:11; 57:17; 7:13. 8:7 4:22; Deut 32:28; Isa 1:2,3; 5:13; 27:11. Their ignorance was willful and therefore blameworthy. God holds us responsible for not knowing the truth if we could know it and will not bother to do so. 8:8 Their religious teachers misinterpreted the law of God to the people. Compare Matt 15:3-9. Many Jewish commentators on the law, instead of making it clear, twisted and perverted its meaning. 8:9 There is no true wisdom in those who disobey God's Word. This includes educators, scientists, philosophers, writers and anyone else who ignores the Bible. Men can have much knowledge of various things without having wisdom. Notes on wisdom at Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7; 1 Cor 1:20,21; 2:6,7; Col 2:3. 8:10-12 6:12-15.

JEREMIAH 8:13 992

No, they were not at all ashamed,

those who dwell in a far country: "Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her king not in her?"

and they could not blush. Therefore they will fall among those who fall. In the time of their punishment they

"Why have they provoked me to anger

will be thrown down, says the LORD. 13 I will surely consume them, says the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine,

with their carved images, and with foreign idols?"

20 The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.

no figs on the fig tree,

and the leaf will fade; and the things that I have given them

will pass away from them.'"

21 Because of the wound of the daughter of my people I am wounded; I mourn; horror has seized me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter

14 Why do we sit still? Come together, and let us enter the

fortified cities, and let us be silent there; for the LORD our God has put us to silence,

of my people not recovered?

and given us bitter water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. 15 We looked for peace, but no goodcame, and for a time of health,

Oh, that my head were waters,

and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the

and see trouble! 16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan. The whole land trembled at the sound

slain of the daughter of my people! 2 Oh, that I had in the wilderness a

lodging place for travellers, so that I might leave my people,

of the neighing of his strong ones; for they have come and devoured the land,

and go away from them! For they are all adulterers,

and all that is in it, the city, and those who dwell in it.

an assemblage of treacherous men.

3 "And like their bow they bend their

17 "For, see, I will send serpents among you, vipers which will not be charmed, and they will bite you," says the LORD.

tongues for lies; but they are not valiant for truth on the earth, for they proceed from evil to evil,

and they do not know me,"

18 When I would comfort myself in sorrow, my heart is faint in me. 19 Mark the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of

says the Lord. 4 "Each one should be careful about his

neighbour,

8:13 What God gives He can justly take away. The meaning of the Hebrew for the last sentence of this verse is unclear. 8:14-16 Looks forward to the invasion of the land by the Babylonians. Jeremiah speaks for the people. 8:14 Even if the people did not yet know the reason for their punishment Jeremiah did. 8:17 The Lord says He will do again what He had once done in their history (Num 21:6. See Deut 32:24). 8:18 Jeremiah cries to the Lord when he thinks of the coming destruction. 8:19 In the first part of the verse Jeremiah speaks of the people of Judah as though they were already in exile in Babylon. In the second part the Lord speaks and again gives one of the reasons why He punished His people. Notes on God's anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11; etc. 8:20 The people in exile speak of their despair. 8:21,22 4:19,20; Lam 2:11. He speaks again and reveals the agony of his heart

for his nation. He completely identified with the people even though they rejected and persecuted him and tried to kill him. Compare Luke 19:41-44; Rom 9:1-3; Ex 32:32; Dan 9:5; etc. "Mourn" – or "am ashen." 9:1 Verse 10; 8:21; 13:17; 14:17; Ps 119:136. For good reason Jeremiah is called "the weeping prophet". 9:2 He wept for them, but their behavior was so ungodly that he could no longer bear to be around them. 9:3 "Bow" – v 8; Ps 7:13; 58:7; 64:3. "Do not know me" – v 6; Jud 2:10; 1 Sam 2:12; Isa 1:3; Hos 4:1; John 16:3. They knew about Jehovah, they called themselves His people, but they did not know Him personally. There are many Christians today in the same sad condition. They have heard many things about Christ, they know something of the Bible, but they have not met Christ in their experience, they do not know Him as one person knows another. And they show they do not know Him by the way they behave. 9:4 Ps 12:2; Micah 7:5,6; Matt 10:35,36.

993 JEREMIAH 9:20

and not trust in any brother; for every brother acts deceitfully, and every neighbour goes around as

desolate, without an inhabitant."

12 Who is the wise man who can understand this? And who is the one to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken, so that he might declare it? Why does the land perish, burned like a desert, so that no one passes through?

a slanderer. 5 And each one of them deceives his neighbour,

and does not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies, and wear themselves out doing evil. 6 Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit.

13 And the LORD says, "Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them and have not obeyed my voice, or walked in the law, 14 but have walked according to the imagination of their own heart, and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them, 15 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: See, I will feed them, this people, with bitterness, and give them bitter water to drink. 16 I will also scatter them among the nations whom neither they nor their fathers have known; and I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them."

Through deceit they refuse to know me,

says the LORD."

7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts,

"See, I will refine them, and test them; for what will I do for the daughter of

my people? 8 Their tongue is like a deadly arrow

shot out ; it speaks deceit. One speaks peaceably to his neighbour

with his mouth, but in his heart he lies in wait. 9 Will I not punish them for these things ?

17 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider, and call for the mourning women,

that they may come. And send for skillful women, that they

says the LORD. Will I not avenge myself on such a

may come. 18 And let them hurry and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears,

nation as this?" 10 I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains and a lamentation for the dwelling

and our eyelids pour out water. 19 For a sound of wailing is heard from Zion, 'How we are ruined! We are greatly disgraced, because we

places in the wilderness, because they are burned up, so that no one can pass through them ; and people cannot hear the sound of cattle. Both the birds of the heavens and the

have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.'"

beasts have fled; they are gone.

20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O women, and let your ears receive the word of

11 "And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den for jackals, and I will make the cities of Judah

his mouth,

When everyone tells lies, when deceit is rampant, suspicion displaces trust, bonds between friends and relatives strain to the breaking point, God's anger is upon all, and the man of truth suffers. 9:7 6:27-30. "I will refine" – God did this by sending the Babylonians to bring punishment, affliction, and destruction on the people. 9:8 Verse 3; 5:26; Ps 55:21; Prov 29:5. 9:9 5:9,29. 9:10 Verse 1; 4:23-26. Jeremiah speaks as though he was already in that future time of destruction. 9:11 10:22; 26:18; Ps 44:19; Lam 5:18. "Jackals" – there is much question about the meaning of the Hebrew word translated "jackals". The KJV has "dragons" here, a very unlikely translation. It was formerly thought that the word meant "sea monster" or "serpent" or even "crocodile", but many present-day scholars think it probably means "jackals" or, possibly, "wolves." 9:12 Again Jehovah speaks. Why should

God destroy His own land and people? Who can understand it? 9:13-16 The answer to the question in v 12 is very clear. God had to send judgments on His people because of their sins. To allow them to escape would be to pervert justice. 9:14 "Baals" – note at Jud 2:11. 9:16 13:24; 18:17; 30:11; 46:28; Lev 26:27,33; Deut 28:64. 9:17-19 In that time there were mourners for hire for sad occasions such as funerals. God is saying here that there is going to be plenty to wail about. In the Bible God often tells people to wail, to cry out, or to weep – 4:8; 25:34; 48:20; 49:3; Isa 14:31; 16:7; 23:1,6,14; Zeph 1:11; Zech 11:2; Jam 4:9; 5:1.

He tells others to rejoice – Ps 33:1; 97:12; Zech 2:10; 9:9; Matt 5:12; Luke 6:23; Phil 4:4; 1 Thess 5:16; Jam 1:9; 1 Pet 4:13; Rev 12:12; 18:20. We should note who should wail, who should rejoice and the reasons for both wailing and rejoicing. 9:20-22 Jeremiah says there will be such

JEREMIAH 9:21 994

and teach wailing to your daughters, and each one teach lamentation to her

Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 Thus says the LORD:

neighbour. 21 For death has come up into our windows, and has entered our palaces, to cut off the children from the streets, and the young men from the squares.

"Do not learn the way of the nations,

and do not be dismayed at the signs

in the heavens, though the nations are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are

22 Say, "Thus says the LORD: Even the corpses of men will fall like

worthless; for one cuts a tree from the forest with

refuse on the open field, and like cut stalks after the harvester,

an axe, the work of the hands of a craftsman. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold;

and no one will gather them. "

23 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands, and knows me, that I am the LORD who acts with

they fasten it with nails and with hammers,

so that it does not totter. 5 They are upright like the palm tree,

but do not speak. They must be carried, because they

cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they

loving kindness, justice,

cannot do evil, and it is not in them to do good."

and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight,

6 For there is no one like you, O LORD.

says the LORD. 25 See, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will punish all those who are

You are great, and your name is great

in power. 7 Who would not fear you,

O King of nations? For this is your due. For among all the wise men of the

circumcised with the uncircumcised, 26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners,

nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. 8 But they are altogether senseless and foolish;

who live in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised,

their worthless teaching is about wooden idols. 9 Silver hammered into plates is brought

and all the house of Israel are

uncircumcised in heart."

cause for wailing that all should learn how best to do it. Death like an enemy soldier will get in through the windows of their homes and palaces, and pass through all their streets. There will be much opportunity for mourning but not for burying the dead. 9:23,24 What do men in general boast about? Some about how clever they are. Others about their caste or color or religion or skill or looks or strength. What should God's people boast about? None of the above or anything that relates merely to self, but in the knowledge of God. This is the most important matter there can be in a person's life. For causes of boasting see Ps 34:2; 44:8; Rom 5:3; 15:17; 2 Cor 10:17; 12:9; Gal 6:14. See in v 24 the things about Himself that God emphasizes – compare Ps 11:7; 33:5; 89:14; 99:4; 103:6,8; 106:1; 145:9; Ex 34:6,7. 9:25,26 In His anger against sin, in His judgments on sinners God will make no distinction between peoples. Their religion, their rites and ceremonies cannot help them. True religion must be of the heart – 4:4; Rom 2:12,25-29; John 4:24.

10:2 "The way of the nations" – a way without the true God, the way of many religions, many gods, and many superstitions.

"Signs in the heavens" – the nations made much of the movements of planets, stars, comets, meteors, etc, and all the superstitions of astrology. God shows in His word the vanity and worthlessness of all that (Isa 47:13-15; Dan 2:1-11; 4:18). 10:3-5 Notes at Ps 115:3-7; 135:15-17; Isa 44:9. 10:6-10 Jeremiah speaks as all the writers of the Bible do on the subject of God and idols. 10:6 Ex 8:10; Ps 86:8; Isa 43:10,11; 44:6,7. 10:7 "King" – Ps 47:8,9; 96:10. Jehovah is no mere tribal deity (Ps 22:28; 47:1-9; 95:3). 10:8 Ps 115:8; 135:18; Isa 44:18-20; Rom 1:21-23.

"Altogether" – the Bible teaches that no one who worships an idol has any spiritual understanding, no matter how brilliant he may be in other matters. 10:9-16 This is the difference between God and gods. The gods are made by men. God made the heavens and the earth. The gods are useless. God is the eternal King of the

995 JEREMIAH 10:25

from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the craftsman, and of the

17 Gather up your goods to go out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress. 18 For thus says the LORD, "See, at this time I will throw out the

hands of the goldsmith. Their clothing is of blue and purple; they are all the work of skillful men. 10 But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God,

inhabitants of the land, and will distress them, that they may

find this true." 19 Woe is me for my injury! My wound is grievous. But I said, "Truly this is a grief, and I

and everlasting king. At his wrath the earth trembles,

and the nations cannot stand

must bear it." 20 My tent is ruined, and all my ropes are broken. My children have gone away from me,

before his indignation.

11 "Thus shall you say to them: The gods that have not made the

and are no more. There is no longer anyone to stretch out my tent, and to set up my curtains. 21 For the shepherds have become senseless, and have not sought the LORD; therefore they will not prosper, and all their flocks will be scattered. 22 See, the sound of the report has come, and a great commotion out of the

heavens and the earth will perish

from the earth, and from under these heavens."

12 He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens by

his understanding. 13 When he utters his voice, there is a roar of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapours to ascend

north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate

from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning flashes with rain,

and a den of jackals.

23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. 24 O LORD, correct me, but with justice; not in your anger, or you will bring

and brings the wind out of his treasuries. 14 Every man is senseless and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by

carved images, for his cast metal image is a lie,

me to nothing. 25 Pour out your fury on the nations that do not know you, and on the families that do not call

and there is no breath in them. 15 They are worthless, and the product of error. In the time of their punishment they will perish. 16 The Portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the maker of all things,

on your name, for they have eaten up Jacob,

and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his dwelling place desolate.

and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance. The LORD of hosts is his name.

universe. They are dead and will perish from the world. He is the Immortal One. 10:10 "Wrath" – Ps 18:7; 76:7; Rev 6:16,17. 10:11 This is what Jeremiah was commanded to tell the nations which worshiped idols. This verse is not in Hebrew but Aramaic, a language which was more likely to be understood by some of those nations than Hebrew. 10:12,13 Genesis chapter 1; Ps 104:1-13. 10:14,15 Verse 8. 10:16 Deut 4:20; 7:6; 32:9; Ps.74:2; 146:5. "Portion of Jacob" – the portion of other nations was the false gods of the world, but Jacob had the true God, the Creator of the universe.

had neither wife nor children (16:2). 10:21 22:22; 23:1; 25:34; 50:6. "Shepherds" – leaders of the people (the flock). They brought great trouble on the people because of their senseless behavior (vs 8,14). One way they show their lack of good sense was by refusing to pray to the true and living God. 10:22 1:14; 4:6; 6:22,23; 8:16. 10:23-25 Jeremiah prays that God will deal justly both with himself and ruined Judah and the nations that have destroyed the country. 10:23 Ps 37:23; Prov 3:5,6; 16:9; 20:24. A person cannot determine what is going to happen to him, and he should not try to direct his own life without God. 10:24 Ps 6:1; 38:1; 39:10,11. 10:25 See Ps 79:6,7. Notes on such prayers at Ps 35:8.

"LORD of hosts" – note at 1 Sam 1:3. 10:19,20 Jeremiah laments for the people of Judah and Jerusalem as if the destruction had already come. He himself

JEREMIAH 11:1 996

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 "Listen to the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 3 and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not obey the words of this covenant 4 which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do according to all which I command you; so you will be my people, and I will be your God, 5 so that I may fulfil the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.'"

house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. 11 Therefore thus says the LORD: See, I will bring disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense; but they will not at all save them in the time of their trouble. 13 For the number of your gods is as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem is the number of the altars you have set up to that shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal.

14 "Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen to them when they cry out to me in their trouble.

Then I answered and said, "So be it, O LORD." 6 Then the LORD said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: 'Listen to the words of this covenant, and do them. 7 For I have earnestly warned your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt to this day, rising early and giving warnings, saying, Obey my voice. 8 But they did not obey and did not incline their ear, but each one walked in the imagination of his evil heart. Therefore I will bring on them all the words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, for they did not do them .'"

15 "What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has performed vile acts with many; and can the consecrated flesh avert

disaster from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice. 16 The LORD called your name, 'A green olive tree, beautiful,

and with good fruit'; with the noise of a great tumult he has

set it on fire, and its branches are broken.

9 And the LORD said to me, "A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They have turned back to the evil deeds of their forefathers who refused to hear my words, who went after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the

17 "For the LORD of hosts who planted you, has proclaimed disaster against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves, provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal."

11:2 This covenant was the one God made with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, first described in Exodus chapters 19 to 24. It was the basis of their whole existence as a nation, the most important thing to remind them of. 11:3 "Cursed" – see Deut 11:26-28; 27:1526; 28:15-20; Gal 3:10. 11:4 Ex 19:5,6; Deut 6:3; Jer 7:23. 11:5 Gen 15:18; 17:7,8; Ex 3:8. 11:6-8 They did not do what God told them to do, so He brought on them the punishment for their sins that He said He would bring on them. 11:8 Compare with Ex 19:8; Deut 27:26. 11:9,10 They had agreed together not to follow the reforms brought in by good king Josiah (2 Kings chapter 23). They determined to worship other gods and thus continued to break God's covenant with them. 11:11 Their deliberate choice for evil was bound to bring God's just judgment on them. It was now to late for them to escape it. Their cry for mercy would not be heard (14:12; Ezek 8:18). 11:12 2:28; Deut 32:38; Jud 10:14; 1 Kings 18:25-29; Isa 44:17,18; 57:13. If we chose the wrong source for help in

trouble let us not be surprised if we receive no help. We should all understand that the failure of idols and gods does not mean the failure of the one true God. 11:13 "gods" – 2:28. When the one true God is not enough for people, there may be no limit to the number of gods they choose to worship. Baal is here called the shameful god. Sexual rites and sins were common in connection with his worship. Note at Jud 2:11. 11:14 God speaks to Jeremiah. Compare 7:16; 15:1; 1 John 5:16. 11:15 "Beloved" – the people of Judah, God's chosen people. Though they were terribly fallen, sinful and disobedient He still calls them "my beloved" (see also 3:1,14; 12:7; Song of songs 8:6,7). But see how the beloved behaved! Temple worship by such people could not avert God's judgment. 11:16,17 In the Bible individuals are compared to trees (Ps 1:3; 52:8; 128:3). Here the whole nation is called an olive tree, and God warns them that its branches will be broken. However much this might have been fulfilled by the Babylonian invasion the more complete fulfillment came after the Jews rejected Christ when He was on earth. See Rom 11:7-21.

997 JEREMIAH 12:8

18 And the LORD has given me knowledge of it, and I know it, for you showed me their deeds. 19 But I was like a gentle lamb that is brought to the slaughter; and I did not know that they had devised schemes against me, saying,

yes, they produce fruit. You are near on their lips,

and far from their inner being. 3 But you, O LORD, know me.

You have seen me, and tested my heart

toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 4 How long will the land mourn,

"Let us destroy the tree with its fruit;

and let us cut him off from the

land of the living, that his name may no longer be

and the plants of every field wither

remembered." 20 But, O LORD of hosts, you who judge righteously, you who test the inner being and

because the wickedness of those

who dwell in it? The beasts and the birds are consumed,

because they said, "He does not see the end we reach."

the heart, let me see your vengeance on them; for to you I have committed my cause.

5 The LORD said , "If you have run with

men on foot, and they have worn you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if they wore you out in the land

21 Therefore thus says the LORD: "About the men of Anathoth who seek your life, saying, 'Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, so that you do not die by our hand,' 22 thus says the LORD of hosts, See, I will punish them. The young men will die by the sword; their sons and their daughters will die by famine, 23 and none of them will remain, for I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth, the year of their punishment."

of peace, in which you trusted, then what will you do in the flooding of Jordan? 6 For even your brothers and the

household of your father have dealt

treacherously with you; yes, they have called on many to go

after you. Do not believe them, though they

You are righteous, O LORD, when I plead with you. Yet let me talk with you of your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all those who act very

speak smooth words to you.

