Jeremiah 14

Jeremiah 14:1

C. Jeremiah’s Intercession Concerning the Drought (Chaps. 14, 15)14:1-6 The messages in chapters 14-39 were given before the fall of Jerusalem. Judah is overtaken by severe droughts and famine. The significance of a drought at this time was very great. It was one of the signs predicted in the Palestinian Covenant (Deu_28:23-24), and had already been fulfilled in part in the reign of Ahab (1 Ki. 17:lff.). As that sign had been followed, even though after a long interval, by the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom, it should have been received by Judah as a most solemn warning. 14:7-16 The prophet, confessing for the people, asks for relief, but the LORD says that there will be no relief; rather, the people will be destroyed by . . . sword, . . . famine and . . . pestilence. The false prophets promised safety, but they were lying and would be consumed along with the people to whom they prophesied. Jeremiah was commanded to lament the awful destruction of Judah in city and country. 14:17-22 He continues to plead with God for the people, reminding us of the intercessions of Abraham (Gen_18:23-33), Moses (Exo_32:11-13), and Samuel (1Sa_7:5-9). He acknowledges their wickedness, and promises that they will wail for the only God who can cause rain and showers.