Jeremiah 41
KingCommentsJeremiah 41:1
The Deceitfulness of the Tongue
The people believe that they have become strong through their tongue, through the use of falsehood (Jeremiah 9:3). The tongue here is the bow and the lie is the arrow (Psalms 64:3-4). The sin of the tongue is a great and widespread evil (Psalms 12:2-4; James 3:1-12). The LORD contrasts the power of their lie with “trustworthiness”. The contrast is great.
They go their way of wickedness because they do not know the LORD. Their way is so full of wickedness that He says of them: “They proceed from evil to evil.” That is diametrically opposed to those who seek their strength from the LORD. Of them He says: “They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:7).
Sin not only brings separation between God and man, but also between people (Jeremiah 9:4). Here we hear the warning not to trust the neighbor and not even the friend (Micah 7:5-6). When society is dominated by distrust, cohesion is gone. It destroys the unity of the people from within. If friendship and blood relations, both of which are such sacred things in the East, are no longer a guarantee of loyalty, then all cohesion is gone from society.
Lying is the sin that caused the fall into sin. The tongue that is supposed to confess God lies about God. The tongue is used to spread lies and not the truth (Jeremiah 9:5). In fact, the teaching is designed to teach the tongue to speak lies, so that lying has become their second nature, so to speak. They can no longer do anything but lie. Subsequently, they tire themselves out with doing injustice, with putting into practice the wrong that has been taught. With the new man it is different (Ephesians 4:25; 28).
Jeremiah is told that he dwells in the midst of deceit (Jeremiah 9:6). The same is true of us (cf. Revelation 2:13). Everything that is said is meant to prevent people from knowing the LORD. This is also true today. In Jeremiah 9:3 it still says that they do not know the LORD, but in Jeremiah 9:6 it says that they refuse to know Him. This is because of their deceit. They don’t want to stop lying and cheating because there is no love for the truth.
The LORD is still out to refine them, not to destroy them (Jeremiah 9:7; cf. Malachi 3:3a; Ezekiel 22:18-22). He is left with no choice but to judge, He cannot act otherwise, but His goal is their restoration. He speaks of them as “the daughter of My people”. This shows His love for them.
He is going to punish the use of the tongue, which is a wonderful gift from Him, because they use it as a deadly arrow (Jeremiah 9:8). What is professed with the tongue may sound beautiful, but the thoughts behind it can be compared to an ambush. Behind or beneath their beautiful words, in their inner being, are greed and murderousness. They want to charm the other with their pretty talk to such an extent that they become easy prey. They are out to kill others because they see advantage in it.
Such things the LORD cannot leave unpunished (Jeremiah 9:9), He must repay them. The conduct of His people touches Him in His soul and affects Him deeply. He cannot ignore it and must avenge this sinful behavior of them, of those who are named after His Name, to whom He has committed Himself with heart and soul.
Jeremiah 41:2
The Deceitfulness of the Tongue
The people believe that they have become strong through their tongue, through the use of falsehood (Jeremiah 9:3). The tongue here is the bow and the lie is the arrow (Psalms 64:3-4). The sin of the tongue is a great and widespread evil (Psalms 12:2-4; James 3:1-12). The LORD contrasts the power of their lie with “trustworthiness”. The contrast is great.
They go their way of wickedness because they do not know the LORD. Their way is so full of wickedness that He says of them: “They proceed from evil to evil.” That is diametrically opposed to those who seek their strength from the LORD. Of them He says: “They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:7).
Sin not only brings separation between God and man, but also between people (Jeremiah 9:4). Here we hear the warning not to trust the neighbor and not even the friend (Micah 7:5-6). When society is dominated by distrust, cohesion is gone. It destroys the unity of the people from within. If friendship and blood relations, both of which are such sacred things in the East, are no longer a guarantee of loyalty, then all cohesion is gone from society.
Lying is the sin that caused the fall into sin. The tongue that is supposed to confess God lies about God. The tongue is used to spread lies and not the truth (Jeremiah 9:5). In fact, the teaching is designed to teach the tongue to speak lies, so that lying has become their second nature, so to speak. They can no longer do anything but lie. Subsequently, they tire themselves out with doing injustice, with putting into practice the wrong that has been taught. With the new man it is different (Ephesians 4:25; 28).