7 "I have forsaken my house,

I have left my inheritance, I have given my dearly beloved into

treacherously at ease? 2 You have planted them;

the hand of her enemies. 8 My inheritance is to me like a lion

yes, they have taken root, they grow;

11:18-23 The men of Anathoth, Jeremiah's home town, plotted to kill him. They wanted to stop the preaching of the truth. Death was their reward. 11:19 "Lamb" – Ps 44:22; Rom 8:36. "Remembered" – it is they who are not remembered. 11:20 Ps 7:9,11. "Vengeance" – Jeremiah did not take vengeance himself but left it to God. For notes on such prayers see Ps 35:8; 58:6-8; 69:22-28. 11:23 God has His time for everything He does. 12:1,2 Gen 18:25; Ps 9:8; 67:4; 75:2; 96:13; 98:9; John 17:25. Jeremiah knows God is just in all His actions, but he is troubled about the prosperity of the wicked. He asks the question that has troubled believers through the ages (Job 21:7-15; Ps 73:3-12; Eccl 7:15; Hab 1:13; Mal 3:15). 12:2 "Lips", "inner being" – 3:10; Isa 29:13; Mark 7:6. The religion of hypocrites is in word, not deed. 12:3 Jeremiah knows he is not a hypocrite. "Slaughter" – 11:19,20. They wanted to

slaughter him like a sheep, so he appeals for God's exact justice to be at work toward them. Note at Ps 18:25,26; 35:8. 12:4 "How long?" – Ps 6:3; 13:2; 35:17; 74:10; 89:46; 94:3. "Wither" – suggests a drought. God sent droughts during those days of wickedness in Judah (3:3). 12:5 God does not answer Jeremiah's question, but warns him that even greater difficulties await him in the future. God tells us all we need to know, not necessarily all we want to know. 12:6 It seems from this that at least some of Jeremiah's relatives participated in the plot to kill him (11:18,19). 12:7-13 God speaks of "my" house, "my" inheritance, "my" vineyard, "my" field. He means, of course, His temple, His people, His land. But He will give it all into the hands of destroyers. Notice that God calls Israel "my beloved" in v 7 and yet in v 8 speaks of hating. He loved Israel but her ways were so detestable He could not bear them any longer and turned her over to her enemies

JEREMIAH 12:9 998

in the forest; it roars against me; therefore I have hated it. 9 My inheritance is to me like a speckled bird;

uproot and destroy that nation, says the LORD."

Thus the LORD said to me, "Go and get yourself a linen sash and put it around your waist, but do not put it in water." 2 So I got a sash according to the word of the LORD, and put it around my waist.

the birds all around are against it. Come, assemble all the beasts of the

field, come to devour. 10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trampled my portion underfoot, they have made my pleasant portion

3 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying: 4 "Take the sash that you bought, which is around your waist, and get up and go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole in the rock." 5 So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourns to me. The whole land has been made desolate, because no one takes it to heart. 12 The despoilers have come over all the desolate heights in the wilderness; for the sword of the LORD will devour

6 And after many days it came about that the LORD said to me, "Get up; go to the Euphrates, and take from there the sash which I commanded you to hide there." 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the sash from the place where I had hidden it, and saw that the sash was ruined; it was not useful for anything.

from one end of the land to the

other end of the land. No one will have peace. 13 They have sown wheat, but will reap thorns. They have taken pains, but will not profit. And they will be disappointed about

8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 "Thus says the LORD: In this way I will ruin the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the imagination of their heart, and follow other gods to serve and to worship them, will be like this sash which is good for nothing. 11 For as the sash clings to a man's waist, so I caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to me, says the LORD, so that they might be my people for a name, and for praise, and for glory; but they would not listen.

the harvest, because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

14 "Thus says the LORD against all my evil neighbours who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: See, I will uproot them from their land, and uproot the house of Judah from among them. 15 And it will happen after I have uprooted them that I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them back, each man to his inheritance, and each man to his land. 16 And it will come about, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, 'The LORD lives,' as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be established among my people. 17 But if they will not obey, I will fully

12 "Therefore you shall speak to them this word: 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle will be filled with wine.' And they will say to you, 'Do we not know for a certainty that every bottle will be filled with wine?' 13 Then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: See, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, the kings who sit on David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all

for punishment. 12:9 Some birds will attack a strange bird not of their kind. 12:10 Shepherds here refer to rulers. 12:11 "No one takes it to heart" – 5:1; Isa 64:7; Ex 22:30. 12:12 "The sword of the Lord" – Ezek 21:110; Isa 27:1; Deut 32:40-43. Israel's enemies would be like a sword in God's hand to punish His people. 12:13 Lev 26:20; Deut 28:38-42. "Anger" – notes at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11. 12:14-17 God will punish the neighboring nations that seize any of Israel's land. See 2 Kings 24:2. Observe the word of hope in these verses. God is compassionate – Ps 78:38; 86:15; 111:4; 145:8. But just as Israel had learned evil ways from the surrounding nations, so later on the nations

must learn good ways from Israel, or else face annihilation. 13:1-11 Another object lesson to illustrate a truth (1:11-14; 18:1-6; 24:1-10). The people of Israel would be as useless to God as a ruined and useless belt (v 10). 13:4 The Hebrew word here (Pereth – just PRH in the original) may indicate either the Euphrates River or a town three miles from Anathoth called Parah. The River Euphrates is 400 kilometers from Jerusalem. It is unlikely (but certainly not impossible) that Jeremiah went there. 13:9 Lev 26:19; Prov 6:16,17; Isa 25:11; Amos 6:8; Zeph 3:11. 13:11 See here the reason God chose Israel (or any people or any individual) – Isa 43:21; Eph 1:4-6,12,14; 1 Pet 2:9. 13:12,13 25:15-19; Ps 60:3; Isa 51:17-

999 JEREMIAH 14:3

22 And if you say in your heart, "Why have these things come on me?" Because of the greatness of your

the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. 14 And I will dash them against one another, the fathers and the sons together, says the LORD. I will not take pity, or spare, or have mercy, but will destroy them.'"

iniquity your skirts will be removed,

and your heels made bare.

23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then you also may do good, you who are accustomed to doing evil. 24 Therefore I will scatter them like the straw that vanishes by the wind

15 Listen, and give ear. Do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken. 16 Give glory to the LORD your God before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the

dark mountains, and while you look for light he turns

from the desert. 25 This is your lot, your measured portion from me," says the LORD, "because you have forgotten me,

it into the shadow of death and

makes it dense darkness. 17 But if you will not hear this, my soul will weep in secret places

and trusted in falsehood. 26 Therefore I will strip off your skirts over your face, so that your shame may appear. 27 I have seen your adulteries, and your neighings, the vileness

because of your pride, and my eyes will weep bitterly,

and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock will be

carried away captive.

of your prostitution, and your abominations on the hills,

18 Say to the king and to the queen: "Humble yourselves, sit lower down, for your rule will come down,

in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you not be made clean? When will it ever be?"

your glorious crown." 19 The cities of the south will be closed up, and no one will open them. All of Judah will be carried away captive; it will be completely carried away captive.

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: 2 "Judah mourns, and its gates languish; they mourn from the ground,

20 Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to

and the cry of Jerusalem has gone up. 3 And their nobles have sent their

you, your beautiful flock? 21 What will you say when he punishes you? For you have taught them to be leaders

servants for water; they came to the cisterns and found no

and heads over you. Will not sorrows seize you like a woman in labour?

water; they returned with their vessels empty;

20; Ezek 23:32-34; Rev 14:9,10. 13:14 God will not remove all pity and compassion from His heart. He will not, cannot change His nature. But He will not let these tender feelings keep Him from the necessary work of just judgment. 13:15 When men speak God's message there is always the danger of arrogant rejection on the part of those who hear. 13:16 Repentance is the only thing that can avert the coming darkness (1 Sam 2:9; Isa 8:22; 59:9; Matt 8:12; Jude 13). 13:17 9:1; 14:17. Arrogance is always a reason for tears. 13:18 This probably refers to king Jehoiachin and his mother Nehushta (2 Kings 24:8-12 – fulfilled in 597 BC). 13:19 20:4. 13:20 "North" – 1:14; 4:6; 6:22. "Flock" – the people of Judah. 13:21 "Woman" – 4:31; 6:24. 13:22 Verse 25; 2:17; 4:18; 5:8,9,19;

6:19; 2:35. 13:23 A man is unable to change even an outward thing in his nature such as the color of his skin. How much more impossible for him to change his inner nature and his whole course of life (17:9; Ps 51; Rom 7:14,18, 21). But what a man cannot do for himself God can do for him (Rom 8:1-4). This is the only hope for any person on earth. 13:24,25 Ps 1:4; Lev 26:33. 13:26,27 The people of Jerusalem had behaved like a harlot (2:2,5,20). Now they would be publicly disgraced and punished. 13:27 "Will you not be made clean?" – the people could not cleanse themselves but they could turn to God and cry for cleansing (Ps 51:2,7). 14:1-6 3:3; 12:4; 23:10. This was a punishment for their sins (Lev 26:19,20). They could escape from this trouble only by repentance and turning to the true and living God.

JEREMIAH 14:4 1000

they were ashamed and dismayed,

10 Thus says the LORD to this people: "Thus they have loved to wander. They have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them. He will now remember their wickedness,

and covered their heads, 4 because the ground was parched,

for there was no rain on the earth. The plowmen were disappointed;

they covered their heads. 5 Yes, the deer also gave birth in the field,

and punish their sins."

11 Then the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they sacrifice burnt offerings and offerings, I will not accept them, but I will consume them by sword and by famine and by plague."

and left it, because there was no grass. 6 And the wild donkeys stood on the

high places; they sniffed the wind like jackals;

their eyes failed, because there was no grass."

13 Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! See, the prophets say to them, 'You will not see the sword, nor will you have famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.'"

7 O LORD, though our evil deeds testify

against us, act for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many. We have sinned against you. 8 O the hope of Israel,

14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I did not send them, and I have not given commands to them or spoken to them. They prophesy to you a false vision and divination, and a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. 15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name though I did not send them and who say, 'There will be no sword and famine in this land'; by sword and famine those prophets will come to an end. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the 14:7-9 Jeremiah speaks on behalf of the people. He knows very well the reason for the trouble they were in. 14:8 "Like a stranger" – a sad thing indeed that the true God should be like a stranger in His own land, among His own people (2:8; 4:22; 8:7; 9:3. Compare John 1:10,11). A sad thing too that He should be a stranger to the large majority of the human race. Most people neither know Him nor wish to know Him. 14:9 Jeremiah felt that God was still among them but inactive. He was not behaving like their "Saviour in times of trouble" – v 8. 14:10 Again and again God had to give the reason for the punishment He sent on the people. He was not lacking in ability to save them, but in His justice determined that He should not. 14:11 Evidently Jeremiah forgot God's instruction to him in 7:16 when he made the prayer of vs 7-9. 14:12 We see again that God will not accept some kinds of worship (6:20; 7:21). Compare John 4:23,24. The three words "sword", "famine", and "plague" are repeated over and over in Jeremiah. They were the three chief instruments God used in the destruction of Israel (and often no doubt other peoples when He decides to destroy them). See Lev 26:25,26; Deut 28:20-26. 14:13 Jeremiah tries to find some excuse for the people. Does he wish to remove from them some of the responsibility for their behavior? But see 5:31.

its saviour in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, and like a traveller who turns aside to

stay for a night? 9 Why should you be like a man astonished,

like a mighty man who cannot save? For you, O LORD, are in our midst,

and we are called by your name. Do not leave us.

14:14 23:16,25; 27:14; Ezek 13:2; Matt 7:15; 24:11,24; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 John 4:1. Notes on prophets at 28:1-17.

"I did not send them" – 23:21,32; 29:31; Ezek 13:6. Oh, how eager some are to have the name of prophet and how they run and deceive themselves and others! True prophets are often much more reluctant to go and speak (1:6; Ex 4:13). This verse gives three ways in which false prophets get their false messages.

"False vision" – since God does not give any false vision it is safe to say that sometimes such things come from demons or Satan himself. Sometimes they come in the form of dreams (23:25).

"Divination and a worthless thing" – or "worthless divination" (Deut 18:10-14). False prophets think they get some supernatural message through signs and omens, sometimes by consulting idols or spirits.

"Deceit of their own heart" – false prophets in their proud hearts may accept their own thoughts and ideas as divinely inspired. Or this may mean that because their hearts are deceitful they knowingly prophesy false things. Through these three ways – false vision, worthless divination, and prophecies from deceitful hearts – much that is false in religion has gone out into the world, and still goes out. 14:15 False prophets will get what they deserve, will experience the exact outworking of justice. 14:16 People who willingly, gladly listen to

1001 JEREMIAH 15:8

famine and the sword, and will have no one to bury them, neither them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters; for I will pour their wickedness on them.

Then the LORD said to me, "Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be favourable toward this people. Throw them out of my sight, and let them go. 2 And it shall be, if they say to you, 'Where will we go?' that you must tell them, 'Thus says the LORD, Those who are for death, to death, and those who are for the sword, to the sword, and those who are for the famine, to the famine, and those who are for captivity, to captivity.'

17 "Therefore you shall speak this word to them: 'Let my eyes run down with tears night

and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people

has been broken with a great stroke,

with a very grievous blow. 18 If I go out into the field, then, see, those slain by the sword! And if I enter the city, then, see,

3 "And I will appoint over them four kinds of destruction, says the LORD: the sword to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. 4 And I will make them objects of horror 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, Jerusalem? Or who will mourn for you? Or who will turn aside to ask how you

those who are sick from the famine! Yes, both the prophet and the priest

go away into a land that they do

not know.'"

19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? Has your soul loathed Zion? Why have you struck us, and there is

no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good has come ; and for the time of healing, but see trouble. 20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the guilt of our fathers, for we have sinned against you. 21 Do not abhor us, for your name's sake do not disgrace your glorious throne. Remember, do not break your covenant

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 tired of relenting. 7 And I will winnow them with a winnowing fan at the gates of the land. I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they do not turn from their ways. 8 Their widows will increase before me more than the sand of the seas. At midday I will bring a destroyer on them, against the mothers of the young men. I will cause anguish and terror to fall

with us. 22 Are there any among the worthless idols of the Gentiles that can cause rain? Or can the skies give showers? Are you not the one, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait for you,

for you have made all these things.

false prophets (5:31) are also guilty and will be punished. Their punishment too will fit their crime. 14:17,18 8:21; 9:1; 13:17. God told Jeremiah to speak these words because they express the pain in His own heart as well as that of Jeremiah's (note on 4:19-26).

other than Jehovah God can send it; or two, rain comes by mere natural causes apart from God. And he knew the truth – Lev 26:4; Deut 11:11,14; Job 5:10; 38:28,37; Ps 68:9; 135:7; 147:8. 15:1 Moses and Samuel were probably the greatest intercessors for Israel in the whole Old Testament (Ex 32:11-14,30-34; Num 14:13-23; Deut 9:18-20; 1 Sam 7:5-9; 12:19-25). See Ps 99:6. But the people had become so wicked and rebellious that even the prayers of such men would not save them from destruction and exile. 15:2 God knows whom to appoint for what punishment. 15:4 "All kingdoms" – Deut 28:25; Jer 24:9; 29:18; 34:17. " "Manasseh" – the most wicked of all Judah's kings until he repented (2 Kings 21:1-16; 23:26,27; 24:3,4). 15:5-9 The people refused to repent (v 7). God would no longer have pity on them (v 6; 13:14). Destruction was certain.

"A land that they do not know" – Babylonia. 14:19-22 God had twice told Jeremiah not to pray for the people. But they are in his heart and he cannot refrain from praying. How different from some people who will not pray no matter how much the Word of God urges them to do so! 14:20 Jeremiah is speaking for the people, but they themselves had not yet come to this place of confession. 14:21 Notice "your" name, "your" throne, "your" covenant. Jeremiah is concerned with God's honor. Compare Ex 32:11-13. 14:22 Jeremiah was aware of two errors in people's thinking regarding rain – one, gods

JEREMIAH 15:9 1002

Because of your patience do not take me away. Know that for your sake I have

suddenly on the city. 9 She who has given birth to seven will languish. She will breathe her last. Her sun will go down while it is still day. She will be put to shame and dismay; and I will deliver the rest of them to

suffered rebuke. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them; and your word was to me the joy and

rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by your name,

the sword before their enemies,

O LORD God of hosts. 17 I did not sit in the gathering of the mockers, or rejoice with them. I sat alone because of your hand,

says the LORD."

10 Woe to me, my mother, that you have given birth to me, a man of strife and contention to the

for you filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain without end, and my wound incurable? It refuses to be healed. Will you be to me like a deceptive

whole land! I have not lent money on usury, nor have men lent to me on usury; yet every one of them curses me.

11 The LORD said, "It will certainly be well with your remnant. I will certainly cause the enemy to treat

stream whose waters fail?

19 Therefore thus says the LORD, "If you return, then I will restore you,

you well at the time of disaster and

and you will stand before me; and if you take out the precious from

in the time of affliction. 12 Can anyone break iron, the northern iron and the bronze? 13 I will give your wealth and your treasures to plunder without cost, because of all your sins,

the vile, you will be as my mouth. Let them return to you,

but do not return to them. 20 And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you, for I am with you to save you

throughout your territories. 14 And I will make you go with your enemies into a land which you do not know, for a fire is kindled in my anger

and to deliver you, says the LORD. 21 And I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the hand

which will burn against you."

15 O LORD, you understand. Remember me, and look after me,

and avenge me on my persecutors.

of the violent."

15:10 "Birth" – Job 3:1; 10:18,19; Jer 20:14,15. "Contention to the whole land" – Jeremiah should have expected this and refused to be cast down by it (1:18,19). But he had a sensitive, melancholy nature. 15:11 "I will certainly cause" – v 20; 1:8,19. God knew Jeremiah needed encouragement (Ps 103:13,14) and so repeated His promise and added another.

15:17 The true man of God may be called to a lonely life, the whole world seemingly against him and he alone against the world. Jeremiah did not marry and had few friends. He was filled with anger at the sins of the people and the way they had rebelled against the true and living God. 15:18 "Pain", "wound" – his ministry of warning and denouncing brought him no joy. He could feel in his own heart the sword that threatened the people of Judah. Yet it was the work God gave him to do and he bowed in obedience to God's will.

