Jeremiah 6

Jeremiah 6:1

5. Jerusalem’s Fall Predicted (Chap. 6)6:1-8 A warning trumpet and a signal-fire tell the children of Benjamin to flee from . . . Jerusalem because the Babylonian shepherds and their flocks (military leaders and soldiers) are preparing to attack. The Chaldeans are heard discussing strategy. God has ordered exile for Judea because of the oppression, violence, and plundering of the people. Even at this late hour He warns His people to desist. 6:9-15 The LORD of hosts warns that the Babylonians will strip the land as bare as a thorough-going grape-gatherer gleans a vine. Jeremiah feels frustrated in having to speak to people who won’t heed, but he cannot refrain. Jehovah directs him to pour . . . out the message of impending doom because of their covetousness, the falsehood of the prophets and priests, and their shamelessness. It is characteristic of false prophets to promise prosperity in a time of spiritual declension. 6:16-21 The people reject God’s call for them to walk in . . . the old paths of righteousness and refuse to be warned. Therefore calamity will come in spite of the sweet-smelling sacrifices that they bring. The people will stumble and perish. 6:22-26 The enemy invasion from the north country would cause great fear, mourning, and bitter lamentation. 6:27-30 The Lord appoints Jeremiah as an assayer and tester of metals. The people of Judah are the metals, stubborn as bronze and iron, like lead from which the dross cannot be removed, rejected silver. Yates comments: Perhaps some day we may see clearly how unattractive, how loathsome, how useless sinful men are in the sight of a holy God. How we need to look objectively at ourselves to see the miserable emptiness that is so clearly visible to God! There is no point in keeping refuse silver. It has no worth. Can it be that God has already marked off as valueless many who consider themselves useful?