Jeremiah is told that he dwells in the midst of deceit (Jeremiah 9:6). The same is true of us (cf. Revelation 2:13). Everything that is said is meant to prevent people from knowing the LORD. This is also true today. In Jeremiah 9:3 it still says that they do not know the LORD, but in Jeremiah 9:6 it says that they refuse to know Him. This is because of their deceit. They don’t want to stop lying and cheating because there is no love for the truth.
The LORD is still out to refine them, not to destroy them (Jeremiah 9:7; cf. Malachi 3:3a; Ezekiel 22:18-22). He is left with no choice but to judge, He cannot act otherwise, but His goal is their restoration. He speaks of them as “the daughter of My people”. This shows His love for them.
He is going to punish the use of the tongue, which is a wonderful gift from Him, because they use it as a deadly arrow (Jeremiah 9:8). What is professed with the tongue may sound beautiful, but the thoughts behind it can be compared to an ambush. Behind or beneath their beautiful words, in their inner being, are greed and murderousness. They want to charm the other with their pretty talk to such an extent that they become easy prey. They are out to kill others because they see advantage in it.
Such things the LORD cannot leave unpunished (Jeremiah 9:9), He must repay them. The conduct of His people touches Him in His soul and affects Him deeply. He cannot ignore it and must avenge this sinful behavior of them, of those who are named after His Name, to whom He has committed Himself with heart and soul.
Jeremiah 41:3
The Deceitfulness of the Tongue
The people believe that they have become strong through their tongue, through the use of falsehood (Jeremiah 9:3). The tongue here is the bow and the lie is the arrow (Psalms 64:3-4). The sin of the tongue is a great and widespread evil (Psalms 12:2-4; James 3:1-12). The LORD contrasts the power of their lie with “trustworthiness”. The contrast is great.
They go their way of wickedness because they do not know the LORD. Their way is so full of wickedness that He says of them: “They proceed from evil to evil.” That is diametrically opposed to those who seek their strength from the LORD. Of them He says: “They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:7).
Sin not only brings separation between God and man, but also between people (Jeremiah 9:4). Here we hear the warning not to trust the neighbor and not even the friend (Micah 7:5-6). When society is dominated by distrust, cohesion is gone. It destroys the unity of the people from within. If friendship and blood relations, both of which are such sacred things in the East, are no longer a guarantee of loyalty, then all cohesion is gone from society.
Lying is the sin that caused the fall into sin. The tongue that is supposed to confess God lies about God. The tongue is used to spread lies and not the truth (Jeremiah 9:5). In fact, the teaching is designed to teach the tongue to speak lies, so that lying has become their second nature, so to speak. They can no longer do anything but lie. Subsequently, they tire themselves out with doing injustice, with putting into practice the wrong that has been taught. With the new man it is different (Ephesians 4:25; 28).
Jeremiah is told that he dwells in the midst of deceit (Jeremiah 9:6). The same is true of us (cf. Revelation 2:13). Everything that is said is meant to prevent people from knowing the LORD. This is also true today. In Jeremiah 9:3 it still says that they do not know the LORD, but in Jeremiah 9:6 it says that they refuse to know Him. This is because of their deceit. They don’t want to stop lying and cheating because there is no love for the truth.
The LORD is still out to refine them, not to destroy them (Jeremiah 9:7; cf. Malachi 3:3a; Ezekiel 22:18-22). He is left with no choice but to judge, He cannot act otherwise, but His goal is their restoration. He speaks of them as “the daughter of My people”. This shows His love for them.
He is going to punish the use of the tongue, which is a wonderful gift from Him, because they use it as a deadly arrow (Jeremiah 9:8). What is professed with the tongue may sound beautiful, but the thoughts behind it can be compared to an ambush. Behind or beneath their beautiful words, in their inner being, are greed and murderousness. They want to charm the other with their pretty talk to such an extent that they become easy prey. They are out to kill others because they see advantage in it.