"To treat you well" – see 39:11-14. 15:12-14 God now speaks to the people of Judah through Jeremiah. 15:13 "Sins" – 4:18; 5:9; 6:19; 17:3. 15:14 Deut 32:22. Notes on God's anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11; etc. 15:15 Comforting indeed it is to have a God of tender mercy and patience, who understands completely and loves eternally. 15:16 "Ate" – 1:9; Ezek 2:8; 3:3; Rev 10:9,10. "Joy and rejoicing" – Ps 1:2; 19:10; 119:72,103. "Name" – God's spokesmen belong to Him and bear His name before the world.

"Waters fail" – compare Job 6:15-20. 15:19-21 Did Jeremiah need to repent or turn to God anew? Evidently so. He had a tendency to complain against God's dealings with him, to sink into depression instead of going ahead in living faith. Jeremiah, as all God's servants, as all of Adam's descendants, had a sinful nature. The truth of 17:9 applied to him as much as to anyone else. See also Gen 9:21; 12:13; Ex 32:2-4; Num 20:9-12; 2 Samuel chapter 11; Matt 26:69-75; Jam 3:2.

1003 JEREMIAH 16:19

God?' 11 Then you shall say to them, 'Because your fathers have forsaken me, says the LORD, and have followed other gods and served them and worshipped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law; 12 and you have done worse than your fathers, for, see, every one of you follows the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not listen to me. 13 Therefore I will throw you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers. And there you will serve other gods day and night. There I will not show you favour.

The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 2 "You must not marry, or have sons or daughters in this place. 3 For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and the daughters who are born in this place, and concerning their mothers who gave them birth, and concerning their fathers who begot them in this land: 4 They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be lamented, and they will not be buried, but will be like refuse on the surface of the ground. They will be consumed by sword and famine, and their corpses will be food for the birds of the sky, and for the beasts of the earth.

14 "Therefore, see, the days are coming, says the LORD, when it will no longer be said, 'The LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel up out of the land of Egypt,' 15 But, 'The LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel up from the land of the north, and from all the lands where he had driven them.' And I will bring them back into their land that I gave to their fathers.

5 "For thus says the LORD: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament or mourn them; for I have taken away my peace, loving kindness and mercy from this people, says the LORD. 6 Both the great and the small will die in this land. They will not be buried, and people will not lament for them, or cut themselves, or shave their heads for them, 7 And people will not break bread in mourning for them, to comfort them for the dead, and people will not give them a comforting cup to drink for their father or for their mother.

16 "See, I will send for many fishermen, says the LORD, and they will fish for them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. 17 For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from my face, and their wickedness is not hidden from my eyes. 18 And first I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land, they have filled my inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols."

8 "You also must not go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink. 9 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: See, in your sight and in your days I will put a stop to the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.

10 "And it will come about, when you tell this people all these words, and they say to you, 'Why has the LORD proclaimed all this great disaster against us?' Or, 'What is our iniquity, or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our

19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles will come to you from the

16:1,2 It is not God's will for all to marry (1 Cor 7:1,7,8). It was not good for the man Adam to be alone (Gen 2:18), but it was good for Jeremiah – good because it was God's will for him. 16:4 14:12. 16:5 Ezek 24:16,17,22,23. God would not enter into the common events of the life of His rebellious people anymore, and would not permit Jeremiah to do so (vs 69). They deserved only punishment and destruction and that is what He appointed for them. 16:10 Apart from the full enlightenment of God's Spirit it is impossible for a people or an individual to see sin as God sees it (5:19; Mal 1:6,7; 2:17; 3:7,8). Judah's people sunk so low in wickedness, unbelief, and rebellion, wondered what God had against them to punish them so greatly. This is the spiritual blindness of fallen mankind. People usually tend to think they are far better than they really are. 16:11-13 A full answer to the people's question. Their ancestors were bad enough. They were worse.

16:12 "Evil heart" – 3:17; 7:24; 9:14; 11:8; 13:10; 18:12; Acts 7:51; Rom 2:5. An evil heart is what we all have by nature. Compare 17:9; Matt 7:11; Rom 3:9; 7:18; Eph 2:3. 16:13 They rejected the true God and chose the gods of other nations, so God would see to it that they got their fill of that. 16:14,15 Suddenly in denunciation and words concerning punishment and destruction there comes this sweet promise for the future. How like God to do this! 16:16 The promise of v 15 would not be fulfilled for more than 70 years. Now Judah's people must face God's anger. 16:17 32:19; Eccl 12:14; Heb 4:13. 16:18 Let us learn once and for all what the true God thinks of idolatry. 16:19,20 Jeremiah speaks. "Refuge" – Ps 7:1; 18:2; 46:1. "Gentiles" – non-Jewish nations – 3:17; Ps 45:17; 117:1-3; Isa 2:2,3. The nations will learn at last that the true and living God is Jehovah and that their gods are not God, nor a part of God, nor related to God in any way.

JEREMIAH 16:20 1004

ends of the earth, and will say, "Surely our fathers have inherited lies,

enemies in a land which you do not know. For you have kindled a fire in my anger,

vanity, and profitless things." 20 Will a man make gods for himself? But they are not gods. 21 "Therefore, see, this time I will cause them to know; I will cause them to know my hand and

which will burn forever."

5 Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man

and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD. 6 For he will be like a bush in the desert,

my might, and they will know that my name is the LORD.

and will not see when good comes, but will live in the parched places of the desert, in an uninhabited salt land.

"The sin of Judah is written with a pen

of iron, and with the point of a diamond. It is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars, 2 While their children remember their

7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

and who has the LORD as his hope. 8 For he will be like a tree planted by the waters,

which spreads out its roots by the river

and does not see when heat comes. Its leaf will be green, and it will not

altars and their groves by the green

trees on the high hills. 3 O my mountain in the land,

be anxious in the year of drought, and it will not cease yielding fruit.

I will give your wealth and all your

9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD. I search the heart, I test the inner being, to give to

treasures to plunder, together with your high places because

of sin throughout all your territory. 4 And you, you yourself, will let go of

each one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his deeds.

your inheritance that I gave you. And I will cause you to serve your

Deut 28:2-14; Ps 1:1-3; 119:1,2; etc. 17:8 Ps 1:3; 92:12-15. 17:9 Here is the word of God Himself concerning man's heart. See also 5:23; 7:24; 16:12; 18:12. If we have any true wisdom at all we will believe what God reveals about us. Everywhere in the Bible He tells us what we are really like – Gen 6:5; 8:21; Ps 51:5; Eccl 9:3; Matt 15:19; Rom 1:21; 3:9; 7:18; Eph 2:1-3; 4:22. "Wicked" – or "incurably sick". Every human being has a sinful nature, a heart prone to follow evil, a nature spiritually sick. No man fully understands its moral sickness, its deceitfulness, its depravity. Peoples' hearts deceive them into thinking they are not nearly as bad as the above verses declare, and that they can manage to go to heaven without repenting, without asking the God of heaven to forgive and save them. They can think well of themselves even after breaking the most important commands in the Word of God or after committing the worst kind of crimes (see John 16:2,3). How few there are who view things as they really are, as Paul stated it in Rom 3:9. Many people, if they read that verse, in their hearts will want to answer "yes" to the question he asks there, feeling that they are better than a great many others. Such people lack the true enlightenment that comes from God to know what they are and what they need. 17:10 God examines the heart and mind and knows all about the inner thoughts, desires and motives of men (1 Sam 16:7;

16:21 "Cause them to know"– God is a great Teacher. See Ps 25:4,5,8; 119:12,26; John 14:26; 16:13. He will teach us His power and might and His true name (Jehovah) and His nature. 17:1 This speaks of a permanent record. It would not be effaced from their hearts as long as they lived. Their altars to false gods revealed their sins for all to see. 17:2 Their sin was also in their children's hearts.

"Groves" – or "Asherah poles" – symbols of the goddess Asherah, sometimes worshiped by Israel and Judah. 17:3,4 15:13,14. 17:4 "You have kindled a fire" – all that men lose of God's good gifts, all the punishment that comes on them is altogether their own fault; all good things they receive is altogether God's grace. 17:5-8 The great contrast between those who trust men and those who trust in Jehovah God. 17:5,6 2 Chron 32:7,8; Ps 108:12; 118:8; 146:3; Isa 10:3; 30:5; 31:3; Jer 2:36; 2 Cor 1:9. The tendency of men is to forget the living God and look to other men for help, strength, and deliverance from trouble. God here pronounces a curse on such. 17:7 Here is a key verse about blessedness. Every blessing promised in the Bible comes only in this way. Everywhere in His Word God emphasizes the importance of trusting Him – Ps 32:10; 34:8; 37:4,5; 40:4; Prov 3:5; 16:20; 29:25; Hebrews chapter 11. Notes on "blessed" at Gen 12:1-3; Num 6:22;

1005 JEREMIAH 18:3

them, 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter in by these gates, 21 thus the LORD said: Take heed to yourselves, and carry no load on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem, 22 nor carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they did not obey or incline their ear, but made their necks stiff, so that they might not hear or receive instruction. 24 And it will come about, if you carefully listen to me, says the LORD, to bring no burden in through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but keep the Sabbath day holy, doing no work in it, 25 then through the gates of this city will enter kings and princes who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever. 26 And they will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices and grain offerings and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, to the house of the LORD. 27 But if you will not listen to me to keep the Sabbath day holy, and not to carry a load, entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it will not be quenched."

11 As the partridge sits on eggs, but does not hatch them, so the one who unjustly gets riches

will leave them in the middle of his days, and at his end will be shown to be a fool."

12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. "And those who depart from me will be

written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD,

the fountain of living waters."

14 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed. Save me, and I will be saved,

for you are my praise. 15 Behold, they say to me, "Where is the word of the LORD?

Let it come now." 16 As for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd following you, and I have not desired the day of

disaster. You know. What came out of my lips was right before you. 17 Be not a terror to me. You are my hope in the day of disaster. 18 Let those who persecute me be put to shame, but do not let me be put to shame. Let them be dismayed,

but do not let me be dismayed. Bring on them the day of disaster,

and destroy them with double destruction.

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear my words." 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and saw that he doing a work on the wheel.

19 Thus the LORD said to me: "Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, where the kings of Judah come in, and where they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, 20 and say to

2 Chron 6:30; Ps 7:9; 17:3; 94:11; 139:23,24; Prov 17:3; Jer 11:20; Ezek 11:5; Matt 9:4; John 2:24,25). Let us listen to Him as He tells us the true state of things. 17:11 Jeremiah applies the truth of v 10. See Prov 23:5. "Fool" means without moral, ethical sense (Ps 14:1; Prov 1:7). 17:12 Ps 80:1; 99:1. God was said to sit enthroned over the mercy seat over the ark between the cherubim in the temple in Jerusalem. 17:13 There was no hope for Israel apart from Jehovah God. To forsake Him was to forsake any possibility of a blessed future. As writing in dust is soon blotted out so would they be. They who forsake God the source of life, should not vainly imagine they are permanently recorded in the book of life (Ps 69:28; Rev 3:6).

17:15 "Where"– spoken sarcastically. At this time the people did not regard Jeremiah as a true prophet. 17:16 Though the people rejected him Jeremiah knew that God had appointed him, and he did not try to escape from his responsibility to be a shepherd to them. 17:17 Job 6:4; 9:34; 13:21; Ps 88:15,16. 17:18 Notes on such prayers at Ps 35:8. 17:19-22 Ex 20:8,10; Deut 5:12,14-16. 17:23 7:26; 19:15; Acts 7:51. One of the worst of all their many sins. 17:24-27 God's commands about the Sabbath would be a test for the people. If they began to obey God in this it would be a sign of their repentance and God would be merciful to them (Isa 58:13,14). If they refused obedience in this, obedience could not be expected in anything, and the judgment of God would come on Jerusalem. 17:26 "Sacrifices of praise" – or "thank offerings" – note at Lev 7:12,13. 18:1-10 Another object lesson – 1:11-14;

"Fountain of living waters" – 2:13; John 4:14; 7:38; Rev 22:17. 17:14 15:18; Ps 6:2.

JEREMIAH 18:4 1006

4 And the pot that he was making of clay was marred in the hand of the potter. So he remade it into another pot, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

who has heard such things? The virgin of Israel has done a very

horrible thing. 14 Will the snow of Lebanon leave the rocky fields? Or will the cold flowing waters that

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 "O house of Israel, cannot I do with you like this potter? says the LORD. See, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 At any moment I may speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck it up, and to pull it down, and to destroy it. 8 If that nation, against whom I have proclaimed this, turns from their evil, I will relent concerning the disaster that I thought to do to them. 9 And at any moment I may speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build it and to plant it. 10 If it does evil in my sight, not obeying my voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would bless them.

come from another place be forsaken? 15 Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to empty idols, and have make themselves stumble in

their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in pathways, not on a

way built up, 16 making their land desolate, and an object of perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be

astonished and shake his head. 17 I will scatter them before the enemy as with an east wind. I will show them the back,

11 "Now therefore go, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: See, I am preparing disaster against you, and devising a plan against you. Each one of you now turn from his evil way, and make your ways and your deeds good.'" 12 And they said, "There is no hope; but we will follow our own plans, and each one of us will act according to the imagination of his evil heart."

and not the face, in the day of their calamity."

18 Then they said, "Come, and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law will not perish from the priest, or counsel from the wise, or the word from the prophet. Come, and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words."

13 Therefore thus says the LORD: "Ask now among the nations,

19 Listen to me, O LORD, and hear the voice of those who 13:1-11. If a clay vessel is marred in a potter's hands the fault may be either in the clay or in the potter. If nations or individuals are marred in God's hands the fault can only be in them (7:13,26; 17:23; Matt 23:37). But though individuals or nations have wills and can resist God's work, yet He retains control over them and can continue His work either to bring blessing or disaster on them. But here is good hope for anyone who has marred his (or her) life and cannot make it as he thinks it should be. Let us put our poor clay in the hands of the master Potter and let Him make a good vessel for His use. 18:7-10 In some measure God's working will be according to the obedience or disobedience of individuals or nations to His word (26:13; 36:3; Ex 32:1,4; Ezek 18:30; Jonah 3:1-10). Observe that God as the sovereign of the universe is active in the world uprooting or planting kingdoms, destroying them or building them up. 18:11 The Lord orders that Judah and its capital city apply the above truth to themselves. They should not blame the Potter for what is about to happen to them. But He knew what the people would say and tells Jeremiah in the next verse. 18:12 This is one of the most terrible things a people or an individual could say. Here is complete, willful, conscious abandonment of

themselves to their evil natures, contrary to light, reason and the pleadings of God Himself. Here is human depravity approaching the utmost limits of unbelief, disobedience and despair. It is not a rare thing. Satan would, if he could, gladly bring us all to such a condition. And everyone of us has the tendency in us to go that way and that far. God's grace alone can preserve us from it. 18:13 5:30,31. What could be more horrible than the actions and words of God's own nation (here called "virgin")? Even the wicked city Nineveh did not behave so (Jonah 3:6-9). 18:14,15 Snow and cool waters always remain in the high mountains, but thoughts of God and the water of life He gives did not remain in the people's minds.

"Ancient paths" – 6:16. "Pathways" – the worship of idols, of other gods is a by-path taking people out of God's ancient way of worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). 18:16,17 4:11,12; 25:9,10. 18:18 Jeremiah's enemies thought nothing would be lost if Jeremiah were to be silenced. They did not realize that for those particular days Jeremiah was God's true spokesman in Jerusalem. 18:19-23 This portion sounds like some of the Psalms – Ps 35:12; 57:6; 63:10; 141:8-10; 142:3. Notes on such prayers at Ps 35:8; 58:6-8; 69:22-28.

1007 JEREMIAH 20:1

contend with me. 20 Will evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before you to

mind. 6 Therefore, see, the days are coming, says the LORD, that this place will no longer be called Tophet, or The Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but The Valley of Slaughter.

speak good for them, and to turn away your wrath from them. 21 Therefore deliver their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the power

7 "And I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem in this place, and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their corpses as food for the birds of the sky, and for the beasts of the earth. 8 And I will make this city desolate, and an object of hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss because of all its plagues. 9 And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and every one of them will eat the flesh of his friend in the siege and distress, with which their enemies and those who seek their lives, will distress them.'

of the sword, and let their wives be bereaved of

their children, and become widows, and let their men be put to death, and let their young men be slain by the

sword in battle. 22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring a troop suddenly on them. For they have dug a pit to capture me,

and hidden snares for my feet. 23 Yet, LORD, you know their whole plot against me to kill me. Do not forgive their iniquity, or blot out their sin from your sight, but let them be overthrown before you. Deal thus with them in the time of your anger.

10 "Then you shall break the jar in the sight of the men who go with you, 11 and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: Like this I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's jar that cannot be made whole again; and they will bury them in Tophet, until there is no room to bury. 12 I will do so to this place, says the LORD, and to its inhabitants, and even make this city like Tophet. 13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, will be defiled like the place of Tophet, because of all the houses on whose roofs they have burned incense to all the starry host of heaven, and poured out drink offerings to other gods.'"

Thus says the LORD: "Go and get a potter's earthenware jar, and take some of the elders of the people, and some of the elders of the priests, 2 and go out to the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is at the entrance of the Gate of the Potsherd, and there proclaim the words that I will tell you, 3 and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: See, I will bring disaster on this place; the ears of whoever hears of it will tingle, 4 because they have forsaken me, and have made this a foreign place, and have burned incense in it to other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents. 5 They have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire as burnt offerings to Baal. I did not command this, or speak of it, nor did it enter my

14 Then Jeremiah came from Tophet, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the court of the LORD's house, and said to all the people, 15 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'See, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the disaster that I have proclaimed against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.'"

Now Pashur the son of Immer, the priest, who was also the chief official in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these

19:1 Another object lesson – 18:1,2; etc. 19:2 "Gate of the Potsherd" – it would seem from this that the gate got its name from some broken piece of pottery found there (or perhaps many broken pieces). The KJV has "East gate", but the Hebrew word does not mean east, and the valley of Hinnom was not at the eastern side of Jerusalem. 19:2-9 Notes on 7:30-34. 19:9 Lev 26:29; Deut 28:49-57; Lam 2:20; 4:10 – cannibalism actually occurred during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. 19:10,11 God has no more difficulty in smashing a nation than Jeremiah in smashing a clay pot.

19:12,13 Topheth was defiled by death, and by the action of king Josiah (2 Kings 23:10). Josiah probably leveled the shrines there to the ground. So would God do to Jerusalem.

"Starry host" – another command of God the people ignored to their own great harm (Deut 4:14; 2 Kings 17:16; Jer 8:2; Acts 7:42; Rom 1:25). 19:14,15 Jeremiah was determined, at whatever danger to himself (18:23), to declare God's message to all the people. Compare Acts 20:24; 21:13.

