4:1,2After King Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel had split into rival northern and southern kingdoms. The northern kingdom was called Israel; the southern, Judah. Jeremiah was from Anathoth, four miles north of Jerusalem in the southern kingdom. He lived and prophesied during the reigns of the last five kings of Judah. This was a chaotic time politically, morally, and spiritually. As Babylon, Egypt, and Assyria battled for world supremacy, Judah found itself caught in the middle of the triangle. Although Jeremiah prophesied for 40 years, he never saw his people heed his words and turn from their sins.
Life Application Study BibleJeremiahChapter 4
Jeremiah 4
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1207, 1208, 1209, 1210
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4Jeremiah 4
1and stray away no more.
2Then when you swear by my name, saying,‘As surely as the LORD lives,’you could do sowith truth, justice, and righteousness.Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,and all people would come and praise my name.”
Coming Judgment against Judah
33This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:“Plow up the hard ground of your hearts!Do not waste your good seed among thorns.
4O people of Judah and Jerusalem,surrender your pride and power.Change your hearts before the LORD,*or my anger will burn like an unquenchable firebecause of all your sins.
5“Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem!Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land:‘Run for your lives!Flee to the fortified cities!’
6Raise a signal flag as a warning for Jerusalem*: ‘Flee now! Do not delay!’ For I am bringing terrible destruction upon you from the north.”
7A lion stalks from its den,a destroyer of nations.It has left its lair and is headed your way.It’s going to devastate your land!Your towns will lie in ruins,with no one living in them anymore.
8So put on clothes of mourningand weep with broken hearts,for the fierce anger of the LORDis still upon us.
9“In that day,” says the LORD,“the king and the officials will tremble in fear.The priests will be struck with horror,and the prophets will be appalled.”
10Then I said, “O Sovereign LORD,the people have been deceived by what you said,for you promised peace for Jerusalem.But the sword is held at their throats!”
11The time is coming when the LORD will sayto the people of Jerusalem,“My dear people, a burning wind is blowing in from the desert,and it’s not a gentle breeze useful for winnowing grain.
12It is a roaring blast sent by me!Now I will pronounce your destruction!”
13Our enemy rushes down on us like storm clouds!His chariots are like whirlwinds.His horses are swifter than eagles.How terrible it will be, for we are doomed!
14O Jerusalem, cleanse your heartthat you may be saved.How long will you harboryour evil thoughts?
15Your destruction has been announcedfrom Dan and the hill country of Ephraim.
16“Warn the surrounding nationsand announce this to Jerusalem:The enemy is coming from a distant land,raising a battle cry against the towns of Judah.
17They surround Jerusalem like watchmen around a field,for my people have rebelled against me,”says the LORD.
18“Your own actions have brought this upon you.This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!”
Jeremiah Weeps for His People
1919 My heart, my heart—I writhe in pain!My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still.For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpetsand the roar of their battle cries.
20Waves of destruction roll over the land,until it lies in complete desolation.Suddenly my tents are destroyed;in a moment my shelters are crushed.
21How long must I see the battle flagsand hear the trumpets of war?
22“My people are foolishand do not know me,” says the LORD.“They are stupid childrenwho have no understanding.They are clever enough at doing wrong,but they have no idea how to do right!”
Jeremiah’s Vision of Coming Disaster
2323 T looked at the earth, and it was empty and formless.I looked at the heavens, and there was no light.
24I looked at the mountains and hills,and they trembled and shook.
25J looked, and all the people were gone.All the birds of the sky had flown away.
26I looked, and the fertile fields had become a wilderness.The towns lay in ruins,crushed by the LORD’s fierce anger.
27This is what the LORD says:“The whole land will be ruined,but I will not destroy it completely.
28The earth will mournand the heavens will be draped in blackbecause of my decree against my people.Ihave made up my mind and will not change it.”
29At the noise of charioteers and archers,the people fiee in terror.They hide in the bushesand run for the mountains.All the towns have been abandoned—not a person remains!
30What are you doing,you who have been plundered?Why do you dress up in beautiful clothingand put on gold jewelry?Why do you brighten your eyes with mascara?Your primping will do you no good!The allies who were your loversdespise you and seek to kill you.
31Thear a cry, like that of a woman in labor, the groans of a woman giving birth to her first child. It is beautiful Jerusalem* gasping for breath and crying out, “Help! I'm being murdered!”
The Sins of Judah
51 “Run up and down every street in Jerusalem,” says the I “Look high and low; search throughout the city! If you can find even one just and honest person,
Textual footnotes
- 4:4 Hebrew Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart.
- 4:6 Hebrew Zion.
- 4:31 Hebrew the daughter of Zion.
Life Application Notes 11 notes
4:1,2Throughout the Oid Testament, God consistently revealed his intentions to bless the nations of the world. His global vision included a central role for the people of Israel as the channel through which God would pour out his blessings on all nations. But their privilege as the chosen people was in jeopardy as jong as they insisted on disobedience and idolatry.
4:3Jeremiah told the people to plow up the hardness of their hearts as a plow breaks up unplowed ground—-soil that has not been tilled for a season. Good kings like Josiah had tried to turn the people back to God, but the people had continued to worship their idols in secret. Their hearts had become hardened to God’s will. Unless their hearts were broken and cleaned up, the good seed of God’s commands could not take root. Old habits and hidden sins had to be uprooted and rejected. Likewise we must remove our heart-hardening sin if we expect God’s Word to take root and grow in our life.
4:6,7The destruction from the north came from Babylon when Nabopolassar and his son, Nebuchadnezzar II, attacked (see 2 Chronicles 36).
4:10Jeremiah, deeply moved by God’s words, expressed his sorrow and confusion to God. Jeremiah was intercessor for the people. These people had false expectations because of the past promises of blessings, their blindness to their own sin, and the false prophets who kept telling them that all was well.
4:15Destruction was announced first from Dan and then on to the hill country of Ephraim because Dan was located at the northern border of Israel. Thus, the Danites would be the first to see the approaching armies as they invaded from the north. No one would be able to stop the armies because they would be coming as punishment for the people’s sin.
4:19-31Jeremiah was anguished by the sure devastation of the coming judgment. This judgment would continue untit the people turned from their sin and listened to God. Although this prophecy tefers to the future destruction by Babylon, it could also describe the judgment of all sinners at the end of the world. These verses also speak to those in an age of terrorism about overwhelming feelings of dread and the importance of recognizing God’s ultimate control over the events of history.
4:22Judah was clever at doing wrong but did not know how to do what was right. Right living is more than simply avoiding sin. It requires decision and discipline. We must develop skills in right living because our behavior attracts attention to our God. We should pursue excellence in Christian living with as much effort as we pursue excellence at work.
4:27God warned that destruction was certain, but he promised that the faithful remnant would be spared. God is committed to preserving those who are faithful to him.
4:28After Jeremiah’s forced move to Egypt, there is no word 1 the Bible about the events in the rest of his life.
4:30Pharaoh Hophra ruled Egypt from 588 to 569 B.C. ind was killed by Anmose, one of his generals, who was then srowned in his place.
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