Such things the LORD cannot leave unpunished (Jeremiah 9:9), He must repay them. The conduct of His people touches Him in His soul and affects Him deeply. He cannot ignore it and must avenge this sinful behavior of them, of those who are named after His Name, to whom He has committed Himself with heart and soul.
Jeremiah 41:4
The Deceitfulness of the Tongue
The people believe that they have become strong through their tongue, through the use of falsehood (Jeremiah 9:3). The tongue here is the bow and the lie is the arrow (Psalms 64:3-4). The sin of the tongue is a great and widespread evil (Psalms 12:2-4; James 3:1-12). The LORD contrasts the power of their lie with “trustworthiness”. The contrast is great.
They go their way of wickedness because they do not know the LORD. Their way is so full of wickedness that He says of them: “They proceed from evil to evil.” That is diametrically opposed to those who seek their strength from the LORD. Of them He says: “They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:7).
Sin not only brings separation between God and man, but also between people (Jeremiah 9:4). Here we hear the warning not to trust the neighbor and not even the friend (Micah 7:5-6). When society is dominated by distrust, cohesion is gone. It destroys the unity of the people from within. If friendship and blood relations, both of which are such sacred things in the East, are no longer a guarantee of loyalty, then all cohesion is gone from society.
Lying is the sin that caused the fall into sin. The tongue that is supposed to confess God lies about God. The tongue is used to spread lies and not the truth (Jeremiah 9:5). In fact, the teaching is designed to teach the tongue to speak lies, so that lying has become their second nature, so to speak. They can no longer do anything but lie. Subsequently, they tire themselves out with doing injustice, with putting into practice the wrong that has been taught. With the new man it is different (Ephesians 4:25; 28).
Jeremiah is told that he dwells in the midst of deceit (Jeremiah 9:6). The same is true of us (cf. Revelation 2:13). Everything that is said is meant to prevent people from knowing the LORD. This is also true today. In Jeremiah 9:3 it still says that they do not know the LORD, but in Jeremiah 9:6 it says that they refuse to know Him. This is because of their deceit. They don’t want to stop lying and cheating because there is no love for the truth.
The LORD is still out to refine them, not to destroy them (Jeremiah 9:7; cf. Malachi 3:3a; Ezekiel 22:18-22). He is left with no choice but to judge, He cannot act otherwise, but His goal is their restoration. He speaks of them as “the daughter of My people”. This shows His love for them.
He is going to punish the use of the tongue, which is a wonderful gift from Him, because they use it as a deadly arrow (Jeremiah 9:8). What is professed with the tongue may sound beautiful, but the thoughts behind it can be compared to an ambush. Behind or beneath their beautiful words, in their inner being, are greed and murderousness. They want to charm the other with their pretty talk to such an extent that they become easy prey. They are out to kill others because they see advantage in it.
Such things the LORD cannot leave unpunished (Jeremiah 9:9), He must repay them. The conduct of His people touches Him in His soul and affects Him deeply. He cannot ignore it and must avenge this sinful behavior of them, of those who are named after His Name, to whom He has committed Himself with heart and soul.
Jeremiah 41:5
The Deceitfulness of the Tongue
The people believe that they have become strong through their tongue, through the use of falsehood (Jeremiah 9:3). The tongue here is the bow and the lie is the arrow (Psalms 64:3-4). The sin of the tongue is a great and widespread evil (Psalms 12:2-4; James 3:1-12). The LORD contrasts the power of their lie with “trustworthiness”. The contrast is great.
They go their way of wickedness because they do not know the LORD. Their way is so full of wickedness that He says of them: “They proceed from evil to evil.” That is diametrically opposed to those who seek their strength from the LORD. Of them He says: “They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:7).
Sin not only brings separation between God and man, but also between people (Jeremiah 9:4). Here we hear the warning not to trust the neighbor and not even the friend (Micah 7:5-6). When society is dominated by distrust, cohesion is gone. It destroys the unity of the people from within. If friendship and blood relations, both of which are such sacred things in the East, are no longer a guarantee of loyalty, then all cohesion is gone from society.