"Hardened" – see Prov 29:1. 20:1,2 The first of Jeremiah's enemies

JEREMIAH 20:2 1008

things. 2 Then Pashur had Jeremiah the prophet beaten, and put him in the stocks that were at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD. 3 And it came about the next day that Pashur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD has not called your name Pashur, but Magor-Missabib. 4 For thus says the LORD: 'See, I will make you a terror to yourself, and to all your friends; and they will fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes will see it. And I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will carry them captive into Babylon, and will kill them with the sword. 5 Moreover, I will deliver up all the wealth of this city, and all its products, and all its costly things; and all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will give into the hands of their enemies, who will plunder them, and capture them and carry them to Babylon. 6 And you, Pashur, and all who live in your house will go into captivity. And you will come to Babylon, and there you will die and there be buried, you, and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies.'"

resulted in reproach and ridicule

to me, daily. 9 Then I said, "I will not make mention of him,

or speak any more in his name." But his word was in my heart like a

burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary of holding it in,

and I was not able to do so. 10 For I heard the whispering of many: "Fear on every side!" "Report,"

they said, "and we will report it." All my acquaintances watched for my

stumbling, saying, "Perhaps he will be enticed, and we

will prevail against him,

and take our revenge on him."

11 But the LORD is with me like a mighty, awe-inspiring one; therefore my persecutors will stumble,

and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they

will not prosper. Their everlasting disgrace will never

7 O LORD, you persuaded me, and I was persuaded. You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am ridiculed daily,

be forgotten. 12 But, O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, and sees the inner being and the heart,

let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have presented my cause.

everyone mocks me. 8 For when I speak, I cry out,

proclaiming violence and plunder, because the word of the LORD has

13 Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For he has delivered the soul of the

whose name is given. He was a false prophet (v 6). He was second to the high priest in authority. His job was to keep order in the temple and to expel or punish troublemakers. He evidently considered Jeremiah one such (see 38:4 and 1 Kings 18:16,17). The truth is troubling to those who do not want it, and those who proclaim it are often regarded as troublemakers (Luke 23:4,5; Acts 16:19-24; 17:5-7; 21:28; 24:5). 20:3-6 Unjust punishment did not keep God's prophets from speaking (v 9; Acts 4:3,18-20; 7:52; Heb 11:32-38). MagorMissabib means "terror on every side". 20:7-18 Jeremiah's prayer and complaint. God's spokesmen may be bold as lions when speaking to the people, but know their own fears, weakness, and depression when in secret with God. Jeremiah lays bare his soul before the Lord. He did not try to hide anything. Compare Job 10:1,2; Ps 62:8. He did not want to be a prophet (1:6). God compelled him, and Jeremiah is not happy with the result.

man and so you were able to persuade me or entice me to be a prophet." 20:8 6:10; 15:10,15; 2 Pet 3:3,4. 20:9 Sometimes speaking for God seemed to him too much to bear. He was tempted to give up such ministry. It brought him nothing but sorrow. But God had put in his heart a fire, an inner compulsion that would not let him escape. Compare Acts 4:20; 1 Cor 9:16; 2 Cor 5:14; 2 Pet 1:21. God's compulsion, God's fire in the heart make His spokesmen willing to face any insult, any persecution, any danger. They must ease themselves of the Word of God forcing its way out of their hearts. 20:10 His enemies were mocking him for the name he gave Pashhur (v 3). His friends were friends in name only, for he had offended them with his message of God's judgment. Compare Gal 4:16. Betrayal by friends is harder to bear than oppression by enemies. 20:11 "The LORD is with me" – here was his confidence. This is how he could keep going in his very unpopular ministry. 20:12 11:20. "LORD of hosts" – note at 1 Sam 1:3. 20:13 The weeping prophet does not experience much joy in his own heart, but knows God's deliverance and knows, too, that God should be praised for it.

"Persuaded" (v 7) – the KJV has "deceived" here. The Hebrew word means both things, but surely we should not translate this "deceived" when there is an alternative which is also accurate. Can we really think that Jeremiah accused God of deceiving him? He probably meant "I was a simple young

1009 JEREMIAH 21:12

poor from the hands of evildoers. 14 Cursed be the day on which I was born. Do not let the day on which my mother

Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls, and I will gather them in the middle of this city. 5 And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath. 6 And I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They will die from a great plague. 7 And afterwards, says the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people and those who are left in this city from the plague, from the sword and from the famine, into the hands of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hands of their enemies, and into the hands of those who seek their life. And he will strike them with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them, or have pity, or have mercy.'

gave me birth be blessed. 15 Cursed be the man who brought news to my father, saying, "A male child is born to you,"

making him very glad. 16 And let that man be like the cities which the LORD overthrew,

without relenting; and let him hear the cry in the morning,

and the shouting at noon, 17 Because he did not kill me from the womb that my mother might

have been my grave, and her womb have been always

8 "And you shall say to this people, 'Thus says the LORD: See, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. 9 He who stays in this city will die by the sword and by the famine and by the plague, but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who are besieging you, will live, and will be to him like plunder. 10 For I have set my face against this city for disaster and not for good, says the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.'

enlarged with me. 18 Why did I come out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to him saying, 2 "Please consult the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us in accordance with all his wonderful deeds, so that he may depart from us."

11 "And concerning the house of the king of Judah, say, 'Hear the word of the LORD. 12 O house of David, thus says the LORD:

"'Administer justice every morning, and rescue the one who is plundered

3 Then Jeremiah said to them, "This is what you shall say to Zedekiah: 4 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: See, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the

out of the hands of the oppressor, so that my fury does not go out like

fire and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.

20:14-18 Jeremiah gives in to feelings of pain, sorrow, and despair as Job once did (Job chapter 3; Eccl 4:1-3). But he does not abandon his faith in God or his responsibility as a prophet. It is a great thing to go on trusting and serving God even when one's thoughts bring torture like this. 21:1 Zedekiah refused to obey the Word of God spoken through Jeremiah. The Pashhur in this verse is not the one in 20:1 and the Zephaniah here is not the prophet of that name. The event described here took place when the Babylonian armies had already besieged Jerusalem. 21:2 King Zedekiah wanted information from the Lord through Jeremiah, but he did not want instruction in righteousness or messages of repentance. Though he did not have the good character and faith of king Hezekiah he was hoping for a miraculous deliverance such as the one that took place in the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:32-36). 21:3-7 Jeremiah was no man-pleaser, no king-pleaser, nor should we be (Gal 1:10). He, being a true prophet, spoke God's

message just as it came to him (see also 1 Kings 22:13,14). 21:4 Chaldea made up the southern part of the land of Babylon. 21:5 God says that not only the Babylonians but He Himself would be against them. Many times He had fought for Israel; now He would fight against them (6:12; Lev 26:17,2325,27,28. Compare Rev 2:16). The Babylonian armies would be a weapon in His hand to bring them down. Notes on God's anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11; etc. 21:6 14:12. 21:7 Nebuchadnezzar was the most famous and powerful ruler of the Babylonian empire. He reigned 605-562 BC. He showed no pity to the inhabitants of Jerusalem or to king Zedekiah (see 52:8-16,24-27). 21:8 Deut 30:15. 21:9,10 27:12,13; 38:2,3,17,18. 21:11,12 Zedekiah had not asked for a word on repentance and righteousness, but that is what he most needed and what God sent him. To us also God sends what we need, not necessarily what we ask for.

JEREMIAH 21:13 1010

13 See, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley and rocky plain,

cedars and throw them into the fire.

8 "And many nations will pass by this city, and each man will say to his neighbour, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this great city?' 9 Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.'

says the LORD, you who say, "Who will come down against us? Or who will enter our dwelling places?" 14 But I will punish you according to the results of your deeds, says the LORD; and I will kindle a fire in its forest, and it will devour everything around it.'"

10 "Do not weep for the dead, or mourn him, but weep bitterly for the one who goes

Thus says the LORD: "Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word 2 and say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter by these gates. 3 Thus says the LORD: Administer justice and righteousness, and deliver those plundered out of the hands of the oppressor; and do no wrong, no violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow, and shed no innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you really do this, then kings who sit on the throne of David will enter by the gates of this house, riding in chariots and on horses, each one with his servants and his people. 5 But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself, says the LORD, that this house will become a desolation."

away; for he will not return again or see his

native country."

11 For thus says the LORD concerning Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, who reigned in the place of his father Josiah, who has gone out of this place: "He will not return here again, 12 but will die in the place where they have led him away captive, and will see this land no more.

13 "Woe to him who builds his house through unrighteousness,

and his rooms through wrong, who uses his neighbour's service

without wages, and gives him nothing for his work, 14 Who says, 'I will build a spacious house and large rooms for myself,' and cuts out windows for it, and panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion. 15 Will you reign, because you enclose yourself with cedar? When your father ate and drank

6 For thus says the LORD to the house of the king of Judah:

"You are like Gilead to me and the

summit of Lebanon. But I will certainly make you a

wilderness, and uninhabited cities. 7 And I will prepare destroyers against you,

every one with his weapons; and they will cut down your choice

and administered justice and righteousness,

was it not well with him?

21:13,14 Lam 4:12. On three sides of Jerusalem there were valleys, and the city was easy to defend. So the inhabitants thought they were safe. But there can be no safety if God arises in anger. 22:1,2 13:18; 34:2; Matt 10:18. This king was probably Zedekiah (21:1). But this is not certain because the chapters of Jeremiah are not always arranged in chronological order. 22:3 21:12. On the just administration of God's kingdom in accordance with God's law see Ps 72:1-4,12-14; 110:1-7; Isa 9:7; 11:4,5; Jer 23:5,6. "Fatherless", "widow" – see note and references at Ex 22:22-24. 22:4,5 God will not forever permit wicked rulers who have contempt for His laws to rule over His people and His earth. 22:6,7 Gilead and Lebanon were elevated areas of beautiful forests. The cedar beams for the king's palace came from one or the other of these places. 22:8,9 Deut 29:24-26; 1 Kings 9:8,9;

Jer 16:10,11. 22:10-12 The one who had died was King Josiah (2 Chron 35:23-25). He was a good king and died on the battlefield. His son Shallum, also called Jehoahaz, reigned only 3 months. He was captured by the king of Egypt and taken to that country (2 Chron 36:1-4). He never returned to Israel. The meaning of v 10 is this: Do not weep for the honored dead but for those being punished for their sins. 22:13-19 These verses are concerning Jehoiakim (v 18). He was the brother of Jehoahaz, who became king after the exile of Jehoahaz (2 Chron 36:4-8). Apparently he built a new palace for himself and refused to pay the laborers (see Deut 24:14,15). Actually the king should have been seeking God and trying to create a just administration, and not building a palace. Leaders should do what is just and right and not try to outdo one another in erecting splendid buildings for themselves (v 15). In verses 15 and 16 observe what it means

1011 JEREMIAH 23:3

the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would uproot you from there. 25 And I will give you into the hands of those who seek your life, and into the hands of those whose face you fear, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hands of the Chaldeans. 26 And I will throw you out, and your mother who gave you birth, into another country, where you were not born; and there you will die. 27 And they will not return to the land to which they will desire to return.

16 He justly judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him. Is this not what it means to know me?

says the LORD. 17 But your eyes and your heart are for nothing except your greed for gain, and for shedding innocent blood, and for perpetrating oppression and violence.

18 "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah:

28 "Is this man Coniah like a despised broken idol? Is he an unwanted vessel? Why are they thrown out,

"They will not lament for him, saying, 'Alas my brother!' or, 'Alas sister!' They will not lament for him, saying, 'Alas master!' or, 'Alas his glory!' 19 He will be buried with a donkey's burial, dragged away and thrown out beyond

he and his offspring, thrown into a land which they do not know? 29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD! 30 Thus says the LORD: Write you this man childless, a man who will not prosper in his days; for none of his offspring will prosper,

the gates of Jerusalem. 20 Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, and lift up your voice in Bashan, and cry out from the mountain passages; for all your lovers are destroyed. 21 I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, 'I will not listen.' This has been your way from your youth,

sitting on the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

not obeying my voice. 22 The wind will consume all your shepherds, and your lovers will go into captivity. Surely then you will be ashamed and

"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who tend my people: You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them. See, I will punish you for your evil deeds, says the LORD. 3 And I will gather the remainder of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them back to their folds. And they will be fruitful and increase.

dismayed for all your wickedness. 23 O inhabitant of Lebanon, who makes your nest in the cedars, how you will be pitied when pangs come

on you, pain like a woman in labour!

24 "As I live, says the LORD, though Coniah

and 29:1,2 for the fulfillment of these verses. It seems from v 28 he had children (see also 1 Chron 3:17-19), but God treated him as if he had none. No descendants of Jehoiachin ever became king over Judah. His grandson Zerubbabel later on was governor, not king. 22:29 How strongly God emphasizes the obedient hearing of His Word! – Deut 11:27,28; 13:4; 27:26; Matt 7:24-27; Heb 12:25. 23:1,2 The sheep were the people of Judah, the shepherds were their wicked leaders and rulers. God would repay them in full for what they had done to Judah.

to know God (Jam 1:27; Deut 10:12,13; Hos 6:6; Mic 6:8). The true knowledge of God will result in lives of justice and honesty and mercy and obedience. If we say we know God and do not practice these things we are deceived (1 John 2:3,4; 3:6). 22:19 Jehoiakim was treated as he had treated others (2 Chron 36:5,6. The king of Babylon bound him to take him to Babylon, but it seems he changed his mind and killed him near Jerusalem). 22:20-23 It is very difficult to determine whether these verses were spoken to king Jehoiakim, or to some other king, or to the people of Israel. In any case, from the language of v 20, we can judge that God wanted the message to be heard widely. And the message was clear (4:31). 22:24-30 Now God speaks to another king of Judah, the next to the last one before the final destruction of Jerusalem by the armies of Babylon. His full name was Jehoiachin but he was also called Jeconiah or simply Coniah (as it is here). See 24:1

"Punish" – or "visit." The Hebrew word means both. 23:3,4 The prophets often spoke of the return of Israel from exile – Isa 11:10-12; Jer 27:22; 29:10,11; 34:11-16; Ezek 37:2028; Amos 9:15. Some of their prophecies were fulfilled in the days following the fall of the Babylonian empire (2 Chron 36:20-23; Ezra 1:1-5; etc). But a more complete

JEREMIAH 23:4 1012

The pleasant places of the wilderness

4 And I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them; and they will no longer fear or be dismayed; and not one of them will be missing, says the LORD.

are dried up, for their course is evil,

and their might is not right.

11 "For both prophet and priest are profane. Yes, in my house I have found their

5 "See, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David

wickedness, says the LORD. 12 Therefore their way will be to them like slippery paths in the darkness. They will be driven on, and fall in them; for I will bring disaster on them,

a righteous Branch, and a King will reign and prosper, and will administer judgment and

justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah will be saved,

and Israel will dwell safely. And this is his name, the one by which

the year of their punishment,

says the LORD. 13 And I saw folly in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal, and caused

he will be called, The LORD Our Righteousness.

my people Israel to go astray. 14 I have also seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem. They commit adultery and walk in lies,

7 "Therefore, see, the days are coming, says the LORD, when they will no longer say, 'The LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel up out of the land of Egypt,' 8 But, 'The LORD lives, who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country,' and from all countries where I had driven them. And they will live in their own land."

and they strengthen the hands of

evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to me,

and its inhabitants like Gomorrah. 15 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: See, I will feed them with wormwood,

9 My heart within me is broken because

of the prophets. All my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, and like a

and make them drink bitter water. For from the prophets of Jerusalem

man overcome by wine, because of the LORD,

godlessness has gone out into the

and because of his holy words. 10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourns.

whole land. 16 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the

taking place in his land, and the message of destruction the Lord had given. 23:11 Beginning here and going on to the end of this chapter God speaks of the false prophets who were such a plague in Jeremiah's day. Neither they nor the priests tried to conceal their wickedness, even in the temple. They were openly contemptuous of both man and God. 23:12 Deut 32:35. "Year" – 11:23. 23:13 Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom. God is reminding Judah of the sins of Samaria which brought its destruction (2 Kings 17:7-20).

restoration than that seems required to fulfill the language of the prophets. 23:5 "Branch" – a name for the Messiah (33:15; Isa 11:1; Zech 3:8; 6:12). As man He was a branch of the royal house of David (Luke 1:30-33; Rom 1:3). His future reign as king is briefly described in several Old Testament Scriptures (Ps 2:6-9; 45:1-7; 72:5-17; Isa 9:6,7; 11:1-9; 32:1-3; Zech 14:9-21; etc). See note at Isa 2:2-4. 23:6 This did not occur at Christ's first coming.

"The LORD Our Righteousness" – 33:16; see Gen 15:6; 1 Cor 1:30; Phil 3:8,9. All men are sinners and have no true righteousness of their own (Isa 64:6). God in His great mercy provides the perfect righteousness of Christ to those who turn to Him. This is to be received by faith. When we trust in Him the Lord Himself becomes our righteousness, and so in God's eyes our righteousness becomes as perfect as His. This is the way God has provided for fallen man to gain righteousness and enter God's holy heaven (Rom 3:21-26). 23:7,8 16:14,15. 23:9,10 Jeremiah again speaks of his inner pain that came because of what was then

"Baal" – note at Jud 2:11. 23:14,15 This is the most severe condemnation imaginable of Jerusalem's prophets. They said they were God's spokesmen, but lived for Satan. They were wicked themselves and encouraged wickedness in others. They were no better than the people of Sodom and had no right to expect a better fate (Gen 13:13; 19:24,25; Isa 1:9,10; 2 Pet 2:6). Alas, such people are still with us propagating lies and promoting wickedness in the churches (2 Tim 3:1-7; 2 Pet 2:1).

"LORD of hosts" – note at 1 Sam 1:3. 23:16,17 "Vain hopes" – this is one of the

1013 JEREMIAH 23:33

prophets who prophesy to you. They give you vain hopes. They speak a vision of their own heart,

23 Am I a God at hand, says the LORD, and not a God afar off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I will not see him?

and not from the mouth of the LORD. 17 They still say to those who despise me, 'The LORD has said, You will have peace,' and they say to everyone who follows

says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth?

says the LORD.

the imagination of his own heart, 'No harm will come on you.' 18 For who has stood in the council of the LORD, and has seen and heard his word? Who has paid attention to his word,

25 "I have heard what the prophets said, those prophesying lies in my name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.' 26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Yes, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think they can make my people forget my name by their dreams which each one of them tells to his neighbour, as their fathers forgot my name for Baal. 28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? says the LORD. 29 Is not my word like a fire? says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

and heard it ? 19 See, a whirlwind from the LORD has gone forth in fury,

a violent whirlwind. It will fall violently on the head

of the wicked. 20 The anger of the LORD will not return, until he has carried out the

thoughts of his heart and until he has performed them. In the last days you will understand

30 "Therefore, see, I am against the prophets each of whom steals my words from his neighbour, says the LORD. 31 See, the LORD says, I am against the prophets who use their tongues and say, 'He says.' 32 See, the LORD says, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, and tell them, and make my people go astray by their lies, and by their recklessness, yet I did not send them or command them. Therefore they will not profit this people at all, says the LORD.

it perfectly.