Lying is the sin that caused the fall into sin. The tongue that is supposed to confess God lies about God. The tongue is used to spread lies and not the truth (Jeremiah 9:5). In fact, the teaching is designed to teach the tongue to speak lies, so that lying has become their second nature, so to speak. They can no longer do anything but lie. Subsequently, they tire themselves out with doing injustice, with putting into practice the wrong that has been taught. With the new man it is different (Ephesians 4:25; 28).
Jeremiah is told that he dwells in the midst of deceit (Jeremiah 9:6). The same is true of us (cf. Revelation 2:13). Everything that is said is meant to prevent people from knowing the LORD. This is also true today. In Jeremiah 9:3 it still says that they do not know the LORD, but in Jeremiah 9:6 it says that they refuse to know Him. This is because of their deceit. They don’t want to stop lying and cheating because there is no love for the truth.
The LORD is still out to refine them, not to destroy them (Jeremiah 9:7; cf. Malachi 3:3a; Ezekiel 22:18-22). He is left with no choice but to judge, He cannot act otherwise, but His goal is their restoration. He speaks of them as “the daughter of My people”. This shows His love for them.
He is going to punish the use of the tongue, which is a wonderful gift from Him, because they use it as a deadly arrow (Jeremiah 9:8). What is professed with the tongue may sound beautiful, but the thoughts behind it can be compared to an ambush. Behind or beneath their beautiful words, in their inner being, are greed and murderousness. They want to charm the other with their pretty talk to such an extent that they become easy prey. They are out to kill others because they see advantage in it.
Such things the LORD cannot leave unpunished (Jeremiah 9:9), He must repay them. The conduct of His people touches Him in His soul and affects Him deeply. He cannot ignore it and must avenge this sinful behavior of them, of those who are named after His Name, to whom He has committed Himself with heart and soul.
Jeremiah 41:6
The Deceitfulness of the Tongue
The people believe that they have become strong through their tongue, through the use of falsehood (Jeremiah 9:3). The tongue here is the bow and the lie is the arrow (Psalms 64:3-4). The sin of the tongue is a great and widespread evil (Psalms 12:2-4; James 3:1-12). The LORD contrasts the power of their lie with “trustworthiness”. The contrast is great.
They go their way of wickedness because they do not know the LORD. Their way is so full of wickedness that He says of them: “They proceed from evil to evil.” That is diametrically opposed to those who seek their strength from the LORD. Of them He says: “They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:7).
Sin not only brings separation between God and man, but also between people (Jeremiah 9:4). Here we hear the warning not to trust the neighbor and not even the friend (Micah 7:5-6). When society is dominated by distrust, cohesion is gone. It destroys the unity of the people from within. If friendship and blood relations, both of which are such sacred things in the East, are no longer a guarantee of loyalty, then all cohesion is gone from society.
Lying is the sin that caused the fall into sin. The tongue that is supposed to confess God lies about God. The tongue is used to spread lies and not the truth (Jeremiah 9:5). In fact, the teaching is designed to teach the tongue to speak lies, so that lying has become their second nature, so to speak. They can no longer do anything but lie. Subsequently, they tire themselves out with doing injustice, with putting into practice the wrong that has been taught. With the new man it is different (Ephesians 4:25; 28).
Jeremiah is told that he dwells in the midst of deceit (Jeremiah 9:6). The same is true of us (cf. Revelation 2:13). Everything that is said is meant to prevent people from knowing the LORD. This is also true today. In Jeremiah 9:3 it still says that they do not know the LORD, but in Jeremiah 9:6 it says that they refuse to know Him. This is because of their deceit. They don’t want to stop lying and cheating because there is no love for the truth.
The LORD is still out to refine them, not to destroy them (Jeremiah 9:7; cf. Malachi 3:3a; Ezekiel 22:18-22). He is left with no choice but to judge, He cannot act otherwise, but His goal is their restoration. He speaks of them as “the daughter of My people”. This shows His love for them.