21 "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they

prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my council, and had caused my people to hear

my words, then they would have turned them from

33 "And when this people, or a prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, 'What is the oracle of the LORD?' you shall then say to them, 'What oracle? I

their evil way, and from their evil deeds.

terrible things about the teaching of lies. People believe them and acquire false hopes of salvation.

14:14. The falsity of their so-called revelations from God is seen in their results (v 27. See Deut 13:1-5; 18:22). 23:28,29 God did not use force to keep false prophets from speaking their lies ("chaff"). He only encouraged His true spokesmen to speak the truth of His word ("wheat"). God knew that in spite of lying prophets His powerful word would accomplish what His wisdom planned (1:12; Isa 55:11). 23:30 False prophets were taking from each other false interpretations of God's words, or words that they wrongly supposed came from God. 23:31 This is not uncommon in our own day. Then and now there are those who are called prophets or God's spokesmen who falsely declare that the words which come out of their own minds are revelations from God. 23:32 "Recklessness" – the Hebrew word seems to include the idea also of "boasting." False prophets exalt themselves, pass themselves off as great ones and so draw people after them (see Acts 8:9; 2 Pet 2:10,12). 23:33-40 Terrible punishment awaits those who declare that their own words are

"Own heart" – 14:14. Their lies in v 17 are lies common in the world today. Those who know the Bible know that it will not be well with those who do not love the true God, and that there is no peace to the wicked (Ps 11:7-16; 32:10; Isa 3:10,11; 48:22; Matt 23:33; Rom 2:5-11; 1 Cor 16:22; Heb 2:1-3; Rev 21:8). 23:18-21 The false prophets were ignorant of God's plans. They were saying that no harm would come to a sinful people. God declared that great harm was on the way. Verses 19,20 are repeated in 30:23,24. 23:22 This is the work of true prophets of God. It can be accomplished only by those who spend time in God's presence and get God's message. 23:23,24 Did not the false prophets know how impossible it was to conceal anything from the omnipresent God? (Gen 3:8; Ps 139:7-12; Amos 9:2-4; Heb 4:13). 23:25-27 Having dreams was one of the ways the false prophets claimed to receive messages from God. For other ways see

JEREMIAH 23:34 1014

will forsake you, says the LORD.' 34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, who say, 'The oracle of the LORD,' I will punish that man and his household. 35 Thus every one of you will say to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, 'What has the LORD answered?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?' 36 And you will not mention the oracle of the LORD any more; for every man's word will be his oracle; for you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God. 37 Thus you shall say to the prophet, 'What has the LORD answered you?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?' 38 But since you say, 'The oracle of the LORD,' therefore thus says the LORD: Because you say this word, 'The oracle of the LORD,' and I have sent word to you, saying, 'You must not say, The oracle of the LORD,' 39 Therefore, see, I, I myself, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and drive you from my presence. 40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten."

4 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent from this place into the land of the Chaldeans. 6 For I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; and I will build them up and not pull them down, and I will plant them, and not uproot them. 7 And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. And they will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with their whole heart.

8 "And like the bad figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten," the LORD definitely says this, "so I will deal with Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the rest of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who live in the land of Egypt; 9 and I will deliver them up to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for misery, to be an object of scorn and a proverb, of a taunt and a curse, in all the places where I drive them. 10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the plague among them, until they are consumed from the land that I gave to them and to their fathers."

24 25

The LORD caused me to see two baskets of figs set in front of the temple of the LORD. This occurred after Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe, and the other basket had very bad figs, which were so bad they could not be eaten.

The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; 2 Jeremiah the prophet spoke this to all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 3 "From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, to this day, which is the twenty-third year, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking; but you have not listened.

3 Then the LORD said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?"

And I said, "Figs. The good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten."

4 "And the LORD has sent to you all his servants

messages revealed by God. Observe carefully in v 36 how widespread this practice was in Jeremiah's day and what the result of it was.

God had a good purpose in sending them away. He would keep them as good fruit should be kept and bring them back. 24:7 A mind to know God is one of His great and glorious gifts (Jer 31:33,34; John 17:3; 2 Cor 4:6; Heb 8:11). "My people" – Ex 19:5; Lev 26:12; 2 Cor 6:16-18; Heb 8:10. 24:8-10 God sorted the people as a man would sort fruit. After sending the good fruit to Babylon, He saw to it that the rebels who were left behind would perish in one way or another. 25:1-3 Jeremiah had twenty-three years of very difficult and apparently fruitless ministry. Actually he was a success – all through those years he faithfully stood for God and delivered God's messages just as God gave them to him. Success is doing what God tells us to do, not in appearing to be great before men. If the people did not listen it was not Jeremiah's fault. 25:4-6 He is referring to the prophets who

"Oracle" – Num 23:7. "Perverted the words of the living God" (v 36) – Gal 1:7,8; 2 Pet 3:16. Actually the people then did not really want God's messages spoken by God's true prophet. They preferred to hear the pleasant lies of the false prophets and to think themselves spiritual because they seemed to be inquiring about God's message. 24:1-3 Other object lessons at 1:11-14; 13:1-11; 18:1-4. "Jeconiah" – another name for Jehoiachin. "Carried away" – 2 Kings 24:10-16. 24:4-10 The exiles who went to Babylon are likened to good figs because they accepted God's dealings with them and submitted to the king of Babylon (21:8,9; 38:2,17,18).

1015 JEREMIAH 25:22

the prophets, rising early and sending them; but you have not listened, or turned your ear to hear. 5 They said, 'Now every one of you turn back from his evil way, and from your evil deeds, and live in the land that the LORD has given to you and to your fathers forever and ever, 6 and do not go after other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no harm.'

are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their sin, says the LORD, and will make it a perpetual desolation. 13 And I will bring on that land all I have spoken and proclaimed against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. 14 For many nations and great kings will enslave them also; and I will repay them in accordance with their deeds, and in accordance with the works of their own hands.'

7 '"Yet you have not listened to me, says the LORD, provoking me to anger with the works of your hands to your own harm. 8 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not heard my words, 9 see, I will send and take all the clans of the north, says the LORD, and my servant Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an object of astonishment and of hissing, and a perpetual desolation. 10 Moreover, I will take away from them the sound of joy, and the sound of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. 11 And this whole land will be a desolation, and an object of astonishment. And these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

15 "For thus said the LORD God of Israel to me: 'Take this wine cup of fury from my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it. 16 And they will drink, and be shaken, and go mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.'"

17 Then I took the cup from the LORD's hand, and caused all the nations to whom the LORD sent me to drink it: 18 namely Jerusalem and the cities of Judah and its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an object of astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is today; 19 Pharaoh king of Egypt and his servants and his princes and all his people, 20 and all the mixed people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the rest of Ashdod, 21 Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon, 22 and all the

12 '"And it will come about when seventy years

came before him (7:25,26). 25:7 "Not listened to me" – since it was God who sent the prophets, refusing to hear them was the same as refusing to hear Him.

people in Canaan. For every year of disobedience they had to spend a year in exile. In this way God again showed them (and us) the importance of obedience to His word. 25:12 50:18. God used Babylon to punish Judah and Jerusalem, but this does not mean Babylon was a righteous nation. In fact, they were a very wicked nation, and God, after using them against Judah, punished them too. Observe that Jehovah, the God of the Bible, is the God over all nations and exercises authority over all (27:5). This is a truth the king of Babylon himself learned (Dan 4:34,35). 25:13 Chapters 50 and 51. 25:14 "Nations" – the Medes and their allies and successors (51:11,28; and 5:30,31).

"Works of your hands" – idols. "Your own harm" – note at 7:6. 25:8-11 "Therefore" – there are always unpleasant consequences of disobedience. 25:9 "North" – includes the allies of Babylon. "My servant" – 27:6. Nebuchadnezzar at that time did not know the true God, but God used him as His instrument to punish Judah and in this sense called him His servant. See also Isa 41:2; 44:28. People may unknowingly be used by God to accomplish His purposes. 25:11 "Desolation" – Lev 26:31,32; Jer 4:26,27; 12:11,12. "These nations" – vs 17-26. "Seventy years" – this was not an arbitrary figure. God commanded Israel in Lev 25:1-6 to let their lands rest every seventh year. They were to plant no crops at all on those years but to live on the abundance God would give every 6th year (Lev 25:20-22). Eventually Israel disobeyed this command as they did the other commands of God. God knew they would disobey and warned them of the consequences in Lev 26:33-35. The captivity of Judah in Babylon fulfilled both this word and the prophecy of Jeremiah (2 Chron 36:21). Evidently God's command about rest for the land had been disobeyed 70 times during the stay of God's

"Repay" – Deut 32:41; Rom 12:19. 25:15,16 The cup of wrath here signifies God's proclamations of judgments against the nations named in verses 18 to 26. 25:17 See 1:10. Jeremiah's making the nations drink from the cup signifies his proclamation of God's revelation against them. He did not need to go to the nations named, and of course would not have taken a literal cup even if he had gone. He merely declared and wrote God's revelation and thus it became effective (1:12; Isa 55:11). The very speaking of God's words by the prophet made this fulfillment certain. Whenever God spoke through His prophets He purposed to do what He said He would do. 25:20 Job 1:1.

JEREMIAH 25:23 1016

kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastlands which are across the sea, 23 Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all who are in the farthest corners, 24 and all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed people who live in the desert, 25 and all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes, 26 and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with the other, and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the surface of the earth; and after them, the king of Sheshach will drink.

he will plead his case with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked

to the sword,'" says the LORD.

32 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "See, disaster will spread from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind will be raised

up from the ends of the earth. 33 And on that day those slain by the LORD will be from one end of the

earth even to the other end

of the earth. They will not be lamented, or gathered,

27 "Therefore you shall say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Drink, and be drunk, and vomit, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.' 28 And it will be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, that you must say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: You will certainly drink. 29 For, see, I begin to bring disaster on the city which is called by my name, and should you be completely unpunished? You will not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, says the LORD of hosts.'

or buried. They will be refuse on the ground." 34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry, and roll yourselves in the ashes, you leader of the flock, for the time

for your slaughter and for your

dispersion has come, and you will fall like a choice vessel. 35 And the shepherds will have no way to flee, or the leader of the flock to escape. 36 A sound of the cry of the shepherds, and a wailing of the leader of

30 "Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and say to them,

the flock, will be heard ; for the LORD has ruined their pasture. 37 And the peaceful folds are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD. 38 He has left his lair, like the lion; for their land is desolate because

"'The LORD will roar from on high,

and utter his voice from his holy

dwelling place. He will roar mightily against his habitation; he will give a shout, like those who

trample grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. 31 A noise will come to the ends of the earth, for the LORD has a controversy with

of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah this word

the nations,

25:26 Verses 18 to 25 list places and peoples not too far distant from Israel. Here the word of God through the prophet reaches out to the ends of the earth. God will punish every country in the world for their sins.

the reason for it all is given (and the reason for similar times throughout human history). It was a time of God's judgment on wicked peoples. The tumult of battle is the Lord's roar from heaven, His shout is like those treading grapes (v 30; Isa 63:3; Joel 3:13; Rev 14:19,20). Those slain in battle are "slain by the LORD" (v 33). The destruction brought by armies is His work of destruction (v 36). All is a result of His fierce anger (vs 37,38). These verses are a small picture of what will happen at the end of this age when God arises in wrath against all the nations of earth (Isa 24:1-6; 26:20,21; Matthew chapter 24; Heb 12:26; Revelation chapters 8-9, 15-19). 26:1-6 This message was given several years before the Babylonians captured Judah and Jerusalem. At that time God offered the people a way of escape. God would much rather save people than destroy them (Ezek 18:32; 33:11). He will forgive when He sees repentance (18:7,8). He will watch for it and delay His punishments as

"Sheshach" – 51:41; indicates Babylon. 25:27 "Drink" – means they will experience the disasters God has revealed against them. 25:28 No doubt the nations would like to reject God's cup of wrath but none can escape. 25:29 "City which is called by my name" – Jerusalem. If God punishes His own special people will He let other nations escape? The answer is obvious. Compare 1 Pet 4:17,18. 25:30-38 The Babylonian conquest of western Asia and Judah, the fall of Babylon a few decades later, and the rise of the MedoPersian empire ushered in a time of great upheaval among the nations. Invasions, fierce battles with great slaughter, destruction and misery everywhere – these are the themes of these verses. In v 31

1017 JEREMIAH 26:20

came from the LORD, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD's house, and speak to all the people of the cities of Judah who come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not omit a word. 3 Perhaps they will listen, and each one turn from his evil way, so that I may relent concerning the disaster which I have planned to do to them because of their evil deeds. 4 And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, 5 to listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent to you, both rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened), 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city an object of cursing to all the nations of the earth.'"

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will relent concerning the disaster that he has proclaimed against you. 14 As for me, see, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15 But know for certain, that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on its inhabitants. For truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, "This man does not deserve to die, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."

7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. 8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, "You shall surely die. 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate without an inhabitant?'" And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

17 Then some of the elders of the land got up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,

18 "Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying,

'Thus says the LORD of hosts: Zion will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps, and the mountain of the house like the

high places of a forest.' 19 "Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah ever put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and seek the LORD? And the LORD relented concerning the disaster which he had proclaimed against them. Thus we might we bring a great disaster against our souls."

10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD, and sat down at the entrance of the new gate of the LORD's house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, "This man deserves to die, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears."

20 And there was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah

long as possible. But if there is no repentance, no obedience there can be no escape (compare Luke 13:1-5; Rom 2:5). 26:2 "All the words" – no word God speaks can lack importance. Every one of them will be fulfilled, and He wants men to know everything He says (Deut 4:2; 6:6-9; Ps 12:6; Prov 30:5,6; Matt 5:18; 2 Tim 3:16,17; Rev 22:18,19). 26:6 "Shiloh" – note at 7:12-15. 26:8 Jeremiah was completely faithful to God's instructions in v 2. But see how men would reward him for it. Jeremiah was not the first of God's servants nor the last to be treated like that (Acts 7:52; Heb 11:35-38). 26:10 These officials came to judge the dispute. 26:11 The priests and false prophets make their case before the officials. They did not seem at all interested to find out whether Jeremiah spoke the truth. Here is full-grown prejudice and intolerance, and willful ignorance. Compare Matt 26:62-66. Such

things are met with in our day also. 26:12-15 This is Jeremiah's defense. He was interested only in the truth. The matter of living or dying was a much smaller thing in his eyes. This is what God wants in every generation – people who love truth more than life itself. Compare Ps 51:6; Acts 20:24; etc. 26:16 In this matter at least the officials and people had more regard for truth and justice than the priests and prophets who should have been their greatest defenders. 26:17-19 Micah's prophecy, uttered about one hundred years previously, was still known in Judah (Micah 3:12). Hezekiah's repentance is mentioned in 2 Chron 32:25,26. The wisdom of these elders reminds us of that exercised by Gamaliel (Acts 5:33-39). 26:20-23 This material is inserted like a parenthesis in the narrative. It reveals the difference between King Hezekiah and King

JEREMIAH 26:21 1018

of Kirjath-Jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land, just like all the words of Jeremiah. 21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Urijah heard it, he was afraid and fled, and went to Egypt. 22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and some men who went with him to Egypt. 23 And they brought Urijah out of Egypt, and took him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword, and threw his dead body into the burial place of the common people.

which will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and which will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish with the sword and with the famine and with the plague until I have consumed them by their hand, says the LORD. 9 Therefore do not listen to your prophets, or to your diviners, or to your dreamers, or to your magicians, or to your sorcerers, who speak to you, telling you that you will not serve the king of Babylon, 10 for they prophesy a lie to you, resulting in your removal far from your land; and I will drive you out, and you will perish. 11 But the nations which bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, those I will still let remain in their own land, says the LORD; and they will till it, and live in it.'"

24 But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to be put to death.

12 I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah in accordance with all these words, saying, "Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live. 13 Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the plague, as the LORD has spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Therefore do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, 'You will not serve the king of Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you. 15 'For I have not sent them,' says the LORD, 'yet they prophesy a lie in my name, resulting in my driving you out and your perishing, you, and the prophets who prophesy to you.'"

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah this word came from the LORD, speaking to Jeremiah. 2 Thus the LORD said to me: "Make bonds and yokes, and put them on your neck, 3 and send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon, by the hand of the messengers who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah; 4 and command them to say to their masters, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; thus you must tell your masters: 5 I have made the earth, the men and the beasts that are on the earth, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and I give it to whomever I please. 6 And now I have given all these lands into the hands of my servant Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon; and I have also given him the beasts of the field to serve him. 7 And all nations will serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time for his land comes; and then many nations and great kings will make him their servant.

16 Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, "See, the articles in the LORD's house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon," for they prophesy a lie to you. 17 Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and live. Why should this city be laid waste?' 18 But if they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD

8 "And this will happen: the nation and kingdom

Jehoiakim. It shows, too, the mortal danger Jeremiah was in. What prevented Jehoiakim doing to Jeremiah as he did to Uriah? See 1:8,19. This Uriah is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. 26:24 Ahikam served good king Josiah and was the father of Gedaliah who later governed Judah for a time (2 Kings 22:12; 25:22). God here used Ahikam to help save Jeremiah's life. To fulfill His will God uses human means when He chooses to do so (another example – Acts 23:12-24). 27:1-11 Jeremiah was a prophet to the nations (1:5,10). Here he sends God's message to some of them. Putting on a yoke was a striking way of calling attention to the message. The message is the same as that which he gave to Judah. Speaking to them Jehovah God emphasizes that He is the

great Creator and Governor of the universe (v 5. Note at Ps 47:2). And He warns them against false and harmful messages from other sources (vs 9,10. Compare Deut 18:912). In this way God showed His concern for the nations on the borders of Israel, some of which were ancient enemies of His people. 27:12-15 21:8-10; 38:2,3,17,18. 27:15 14:14; 23:21. 27:16 An example of the lies told by the false prophets (28:1-4). Several years before this (in 605 BC) the Babylonians carried off some articles from the temple. 27:17 Resistance to the king of Babylon would stir up his wrath and cause him to destroy Jerusalem. 27:18 The mark of a true prophet of God is not the telling of lies but the ability to plead with God.

1019 JEREMIAH 28:15

of hosts, that the articles which are left in the house of the LORD and in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem, do not go to Babylon. 19 For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the stands, and concerning the rest of the articles that remain in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the officials of Judah and Jerusalem from Jerusalem to Babylon; 21 yes, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the articles that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem: 22 'They will be carried to Babylon, and they will be there until the day that I visit them, says the LORD. Then I will bring them up, and restore them to this place.'"

5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the LORD, 6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the LORD do so. May the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the articles of the LORD's house, and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place. 7 But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing, and in the hearing of all the people: 8 The prophets who were before me and you long ago prophesied both against many countries and against great kingdoms, about war and disaster, and plague. 9 The prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of the prophet comes true, then it will be known that the LORD has really sent that prophet."

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke from the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and broke it. 11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Just so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'" And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

And it happened the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that the prophet Hananiah the son of Azur, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, 2 "Thus the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, has spoken, saying, 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD's house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon, says the LORD, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: You have broken the wooden yokes, but you shall make iron yokes for them. 14 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have put an iron yoke on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. And I have given him the beasts of the field also.'"

15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the

27:19-22 These articles were taken to Babylon in 586 BC (52:12-19; 2 Kings 25:13-17). "Jeconiah" (vs 20; 28:4; 29:2) – a variant of Jehoiachin. 27:22 "I will bring them" – fulfilled in 538 BC (Ezra 1:7-11). 28:1 Hananiah is the second false prophet to be named in Jeremiah (Pashhur was the first – 20:1-6; see also 29:21,31,32). In the Bible people are exposed for what they are, and prophets and apostles informed God's people about false prophets and teachers, or those who opposed God's work, sometimes naming them (Acts 8:18-23; 13:6-11; 2 Tim 2:17; 4:14; 3 John 9). 28:2 Hananiah claimed to be in touch with God and to speak with the same authority as the great prophets of the Bible. He may have been consciously trying to deceive, or may have been totally deceived himself and was persuaded he was really speaking for God. 28:3 27:16. 28:4 Hananiah flatly contradicted the word

of God that came through Jeremiah in 22:24-27. This is one way that false prophets can be known – they will inevitably deny some part or other of the Word of God (2 Pet 2:1). 28:5-9 Such an event as Hananiah foretold was something Jeremiah wished could happen. But he knew very well it would not. 28:9 False prophets spoke of peace because they thought that was what people wanted to hear. Many so-called Bible teachers suit their message to what people like rather than to what God has revealed (Rom 16:18; Col 2:4; 2 Tim 4:3).

"Comes true" – see Deut 18:22. This is the final test of anyone who is called a prophet. And it is a test Biblical prophets gloriously pass, thus proving the truth of 2 Pet 1:21. 28:10-17 Here is clearly given the contrast between a false prophet and a true one. Outwardly they may not seem greatly different, but in the heart of the true prophet there is truth, in the heart of the false prophet there is deceit. The one saves men

JEREMIAH 28:16 1020

prophet Hananiah, "Listen now, Hananiah. The LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the LORD: 'See, I will hurl you from the surface of the earth. This year you will die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.'"

who are among you, deceive you, and do not listen to your dreams which you have them dream. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them," says the LORD.

10 For thus says the LORD: "After seventy years are completed at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, causing you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says the LORD, "thoughts of peace, and not of disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call to me, and you will go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found by you," says the LORD. "And I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you," says the LORD, "and I will bring you back to the place where I caused you to be carried away as captives."

17 So the prophet Hananiah died the same year in the seventh month.

Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders who had been carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This occurred after Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, had gone from Jerusalem. 3 He sent it by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), saying,

15 I write because you have said, "The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon." 16 Know that the LORD has said this concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who live in this city, and concerning your brethren who have not gone away with you into captivity: 17 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "See, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the plague, and I will make them like rotten figs, that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 And I will pursue them with the sword, with the famine, and with the plague, and will hand them over to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of cursing and of astonishment and of hissing and of scorn among all the nations where I drive them, 19 because they have not listened to my words," says the LORD, "which I sent to them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and

4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who have been carried away as captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses for yourselves and live in them, and plant gardens, and eat their produce. 6 Marry, and have sons and daughters. And find wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters, so that you may increase there, and not decrease. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away as captives, and pray to the LORD for it. For in its peace you will have peace."

8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Do not let your prophets and your diviners,

by turning them to God and His truth; the other destroys men by getting them to trust in lies (v 15). The end of the true prophet is to have honor with God (John 12:26); the end of the false prophet is dishonor and destruction (2 Cor 11:15; 2 Pet 2:1). See also 14:14,15. 29:1-14 God had a message to the exiles in Babylon who had been taken there in 597 BC. False prophets had arisen there (vs 21,31) and were confusing them. So God chose Jeremiah to write His message to the exiles. By then many of them, seeing the fulfilment of some of his prophecies, must have regarded him as a true prophet and man of God. The message reveals God's loving concern for His people and gives them practical instruction. The exiles must be prepared to stay in Babylon until the period of 70 years is complete (v 10). They should try to live normal lives and work and pray for the prosperity of the country of their exile

(vs 5-7). They must reject the lies of the false prophets among them (vs 8,9). Verses 10-14 enlarge on the promise that had been given in Judah (16:14,15; 24:4-7).

God promises to bring them back to the land of Israel but He tells them that they will seek Him for this (Dan 9:1-3). This is the relationship between God's promises and men's requests. God means His promises to be claimed and turned into believing prayer. 29:13 Here is a truth for all men. God can be found, can be known. He hears prayer and answers those who seek with the whole heart (Deut 4:29; Hos 10:12; Matt 7:7,8; Luke 11:5-10; 18:1). 29:14 "Will bring you back from captivity" – or "will restore your well-being." The Hebrew can mean either one. See note at Ps 14:7. 29:15 That is, they may see no need of Jeremiah or his letter. They did not understand that their prophets were liars.

1021 JEREMIAH 30:7

sending them. But you would not listen, says the LORD.

the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 31 "Send word to all those of the captivity, saying, 'Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and he caused you to trust in a lie, 32 therefore thus says the LORD: See, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his offspring. He will not have a man to live among this people; nor will he see the good that I will do for my people, says the LORD, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD.'"

20 "So hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in my name: See, I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he will kill them before your eyes. 22 And because of them a curse will be taken up by all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, 'The LORD make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire.' 23 Because they have done vile things in Israel, have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them. I know, and am a witness, says the LORD."

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 3 For, see, the days are coming, says the LORD, that I will bring back my people Israel and Judah from captivity, says the LORD, and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it."

24 Tell this to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, 25 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because you have sent letters in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 that the LORD has made you priest in place of Jehoiada the priest, that you should be the overseer of the house of the LORD, over every madman who makes himself a prophet, to put him in prison, and in the stocks. 27 Now therefore why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who makes himself a prophet to you? 28 For he sent word to us in Babylon, saying, 'This captivity is long. Build houses for yourself and live in them, and plant gardens, and eat their produce.'"

4 And these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 "For thus says the LORD:

We have heard a voice of trembling,

of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask now and see whether a man ever

bears a child? Why do I see every man with his hands

on his loins, like a woman in labour,

and all faces turned pale? 7 Alas! For that day is great,

so that none is like it. So it is the time of Jacob's trouble,

29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in

29:20-32 Three false prophets and their end. God has His eye on all the false prophets of the world and will deal with them in His time and in His way. 30:1 The four chapters 30-33 form a unit. In them God gives repeated promises that He will restore both Israel and Judah to the land of Canaan. In contrast to many other parts of Jeremiah's writing this whole section abounds with words of comfort and hope for the future. 30:2 We now have the privilege of studying the things Jeremiah wrote down nearly 2,600 years ago. This "book" was in the form of a scroll. See 36:2. 30:3,4 16:14,15; 23:3-8; 24:4-7; 29:14. Israel means the northern kingdom taken into captivity by Assyria in 721 BC; Judah means the southern kingdom destroyed finally in 586 BC. What follows concerns people from both kingdoms.

exiles of Judah from Babylon in 537-538 BC was only a partial fulfilment of Jeremiah's prophecies (if even that). 30:7 The time (the meaning of "day" here) referred to in verses 5 and 6 will be so terrible that there will never be one like it again. The Lord Jesus also spoke of a time of trouble unequaled in the whole history of the world (Matt 24:21). Since there cannot be two distinct times both of which are unequaled, it is reasonable to think that both Jeremiah and the Lord Jesus refer to the same period of time. The Scriptures sometimes speak of a time of terrible trouble at the end of this age followed by the outpouring of God's wrath. Notes on the great tribulation at Matt 24:21,29; Rev 6:9-17; 7:14. Notes on the Day of the LORD at Joel 1:15; etc.

Though that future time will mean great trouble for Jacob (the Jewish people), this does not mean that others also will not experience this trouble. Verses 9 and 14 of Revelation chapter 7, chapter 16, 19:11-21 and other Scriptures reveal that both the great tribulation and the Day of the Lord will

"I will bring back my people Israel and Judah from captivity" – or "I will restore the well-being of my people Israel and Judah." 30:5-11 From some expressions in this section we may judge that the return of the

JEREMIAH 30:8 1022

but he will be saved out of it.

They are not looking for you. For I have wounded you with the wound

8 "For it will happen in that day, says the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke off your neck,

of an enemy, with the discipline of a cruel one,

for your many evil deeds, because your sins had increased. 15 Why do you cry for yourself in your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of your many iniquities,

and will tear off your bonds, and foreigners will no longer make him

their servant. 9 But they will serve the LORD their God,

and David their king,

because your sins had increased, I did these things to you. 16 Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured; and all your adversaries,

whom I will raise up for them.

10 "Therefore do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, says the LORD, nor be dismayed, O Israel. For, see, I will save you from afar,

every one of them,

and your offspring from the land

will go into captivity; and those who plunder you will be a plunder; and all who prey on you I will give as a prey. 17 For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds,

of their captivity; and Jacob will return, and will be

at rest, and be quiet, and no one will make him afraid. 11 For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you. Though I make a full end of all nations

says the LORD, because they called you an outcast,

saying, 'This is Zion,

where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure,

whom no one seeks.'

18 "Thus says the LORD: See, I will bring back Jacob's tents from captivity, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city will be built on its own ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. 19 And out of them will issue thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry. And I will increase their number, and they will not be few.

and will not leave you altogether unpunished. 12 For thus says the LORD: Your injury is incurable, and your wound is grievous. 13 There is no one to plead your case, so that you may be bandaged. You have no healing medicines. 14 All your lovers have forgotten you.

affect every nation. As for the people of Israel they will not be completely destroyed in that future time but "will be saved out of it." 30:8 A prophecy of permanent freedom for the people of Israel. Notice the words "foreigners will no longer make him their servant." This certainly was not true of the Jews through the centuries following their return from Babylon. At times during those centuries they endured some of the very worst treatment in their long history. So the words still await the future for their complete fulfilment. 30:9 "David their king" – here is another indication that this passage did not have a complete fulfilment at the return of the Jews from Babylon. David, of course, had been dead for centuries by then, and God did not raise him from the dead to be king of Israel again. Since it is said they will "serve" God and "David" it is very probable that "David" here means "the Son of David", the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Him has God raised up for them. But as a nation they have rejected Him and do not serve Him – yet. 30:10 46:27-28. The promise of "rest" and "quiet", and the words "no one will make

him afraid" were not completely fulfilled after the return from Babylon. There were almost constant troubles from that time till the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70 and scattered the Jews, and since then there has been trouble wherever they have gone. 30:11 God will destroy wicked peoples, He disciplines His own people (Prov 3:11,12; Heb 12:5,6). 30:12-15 The Lord describes the wounds He has had to inflict on His people. 30:12,13 8:22; 10:19; Isa 1:5-9; Hos 5:13. There was no human remedy for their wounds. 30:14 "Lovers" – 22:20; Lam 1:2. "I have wounded" – 4:6; 11:11; 18:11; etc. 30:15 2:35; 4:18; 5:9; 6:19. 30:16 3:24; 5:17; 8:16; 10:25; 25:26,29. 30:17 God can heal the wounds that are beyond the help of man (v 12). And He will heal Israel because of the scorn of other nations. 30:18-22 16:14,15; 24:4-7; 29:10-14. 30:18 Nehemiah records the beginnings of this work of rebuilding (see 2:1-9). 30:19 "Thanksgiving" – Ps 7:17; 50:14,15;

1023 JEREMIAH 31:8

I will also glorify them, and they will

"The people who survived the sword, Israel, found grace in the wilderness,

not be insignificant. 20 Their children also will be as before, and their congregation will be

when I went to give him rest."

3 The LORD has appeared to me in the past, saying, "Yes, I have loved

established before me, and I will punish all who oppress them. 21 And their nobles will be from among them, and their governor will come from

you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have

drawn you. 4 I will build you again, and you will

among them; and I will cause him to draw near,

be built, O virgin of Israel. You will again be adorned with your

and he will approach me. For who else would venture to approach

tambourines, and will go out in the

me? says the LORD. 22 And you will be my people, and I will be your God."

dances of those who make merry. 5 You will yet plant vines on the

mountains of Samaria. The planters will plant, and will eat

23 See, the whirlwind of the LORD goes out with fury, a sweeping whirlwind. It will fall violently on the head of the

them like common things. 6 For there will be a day when the

wicked. 24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not go back until he has done it, and until he has carried out the

watchmen on Mount Ephraim will cry out,

'Arise, and let us

go up to Zion to the LORD our God.'" 7 For thus says the LORD:

purposes of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.

"Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations. Proclaim! Praise! And say, 'O LORD, save your people, the remnant

"At that time," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people."

of Israel.' 8 See, I will bring them from the north country,

2 Thus says the LORD:

and gather them from the ends of the earth,

56:12; Lev 7:12,13; 1 Thess 5:18. 30:21 "I will cause him to draw near" – a principle that applies to all who ever truly come to God (John 6:44). 30:22 7:23; Ex 6:7; Lev 26:12; 2 Cor 6:16. 30:23,24 23:19,20. God doesn't say when Israel will understand what He has done, only that they will understand eventually. But other references in the Bible make it clear that men can understand God's words, actions, and ways only when their spiritual eyes are opened and they are taught by the Holy Spirit (see notes at Eph 1:17,18). 31:1 "Families" – here means the ten tribes of the northern kingdom called Israel and the two tribes of the southern kingdom called Judah. Both kingdoms are in view in this chapter. Verses 4-22 speak of the northern kingdom; verses 23-26 speak of the southern kingdom; verses 27-40 speak of the two kingdoms together. 31:2 This may refer to the coming of God's people Israel out of Egypt recorded in Exodus. Or it may be a prophecy of the future using the past tenses of verbs – as though the prophecy were already fulfilled. 31:3 This gives the essence of Deut 4:37; 7:7,8; 10:15; Hos 11:4. Believers now have verses such as Eph 1:4-6; 1 Thess 1:4; 2 Thess 2:13. The salvation of all who will ever be saved has its source in the eternal love of God.

– or it could be translated "The LORD appeared to me from afar." 31:4-22 It is clear that the ten northern tribes are in view here because of the use of the words Samaria (v 5) and Ephraim (vs 6,9,18, 20). Samaria, the heart of the northern kingdom, was captured in 721 BC. From that time on until our day the people of Israel have not returned to God and possessed Samaria. In our day Israel has occupied Samaria, but as a nation is still in unbelief, rejecting their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Since there has been no complete fulfilment of these prophecies in the past we may assume there will be a future fulfilment. Compare Isaiah chapter 53 with its use of the past tense. See note at Isa 55:10,11. 31:6 The people of the northern kingdom, when they broke away from Judah, for the most part stopped coming to Jerusalem to worship (1 Kings 12:25-33). But in the future this will be changed (v 12). 31:7 "Chief" – this could refer to Israel or to large nations where they had been scattered. If God is speaking here of Israel as the chief of the nations, it is not because of its size or strength, but because of its importance as a channel for His Word and for the coming of Christ. 31:8 "Great throng" – this surely indicates a number far in excess of the few from the northern kingdom probably included in the 42,360 (mostly exiles from the southern kingdom) who

"The LORD appeared to me in the past"

JEREMIAH 31:9 1024

and with them the blind and the lame,

my goodness," says the LORD.

the woman with child together with

15 Thus says the LORD: "A voice was heard in Ramah,

the one in labour with child. A great throng will return there. 9 They will come with weeping,

lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children refused

and as they are making supplications

to be comforted for her children, because they were no more." 16 Thus says the LORD: "Restrain your voice from weeping,

I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers

of water in a straight way,

in which they will not stumble. For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn."

and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,

says the LORD, and they will come back from the land

10 Hear the word of the LORD, O you nations, and declare it in the islands far away, and say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him,

of the enemy. 17 And there is hope in your future, says the LORD, that your children will come back into

and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock." 11 For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of

their own borders. 18 I have surely heard Ephraim mourning, 'You have disciplined me,

one who was stronger than he. 12 Therefore they will come and sing on the heights of Zion, and will stream together to the

and I have been disciplined, like an ox unaccustomed to the yoke. Turn me, and I will be turned;

for you are the LORD my God. 19 Surely after I had turned away, I repented, and after I was instructed, I slapped my thigh. I was ashamed, yes, humiliated,

goodness of the LORD, for wheat and for wine and for oil and

for the young of the flock and of the herd. And their soul will be like a watered garden, and they will not grieve any more at all.

because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' 20 Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a delightful child? For though I have spoken against him, I earnestly remember him still. Therefore my inmost being yearns for him. I will certainly have mercy on him,"

13 "Then will the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together. For I will turn their mourning into joy,

and will comfort them, and give them joy in place of their sorrow. 14 And I will satisfy the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people will be satisfied with

says the LORD. 21 "Set up road signs, make guideposts,

returned from Babylon (see Ezra 2:64). 31:9 Weeping and praying suggest repentance and turning to God, and the following verses speak of the joy of salvation and restoration (vs 10-14).

the final restoration of Israel. 31:18 Israel will at last respond to God's discipline and fully turn to Him. As with Israel so with every one of us – we will turn to God only when He turns us (John 6:44). 31:19 A picture of full repentance. 31:20 Ephraim means here the people of Israel. In other places Israel is compared to the bride and the wife of Jehovah (2:2; 4:14; etc.). Here the people are likened to a dearly loved son. No one human relationship can suggest all that God's people mean to Him. When Jeremiah recorded these words Ephraim had been in captivity for about 130 years. Before the final fulfilment of the prophecies in this chapter many more centuries would elapse. But Israel was still in the heart of God, loved and longed for. 31:21,22 Israel is not only like a rebellious son, but also like a daughter gone astray. But she will return to her land and God will use her in an altogether new way, which He

"Ephraim" – here stands for the whole northern kingdom. 31:12 "Not grieve any more at all" – indicates the permanence of their restoration. 31:15 Ramah was about 8 kilometers north of Jerusalem in the territory of Benjamin. Rachel was the mother of Benjamin, the grandmother of Ephraim, Joseph's son. Judging from the context and the verses which follow this verse refers primarily to the continuing sorrow concerning the captivity and destruction of Israel. In Matt 2:18 it is applied to the killing of infants in Bethlehem and vicinity after the birth of the Lord Jesus. Old Testament prophecies sometimes seem to have more than one fulfillment, more than one application. 31:16,17 Weeping will continue only until

1025 JEREMIAH 31:33

set your heart toward the highway,

just as I watched over them to uproot them, and to break and throw them down, and to ruin and afflict them, so I will watch over them, to build and plant them, says the LORD.

the way which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel,

turn back to these cities of yours. 22 How long will you gad about, O backsliding daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing

29 "In those days they will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth have been set on edge.' 30 But everyone will die for his own guilt; the teeth of each one who eats a sour grape will be set on edge.

in the earth: A woman surrounding a man."

31 "See, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with

23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "They will once more use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring them back from captivity, 'The LORD bless you, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.' 24 And in Judah itself, and in all its cities, there will live farmers, and those who go out with flocks. 25 For I will satisfy the weary soul, and refresh every sorrowful soul."

the house of Israel, and with the

house of Judah, 32 Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took

them by the hand to bring them

out of the land of Egypt. This covenant of mine they broke,

26 At this I awoke, and looked around. And my sleep had been sweet to me.

although I was a husband to them,

says the LORD. 33 But this will be the covenant that I make with the house of Israel after

27 "See, the days are coming," says the LORD, "when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of man, and with the offspring of beast. 28 And it will come about, that

those days, says the LORD: I will put my law in their inward parts,

does not clearly describe.

is clear from the whole history of Israel (Jer 11:6-8; 7:25,26; 16:11; 22:9). No one could be saved by the laws or regulations of the old covenant. Indeed, the law brought a curse (Gal 3:10-12). So God promises a new covenant which is not based on man's obedience to law. It is based on what God does. Notice the words "I will" in verses 33,34 repeated five times. This is a covenant of grace which has its foundation, not in man's frail and fallen nature, but in God alone. 31:31 "With the house of Israel", "Judah" – it is not said anywhere in the Bible that this new covenant is made directly with Christ's New Testament Church or with Gentiles or Gentile Christians. These share in the new covenant because they are grafted into the "olive tree" whose root was Abraham and whose branches in the Old Testament were the tribes of Israel (see Rom 11:13-21). The apostles of Christ to whom He gave the new covenant were all Israelites, and for several years all members of the New Testament Church were either Jews or Jewish proselytes. Later more and more Gentiles came into the Church and before long became the vast majority of Christians and began to dominate the Church. However, this does not change the fact that the covenant was made with Israel or that in the future God will fulfil the covenant with that nation as a whole. 31:32 Ex 19:5; 24:8. "A husband" – 2:2; 3:14. 31:33 "Inward parts", "hearts" – under the old covenant God's laws were written on tablets of stone (Ex 31:8; 34:1; 2 Cor 3:7). Under the new covenant God's laws

"A woman surrounding" – or it could be translated "a woman protecting." 31:23,24 God will restore Judah too. All that is said of Israel in the above verses may fittingly be said of the people of the southern kingdom also.

"Bring them back from captivity" – or "restore their well-being."

"Justice", "holiness" – Ps 48:1,2; Isa 1:21,26. 31:25 Isa 40:29-31. 31:26 It appears from this that this revelation (from 30:1) was given to Jeremiah in a dream. See also Gen 15:12-21; Dan 10:9; Zech 4:1. 31:27 From here to the end of the chapter both Israel and Judah are in view. God uprooted both from the land and sent them into captivity. He will plant them again in the land and prosper them. 31:29 Ezek 18:2. This was a misunderstanding of God's word and God's ways. 31:30 Deut 24:16; Ezek 18:3,20; 33:7-18. 31:31-34 Here is the great prophecy of the new covenant which gives its name to the second part of the Bible. For other references see Isa 61:8; Jer 32:40; 50:5; Matt 26:28; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; 2 Cor 3:6; Heb 8:8; 9:15; 12:24; 13:20. It is called "new" in contrast to the covenant made with Israel through Moses at Mt Sinai (notes at Ex 19:5,6).

That old covenant commanded obedience to God's law. Since man is sinful and disobedient by nature, and since God's law cannot make him holy and obedient, the old covenant was certain to fail (see Rom 7:5-25; 8:3; Heb 10:1-4). That it did fail

JEREMIAH 31:34 1026

and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 And no longer will everyone teach his neighbour, and everyone his brother,

when the city will be built for the LORD from the Tower of Hananeel to the Corner Gate. 39 And the measuring line will yet go out opposite it on the hill Gareb, and will go around to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields to the Kidron valley, to the corner of Horse Gate on the east, will be holy to the LORD. It will not be uprooted or thrown down any more forever."

saying, 'Know the LORD', for they will all know me, from the

least of them to the greatest of them,

says the LORD, For I will forgive their wickedness, and I will remember their sin no more.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. 2 For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the courtyard of the prison, which was at the palace of the king of Judah.

35 "Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun as a light by day, and the fixed order of the moon and

of the stars as a light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar, the LORD of hosts is his name: 36 If this fixed order departs from before me, says the LORD, then the offspring of Israel will also

3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, "Why do you prophesy, and say, 'Thus says the LORD, See, I will give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will take it, 4 and Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape out of the hands of the Chaldeans, but will certainly be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes will see his eyes, 5 and he will lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he will be until I visit him, says the LORD. Though you fight with the Chaldeans, you will not prosper.'"

cease from being a nation before me

forever. 37 Thus says the LORD: If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth

searched out below, I will also cast off all the offspring

of Israel for all that they have done,

says the LORD. 38 "See, the days are coming, says the LORD,

6 And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD

are written in the mind and heart (2 Cor 3:3). This indicates a new nature which wants to obey God, a new birth, a new creation (2 Cor 5:17; Eph 2:4,5; etc). It means an inner disposition to have the righteousness of the law fulfilled in them. Without all this there is no evidence that an individual is a partaker of the new covenant.

"LORD of hosts" (v 35) – note at 1 Sam 1:3. 31:38-40 To show that He means the literal nation of Israel God speaks of its city of Jerusalem. Certain specific areas in the city will be rebuilt. The most defiled area will become holy. Thereafter the city will remain permanently. Compare Zech 14:9-11,20,21. Because Jerusalem was completely destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD this prophecy looks to a time after that. And since Jerusalem is still in unbelief rejecting their Messiah, the Lord Jesus, the city is still not holy to the Lord as described in Jeremiah and Zechariah. Compare Matt 23:37-39. So we may judge that this prophecy will be fulfilled sometime in the future. 32:1 This was the year before the Babylonians captured Jerusalem. 32:2 King Zedekiah had arrested Jeremiah (37:21). 32:3-5 The answer to Zedekiah's question "why" was obvious. Jeremiah spoke what God told him to say. But this weak and evil king was not interested in the truth. These words of Jeremiah were fulfilled to the letter (52:7-14).

"I will be their God", etc – Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27; 2 Cor 6:16; Rev 21:3. 31:34 The eternal forgiveness of sins and the personal knowledge of God – these are two of the supreme blessings of the new covenant. Only God can give these and they are altogether a gift of His grace.

"Know" – 9:23,24; 1 Sam 3:7; Hos 2:20; John 17:3; Eph 4:13; Phil 1:3. "Forgive" – Lev 4:20; Ps 32:1; 85:2; 86:5; 130:4; Luke 24:45-47; Eph 1:7; 1 John 1:9. The word "all" in this verse speaks of a complete national salvation of Israel sometime in the future (compare Rom 11:26). 31:35-37 God speaks of the absolute faithfulness of His promises to Israel. Israel's continuing existence as a nation is as certain as the laws of nature which God has established. It is as impossible for His purposes toward that people to fail as it is for someone to measure stellar space or penetrate to the core of the earth.

"Chaldeans" – Babylonians. 32:6-15 God had used object lessons with Jeremiah before (1:11-14; etc). Now He uses Jeremiah himself as an object lesson to the

1027 JEREMIAH 32:25

came to me, saying, 7 See, Hanameel the son of your uncle Shallum will come to you, saying, 'Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.'

purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying, 17 'Ah Lord God! See, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm, and there is nothing too hard for you. 18 You show loving kindness to thousands, and repay the guilt of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them. The Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, 19 great in counsel, and mighty in work. For your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways, and according to the result of his deeds. 20 You set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt to this day, and in Israel, and among other men, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. 21 And you brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror, 22 and gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 And they came in and possessed it. But they did not obey your voice, or walk in your law. Of all that you commanded them to do they have done nothing. Therefore you have caused all this disaster to come on them.

8 "So Hanameel, my uncle's son, came to me in the courtyard of the prison in accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, 'Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the region of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. 9 And I bought the field of Hanameel, my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 And I signed and sealed the deed, took witnesses, and weighed out the money to him in the balances. 11 So I took the deed of purchase, both the one that was sealed in accordance with the law and custom, and the one which was open, 12 and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel, my uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the courtyard of the prison.

13 "And I charged Baruch before them, saying, 14 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, this deed of purchase, both the sealed one, and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, so that they may last a long time.' 15 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Houses and fields and vineyards will be possessed again in this land.'

24 '"See the siege mounds. They have come to the city to take it, and the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it, because of the sword and the famine and the plague. And what you have spoken has happened; and now you see it. 25 And you have said to me, O Lord God, Buy the field for money, and take

16 "Now when I had delivered the deed of

people. God had spoken of the return of Israel from exile (23:3,4; 29:14; 30:10). Now with the armies of Babylon at the gates He orders His prophet to buy a field in Israel. Jeremiah thus demonstrated that he himself believed and obeyed God. All of God's servants must show by their actions that they believe God. If they do not, how can they expect to convince others that they should believe God? 32:7 "Right of redemption" – see Lev 25:25; Ruth 2:20; 4:3. 32:9 "Seventeen shekels" – about 200 grams. 32:11 One reason God gave this record of a kinsman with the right to redeem (buy back) a field, and a sealed scroll containing the deed with its terms and conditions may be this: to help us understand the meaning of the sealed scroll in Rev 5:1-10. The Lord Jesus is man's kinsman-redeemer (see notes at Lev 25:24-31; Ruth 2:20). The title deed of the earth is His to open, the earth is His to claim – which He does in Revelation chapters 6-20. 32:12 Baruch was Jeremiah's closest friend. See 36:4-32. 32:15 Normal life would resume in Israel

after the Babylonian captivity. 32:16 Jeremiah was a man of prayer, an example to us all (8:18,19; 12:1-4; 14:7-9,19-22; 15:15-18; 16:19,20; 17:12-18; 18:19-23; 20:7-18). 32:17 "Arm" – 27:5; 2 Kings 19:15; Ps 102:25. "Nothing too hard" – v 27; Gen 18:14. 32:18 Ex 20:5,6; 34:7. 32:19 "Great in counsel. . .in work" – Ps 66:5; Isa 28:29; Rom 11:33-36. 32:20 Ex 3:20; 7:3; Ps 78:4,12. God continued to do signs and wonders not simply among Israel but among all peoples. 32:21 Deut 4:34; 26:8. 32:22,23 "Possessed it" – Josh 11:23; Ps 44:2; 78:54,55. "But they did not obey" – 11:8. 32:24 14:12. 32:25,26 Jeremiah wonders why God asked him to buy the field. He knew the captivity in Babylon would last for 70 years (25:11,12), and he was already an old man who would not live to see the return of Israel. What good, then, would the land be to him? Moreover, he had no children who could inherit it (16:1,2). Evidently he did not clearly understand that what he did was a

JEREMIAH 32:26 1028

witnesses, though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.'"

command them, and it did not come into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

26 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 "See, I am the LORD, the God of all those living. Is there anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore thus says the LORD: See, I will give this city into the hands of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will take it. 29 And the Chaldeans who are fighting against this city, will come and set fire to this city, and burn it with the houses, on the roofs of which they have offered incense to Baal, and poured out drink offerings to other gods, provoking me to anger.

36 "And now, therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, about which you say, 'It will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon by the sword and by the famine and by the plague': 37 See, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in my anger, and in my fury and great wrath, and I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 And they will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good, and the good of their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing good to them, but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they will not depart from me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land with my whole heart and with my whole soul.

30 "For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only evil in my sight from their youth, for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, says the LORD. 31 For this city has been to me a cause for my anger and my fury from the day that they built it even to this day, so that I must remove it from in front of my face, 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and the children of Judah which they have done, provoking me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 And they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces. Though I taught them, rising early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 But they placed their abominations in the house which is called by my name, defiling it. 35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to make their sons and their daughters pass through the fire to Molech, though I did not

42 "For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster on this people, so I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them. 43 And fields will be bought in this land, about which you say, 'It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.' 44 Men will buy fields for money, and sign deeds and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south. For I will cause them to return from captivity, says the LORD."

symbolic action to teach a lesson to Israel (vs 42-44). 32:27 "All" – Num 16:22; 27:16; Job 12:10; Ezek 18:14; Acts 17:28. 32:29 "Baal" – note at Judges 2:11. "Other gods" – 7:9,10. 32:30 22:21. 32:31 Before David captured Jerusalem and made it his capital it was in the hands of the idolatrous Jebusites (2 Sam 5:6-9). David's son Solomon polluted the city with idols (1 Kings 11:7,8), and many kings after him did likewise. God's wrath against all that was continually increasing until He could justly restrain it no longer. Notes on God's anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11; etc. 32:32 2:8,26-28. 32:33 2:27; 7:13; 18:17. 32:34,35 7:30,31; 2 Kings 21:4,5; Ezek 8:3-16. "Pass through the fire" – note at 2 Kings 16:3. 32:36-44 In the midst of His denunciation of Israel's sin God again gives His gracious promise of restoration. 32:39 "One heart" – Ps 86:11; Acts 4:32.

"Fear" – notes at Gen 20:11; Ps 34:11-14; etc. "Forever" – since this is not true of Israel today the complete fulfilment awaits the final turning of Israel to God at the end of this age. 32:40 The new covenant of 31:31-34 will never be broken, will never fail in its purposes. It is eternal in contrast with the covenant made through Moses (Isa 55:3; Ezek 16:60; 37:26; Heb 8:7,8,13).

"Not depart from me" – another indication that this has not yet been fulfilled toward Israel as a nation. In vs 37 to 42 only one people is in view – the nation Israel, not the Church of the New Testament. 32:41 See how God loves to do good! It delights Him! He will always do all the good He justly can to everyone (note at Ps 78:41). He hates to do harm to anyone; it grieves him to punish and destroy anyone. When He does it, it is because He must do so according to the demands of justice. 32:42-44 This is an expansion of v 15. "Cause them to return from captivity" – or "will restore their well-being" (v 44).

1029 JEREMIAH 33:19

Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, when he was still shut up in the courtyard of the prison, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD the maker of the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it; the LORD is his name: 3 Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. 4 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah which have been torn down to use against the siege mounds and the sword, 5 as they come to fight with the Chaldeans: it is only to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I will slay in my anger and in my fury, since I have hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness.

of the bride, the voice of those who will say, 'Praise the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his mercy continues on forever,' and the voice of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the captive land, as at the first, says the LORD.

12 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all its cities, there will be dwelling places of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, once more the flocks will pass under the hands of the one counting them, says the LORD.

14 "See, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

6 "See, I will bring health and healing to it, and I will heal them, and will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth. 7 And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will build them up, as at the first. 8 And I will cleanse them from all their wickedness, in which they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, in which they have sinned and in which they have transgressed against me. 9 And it will be for me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which will hear of all the good that I do for them; and they will fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I provide for it.

15 "In those days, and at that time, I will cause the Branch of righteousness

to grow up for David; and he will administer justice and

righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

17 "For thus says the LORD: David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 and the priests the Levites will not lack a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to burn grain offerings, and to offer continual sacrifices."

10 "Thus says the LORD: Again there will be heard in this place, which you say will be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice

19 And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah,

33:2 10:12; 32:17; 51:15. 33:3 When we pray to Jehovah the God of the Bible, we are praying to the mighty Creator of the universe. Prayer from a believing and upright heart (such as Jeremiah had) will reach His ears, will bring wonderful answers (Gen 18:32; Ps 3:4; 4:3; 18:6; 27:7; 28:1,2; 30:8; 55:17; Matt 7:7; Jam 5:16). Some of the great and unsearchable things God speaks of here are recorded in the rest of the chapter. 33:5 32:31. 33:6 30:17. 33:7 29:14; 30:3. "Will cause. . .to return" – or "will restore the well-being of." 33:8 31:34. 33:9 3:17. 33:11 Ps 136:1. Notes on thanksgiving at Lev 7:12,13; Ps 7:17; 50:14,15; 56:12; etc. 33:14 We may be sure that God always fulfils His promises (1 Kings 8:56; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18). 33:15,16 These verses speak of the Lord

Jesus Christ. Notes at 23:5,6. God's promises to Israel and Judah were not completely fulfilled at the time of the return from Babylon.

"It" (v 16) – or "He." 33:17 2 Sam 7:13; 2 Chron 7:18; Ps 89:29-37; Luke 1:31-33. 33:18 The Lord Jesus as a man was descended from David and so could inherit his throne. It is more difficult to see how Jesus can fulfil the word here, for He was not descended from Levi, and His priesthood is not a continuation of the priesthood of Aaron. Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchisedek (Heb 7:11-22). All believers in the New Testament are called priests (1 Pet 2:5,9; Rev 1:6), but they have no connection with Levi. The words of this verse may be fulfilled in ways at present unknown to us (compare Ezek 40:44-46).

"Offerings", "sacrifices" – see notes on Ezek 40:38-43. 33:19-22 Compare 31:35-37.

JEREMIAH 33:20 1030

saying, 20 "Thus says the LORD: If you can break my covenant with the day, and my covenant with the night, so that day and night do not exist in their fixed times, 21 then my covenant with David my servant may also be broken, so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22 As the starry host of the heavens cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I will increase the descendants of my servant David, and the Levites who minister to me."

king of Judah. The LORD says this about you: You will not die by the sword, 5 but you will die peacefully; and as in the burning ceremonies for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they will burn spices for you, and will lament for you, saying, 'Alas, master!' for I have proclaimed the word, says the LORD."

6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, 7 when the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah (for these fortified cities remained of the cities of Judah).

23 Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 "Have you not considered what this people have spoken, saying, 'The LORD has rejected the two families which he chose?' So they have despised my people; they are no longer a nation, in their sight. 25 Thus says the LORD: If my covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, 26 then I will reject the offspring of Jacob, and my servant David, so that I do not take any of his offspring as rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for I will cause them to return from captivity, and have mercy on them."

8 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them, 9 so that every man should let his male or female servant who was a Hebrew man or woman, go free, that no one should keep any of them, that is, his brother Jew, in bondage. 10 Now when all the princes and all the people who had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his male or female servant go free, that no one should keep them in bondage any longer, they obeyed and let them go. 11 But afterwards they turned right around and caused the servants and the maid servants, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into bondage as servants and as maidservants.

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth in his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all its cities, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel. Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him the LORD says this: See, I will give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire, 3 and you will not escape from his hands, but will certainly be captured and delivered into his hands. And your eyes will see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he will speak with you mouth to mouth, and you will go to Babylon.

12 Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 13 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying, 14 At the end of each seven years every one of you must release his Hebrew brother who has been sold to you; and when he has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you. But your fathers did not listen or turn their ear to me. 15 And recently you changed and

4 "Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah

21:3-10. Here Zedekiah is promised that he will not die in the capture of Jerusalem but will end his days quietly in Babylon and not without some honor from the people. So God shows mercy even to the wicked. 34:5 2 Chron 16:14. 34:8-10 This was based on instructions in the law (Ex 21:2; Lev 25:10,39-43; Deut 15:12-15). 34:11 Here is another indication of the sad and evil condition of the people in Jerusalem. They very quickly broke their solemn promise to the king, and disobeyed the commands of God's word. The Babylonians temporarily departed from the siege of Jerusalem, and the people thought they were safe again to do as they pleased (34:21). 34:12-16 Could the people imagine that God did not observe their behavior?

33:22 Gen 22:17; 26:4; 32:12. 33:23-26 31:35-37; 33:19-22. 33:24 "Two families" – if this looks back to v 22, it means Judah and Levi. Some commentators think it means the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel. 33:26 The words "offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" suggest their physical descendants. So does the reference to "the two families" in v 24. In the New Testament Gentile believers are the spiritual children of Abraham (Rom 4:11,16,17; Gal 3:7,29), but they are not called the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And the vast majority of Christians now were never a part of either of the two families mentioned in v 24.

"Cause them to return from captivity" – or "restore their well-being." 34:1-5 This is similar to the warning in

1031 JEREMIAH 35:15

did right in my sight, each one proclaiming liberty to his neighbour; and you made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name. 16 But you turned right around and profaned my name, each one causing his servant or his maid servant, whom he had set at liberty at their wish, to return, and brought them into bondage, to be servants and maidservants for you.

sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites, 4 and I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the room of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the room of the princes, which was above the room of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the doorkeeper. 5 And I set jars full of wine and cups in front of the sons of the house of the Rechabites, and I said to them, "Drink wine."

17 "Therefore thus says the LORD: You have not listened to me. Each man has not proclaimed liberty to his brother and to his neighbour. See, I am proclaiming a 'liberty' for you, says the LORD, to the sword, to the plague, and to the famine, and I will cause you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 18 And I will give the men who have broken my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts, 19 the princes of Judah and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, who passed between the parts of the calf, 20 I will give them into the hands of their enemies and into the hands of those who seek their life; and their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky, and for the beasts of the earth.

6 But they said, "We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, 'You shall never drink wine, neither you nor your sons. 7 And you shall not build houses, or sow seed, or plant a vineyard, or have any of these ; but all your days you shall live in tents, so that you may live a long time in the land where you are staying.' 8 So we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters, 9 and to build no houses for us to live in; and we have no vineyard, or field, or seed. 10 But we have lived in tents and been obedient, acting in accordance with all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But it so happened, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, 'Come and let us go to Jerusalem,' for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Syrians. So we are living in Jerusalem."

21 "And I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes into the hands of their enemies and into the hands of those who seek their life and into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, which has gone away from you. 22 See, I will give a command, says the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they will fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire. And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant."

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 'Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words?' says the LORD. 14 'The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, commanding his sons not to drink wine, are being performed. For to this day they drink none, but obey their father's command. However I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have also sent all my servants the prophets to you, rising up early and sending them, saying, Each of you turn now from his evil way, and amend your actions, not following other gods to serve them, and you will live in the

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the rooms, and give them wine to drink."

3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his

Israel. Indeed, all armies, all human beings are under His control (Ps 135:6; Dan 4:34,35). 35:2 The Recabites did not belong to any of the tribes of Israel. They were related to the Kenites (1 Chron 2:55). Moses' fatherin-law was a Kenite (Jud 1:16). In this chapter God has Jeremiah test them to reveal their faithfulness to their forefather's instructions (vs 6-10). He then contrasts the Recabites with the unfaithful people of Israel. It is a sad thing that people are much more likely to obey the instructions of men, and to follow traditions, than to obey the commands of God Himself (v 14;

34:17 God would show them what He thought of their broken promise and disobedience to His commands. He would proclaim a "liberty" for them – a release from life itself. This is in accordance with the principle laid down in various places in the Word of God – men shall reap what they sow (Deut 19:21; Ps 18:25,26; Prov 22:8; Gal 6:7). 34:18-20 In ancient times when making a solemn covenant sometimes an animal was killed and divided into two parts, and those making the covenant walked between the parts. Compare Gen 15:9-19. 34:22 The armies of Babylon were under the control of the LORD of hosts, the God of

JEREMIAH 35:16 1032

land which I have given to you and to your fathers. But you have not turned your ear to me or listened. 16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have done according to the command of their father, which he commanded them, but this people have not listened to me, 17 thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel: See, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have proclaimed against them, because I have spoken to them, and they have not listened, and I have called to them, and they have not answered.'"

in the LORD's house on a day of fasting. And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come out of their cities. 7 It could be that they will present their supplication before the LORD, and that each one will turn from his evil way; for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD has proclaimed against this people."

8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading the words of the LORD in the book, in the LORD's house. 9 And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast in the presence of the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem. 10 Then Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the book, in the house of the LORD, in the room of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entrance of the new gate of the LORD's house, in the hearing of all the people.

18 And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites,"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Because you have obeyed the command of your father Jonadab, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he has commanded you, 19 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab will not lack a man to stand before me forever.'"

11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard from the book all the words of the LORD, 12 he went down to the king's house, into the scribe's chamber, and there sat all the leaders, Elishama the scribe and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah and Elnathan the son of Achbor and Gemariah the son of Shaphan and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the other leaders. 13 Then Michaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard as Baruch was reading the book in the hearing of the people. 14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, "Take in your hand the scroll from which you read in the hearing of the people, and come." So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand, and came to them. 15 And they said to him, "Sit down now and read it in our hearing." So Baruch read it in their hearing.

And it came about in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, to this day. 3 It could be that the house of Judah, hearing of all the disaster which I intend to bring on them, will turn, each one of them, from his evil way, so that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin."

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and from the mouth of Jeremiah Baruch wrote down on a scroll all the words of the LORD which he had spoken to him. 5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, "I am locked up. I cannot go into the house of the LORD. 6 Therefore you go and read the words of the LORD from the scroll which you have written from my mouth, in the hearing of the people

Matt 15:3-9). Shall we not learn the lesson God was teaching through this example (v 13)? If we do not, will not God mark it and take action against us (v 17)? 35:18,19 Since that family knew what faithfulness was, God would chose some from among them to show that same faithfulness toward Himself. Because of the terrible unfaithfulness of Israel, God is emphasizing here how highly He regards faithfulness (on faithfulness see Matt 24:45; 25:21-23; Luke 16:10-12; 1 Cor 4:2; 1 Tim 1:12; 3:11; 2 Tim 2:2; Heb 3:2). 36:2 1:1-3. 36:3 18:8; 26:3. God is swift to forgive when He can, slow to punish when He must. 36:4 "Baruch" – 32:12; 43:3,6; 45:1. 36:5 The ungodly will often try to restrict the activities of God's spokesmen.

Jeremiah's messages spoken in the temple were very unpopular with the priests and prophets there (20:1,2). They could not endure the truth so they tried to keep it away. Compare Acts 4:1-3,18; 5:17,18, 27,28. 36:6-8 The word of God which He sends cannot be stopped (1:12; Isa 55:11). If men try to shut it up one way it will come in another. If one spokesmen is silenced God will chose another. Wicked men would gladly keep the truth shut out of the world altogether, and they will try to bind God's servants, but God's word cannot be bound (2 Tim 2:9). 36:9 Verse 6. This was many months after God's command in v 1. It seems Baruch had to wait this long for a good opportunity. The fast was probably called because of the

1033 JEREMIAH 37:4

16 Now it came about, when they heard all these words, they turned to one another in fear, and said to Baruch, "We will surely tell the king of all these words." 17 And they asked Baruch, saying, "Tell us now, how did you write down all these words from his mouth?"

Baruch wrote down, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 28 "Take again another scroll, and write on it all the former words, that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned up. 29 And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus says the LORD: You have burned that scroll, saying, 'Why have you written in it saying that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will bring to an end both man and beast here?' 30 Therefore thus says the LORD about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David. And his dead body will be thrown out to the heat of the day and to the frost of the night. 31 And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their wickedness, and I will bring on them, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah, all the disaster that I have proclaimed against them, for they did not listen."

18 Then Baruch answered them, "He dictated all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book."

19 Then the officials said to Baruch, "Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and do not let anyone know where you are."

20 And they went in to the king in the courtyard; but they stored the scroll in the room of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the hearing of the king. 21 So the king sent Jehudi to bring the scroll, and he brought it from the room of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king, and in the hearing of all the officials who stood beside the king. 22 Now the king was sitting in the winter house, it being the ninth month; and there was a fire burning on the hearth in front of him. 23 And it came about when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that he cut it off with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire that was on the hearth, until the whole scroll was burned up in the fire on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, and they did not tear their garments, neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words. 25 Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had begged the king not to burn the scroll, but he would not listen to them. 26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but the LORD hid them.

32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah. He wrote on it, from the mouth of Jeremiah, all the words of the scroll which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and to them were added many similar words.

And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned in the place of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah. 2 But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, listened to the words of the LORD, which he spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.

3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Now pray to the LORD our God for us."

27 Then, after the king had burned the scroll and the words from the mouth of Jeremiah which

4 Now Jeremiah came in and went out among

danger from the Babylonian armies. 36:16 They were afraid that Jeremiah had spoken the truth of God. All his messages written down together made an impact on at least some of the authorities. 36:18 Baruch was faithful to put down on paper exactly what Jeremiah dictated. All the writers of the Bible faithfully and carefully put down exactly what God revealed to them and inspired them to write (Jer 30:2; Ex 24:4; 34:47; 2 Sam 23:2; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21). 36:19 These authorities knew that in those days to speak the truth was to be in danger (compare 26:20-23). 36:23-26 There are still those who try to destroy those parts of the Bible they don't like. Do they vainly imagine that by destroying or denying the words written on paper that they can destroy God's truth? Those who attack the truth of God's word will only harm themselves (v 30; 22:18,19).

36:26 See v 19. God did a better job of hiding them than they could have done. 36:27-31 Words of truth written on paper may be cut to pieces and burned in the fire, but the truth itself lives on and will prevail and be fulfilled to the letter (Ps 119:89; Matt 5:18; 24:35; 1 Pet 1:25). 36:32 God has always looked after His Word. If some men try to destroy it, God will use other men to preserve it. 37:1 "Coniah" – a variant of Jehoiachin. 37:2 2 Kings 24:18-20. 37:3 If people refuse to hear and obey God's word what does their request for prayer amount to? or even answered prayer for them? – Ex 8:8,28; 9:28; 10:17; 21:7; 1 Sam 12:19; 1 Kings 13:6; Acts 8:24. Very often people ask for prayer without a desire for repentance or a new heart because they want God to rescue them from danger or trouble. This is trifling with God. 37:4-11 No request for prayer by

JEREMIAH 37:5 1034

the people, for they had not yet put him in prison. 5 Then Pharaoh's army came up out of Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

LORD?"

And Jeremiah said, "There is. He said, 'For you will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.'"

18 Moreover Jeremiah said to king Zedekiah, "How have I offended against you, or against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison? 19 Where now are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, 'The king of Babylon will not come against you, or against this land?' 20 Therefore please listen now, O my master the king. Please let my plea be acceptable to you, so that you do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there."

6 Then the word of the LORD came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 7 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: This is what you shall say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me: 'See, Pharaoh's army, which has come out to help you, will return to Egypt to their own land. 8 And the Chaldeans will come back and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.

9 '"Thus says the LORD: Do not deceive yourselves, saying, "The Chaldeans will surely depart from us," for they will not depart. 10 For even though you had struck down the whole army of the Chaldeans that fights against you, and there remained only wounded men among them, every man of them would still rise up in his tent, and burn this city with fire.'"

21 Then king Zedekiah gave a command that they should commit Jeremiah into the courtyard of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread from the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the prison.

11 And it came about when the army of the Chaldeans had withdrawn from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army, 12 that Jeremiah went out of Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin, to take possession of his assigned portion there among the people. 13 And when he was at the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah. He was the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah. And he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "You are defecting to the Chaldeans."

Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD: 'He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the plague; but he who goes out to the Chaldeans will live; for his life will be like plunder to him, and he will live.' 3 Thus says the LORD: 'This city will certainly be given into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, which will take it.'"

14 Then Jeremiah said, "That is false. I am not defecting to the Chaldeans." But he did not listen to him. So Irijah took Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. 15 Therefore the officials were angry with Jeremiah, and struck him, and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison.

4 Therefore the officials said to the king, "We beg you, let this man be put to death, for in this way he is weakening the hands of warriors who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm."

16 So Jeremiah went into the dungeon and into a vaulted cell, and Jeremiah remained there many days. 17 Then Zedekiah the king sent and brought him out, and the king questioned him secretly in his house, and said, "Is there any word from the

5 Then Zedekiah the king said, "See, he is in your hands; for the king cannot do anything against you."

6 Then they took Jeremiah and threw him into the pit of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was

unrepentant, disobedient people can cause God to change what He has purposed to do. 37:12 Jeremiah's town, Anathoth, was located in the territory of Benjamin. 37:15,16 Another example of the mistreatment God's servants often encounter in this world (Gen 39:20; Acts 4:4; 12:1-4; 16:22-24; Heb 11:36-38). 37:17 Evidently King Zedekiah was a weak man, afraid of His own officials. Jeremiah, as usual, told him the plain truth (21:3-7). He would not soften God's message to escape from trouble or danger. 37:18 1 Sam 26:18. It is not wrong

to appeal to rulers against unjust treatment. 37:19 14:13,14. 37:21 A better place than the jail he had been in (v 16). 38:4 Often in the eyes of ungodly men those who faithfully proclaim God's truth are worthy of death. They misunderstand the ministry and the motives of God's servants (Acts 22:22). Jeremiah's faithfulness to God's word made him seem like a traitor to his nation. 38:5 Verses 24-26; 37:17. 38:6 Jeremiah sought the good of the people with his whole heart (8:21 - 9:1; 13:17).

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in the courtyard of the prison. And they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And there was no water in the pit, only mud. So Jeremiah sank down in the mud.

not be burned with fire; and you and your household will live. 18 But if you will not go out to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given into the hands of the Chaldeans, and they will burn it with fire, and you will not escape from their hands."

7 Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the pit. When the king was sitting in the Gate of Benjamin, 8 Ebed-Melech went out of the king's house, and spoke to the king, saying, 9 "My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have thrown into the pit. And he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is, for there is no more bread in the city."

19 And king Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid of the Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans, that they may deliver me into their hands, and they will mock me."

20 But Jeremiah said, "They will not deliver you up. I beg you, obey the voice of the LORD which I speak to you. Then it will be well with you, and your soul will live. 21 But if you refuse to go out, this is the word that the LORD has revealed to me: 22 'Now, see, all the women who are left in the house of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon, and those women will say, "Your friends have misled you, and have prevailed against you. Your feet have sunk in the mud, and they have turned away." 23 So they will bring out all your wives and your children to the Chaldeans; and you will not escape from their hands, but will be seized by the hands of the king of Babylon; and you will cause this city to be burned with fire."'

10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, "Take with you thirty men from here, and take Jeremiah the prophet up out of the pit, before he dies."

11 So Ebed-Melech took the men with him, and went into the king's house under the treasury, and took from there old rags and old worn-out clothes, and let them down by ropes into the pit to Jeremiah. 12 And Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, "Now put these old rags and worn-out clothes under the ropes under your armpits." And Jeremiah did so. 13 So they pulled Jeremiah up with ropes, and took him out of the pit. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the prison.

24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Do not let anyone know of these words, and you will not die. 25 But if the officials hear that I have talked with you, and they come to you and say to you, 'Tell us now what you said to the king. Do not hide it from us, and we will not put you to death. Tell us also what the king said to you'; 26 then you shall say to them, 'I presented my plea before the king, that he would not make me return to Jonathan's house, to die there.'"

14 Then Zedekiah the king sent men and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance of the house of the LORD; and the king said to Jeremiah, "I am going to ask you something. Do not hide anything from me."

15 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I tell it to you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you advice, you will not listen to me."

16 So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, "As the LORD lives, who made these souls of ours, I will not put you to death, and I will not give you into the hands of these men who seek your life."

27 Then all the officials came to Jeremiah, and questioned him; and he spoke to them in accordance with all these words that the king had commanded. So they stopped speaking with him, since that conversation had not been overheard.

17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'If you will definitely go out to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your soul will live, and this city will

28 So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken, and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.

This was his reward in this world (compare John 15:18,19; Heb 11:35-38). 38:7-13 When there was none among the people of Israel to help Jeremiah, God chose an outsider, an Ethiopian, and put compassion in his heart for the prophet. God can send help to His suffering people from the most unlikely sources. Ebed-melech acted as he did because he had faith in the true and living God (39:18). 38:14-18 If Zedekiah was expecting Jeremiah to change God's message he was disappointed. God's prophets could not and did not pervert the truth to please the

rulers of this world. 38:19 Verse 5; 37:17. If he had feared God as he ought he would not have feared men. If he had ruled justly and well he would not have feared the Jews who had defected to Babylon. 38:24-26 Jeremiah's words did not remove Zedekiah's fear of men. Zedekiah's life is an example of the truth of Prov 29:25. We must never let the fear of others prevent us from doing what God tells us to do. What a contrast there is between the king on his throne and the imprisoned prophet! The king was bound by fear wherever he turned;

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