He is going to punish the use of the tongue, which is a wonderful gift from Him, because they use it as a deadly arrow (Jeremiah 9:8). What is professed with the tongue may sound beautiful, but the thoughts behind it can be compared to an ambush. Behind or beneath their beautiful words, in their inner being, are greed and murderousness. They want to charm the other with their pretty talk to such an extent that they become easy prey. They are out to kill others because they see advantage in it.
Such things the LORD cannot leave unpunished (Jeremiah 9:9), He must repay them. The conduct of His people touches Him in His soul and affects Him deeply. He cannot ignore it and must avenge this sinful behavior of them, of those who are named after His Name, to whom He has committed Himself with heart and soul.
Jeremiah 41:7
The Deceitfulness of the Tongue
The people believe that they have become strong through their tongue, through the use of falsehood (Jeremiah 9:3). The tongue here is the bow and the lie is the arrow (Psalms 64:3-4). The sin of the tongue is a great and widespread evil (Psalms 12:2-4; James 3:1-12). The LORD contrasts the power of their lie with “trustworthiness”. The contrast is great.
They go their way of wickedness because they do not know the LORD. Their way is so full of wickedness that He says of them: “They proceed from evil to evil.” That is diametrically opposed to those who seek their strength from the LORD. Of them He says: “They go from strength to strength, [every one of them] appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:7).
Sin not only brings separation between God and man, but also between people (Jeremiah 9:4). Here we hear the warning not to trust the neighbor and not even the friend (Micah 7:5-6). When society is dominated by distrust, cohesion is gone. It destroys the unity of the people from within. If friendship and blood relations, both of which are such sacred things in the East, are no longer a guarantee of loyalty, then all cohesion is gone from society.
Lying is the sin that caused the fall into sin. The tongue that is supposed to confess God lies about God. The tongue is used to spread lies and not the truth (Jeremiah 9:5). In fact, the teaching is designed to teach the tongue to speak lies, so that lying has become their second nature, so to speak. They can no longer do anything but lie. Subsequently, they tire themselves out with doing injustice, with putting into practice the wrong that has been taught. With the new man it is different (Ephesians 4:25; 28).
Jeremiah is told that he dwells in the midst of deceit (Jeremiah 9:6). The same is true of us (cf. Revelation 2:13). Everything that is said is meant to prevent people from knowing the LORD. This is also true today. In Jeremiah 9:3 it still says that they do not know the LORD, but in Jeremiah 9:6 it says that they refuse to know Him. This is because of their deceit. They don’t want to stop lying and cheating because there is no love for the truth.
The LORD is still out to refine them, not to destroy them (Jeremiah 9:7; cf. Malachi 3:3a; Ezekiel 22:18-22). He is left with no choice but to judge, He cannot act otherwise, but His goal is their restoration. He speaks of them as “the daughter of My people”. This shows His love for them.
He is going to punish the use of the tongue, which is a wonderful gift from Him, because they use it as a deadly arrow (Jeremiah 9:8). What is professed with the tongue may sound beautiful, but the thoughts behind it can be compared to an ambush. Behind or beneath their beautiful words, in their inner being, are greed and murderousness. They want to charm the other with their pretty talk to such an extent that they become easy prey. They are out to kill others because they see advantage in it.
Such things the LORD cannot leave unpunished (Jeremiah 9:9), He must repay them. The conduct of His people touches Him in His soul and affects Him deeply. He cannot ignore it and must avenge this sinful behavior of them, of those who are named after His Name, to whom He has committed Himself with heart and soul.
Jeremiah 41:8
The Impending Judgment
Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it (Jeremiah 9:10). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants (Jeremiah 9:11). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore.
The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace (Jeremiah 9:12). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law (Jeremiah 9:13). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals (Jeremiah 9:14). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers.
For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool.
The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” (Jeremiah 9:15). This recalls Moses’ warning (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 8:14; Revelation 8:11). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance.
But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations (Jeremiah 9:16). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.
Jeremiah 41:9
The Impending Judgment
Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it (Jeremiah 9:10). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants (Jeremiah 9:11). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore.
The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace (Jeremiah 9:12). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law (Jeremiah 9:13). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals (Jeremiah 9:14). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers.
For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool.
The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” (Jeremiah 9:15). This recalls Moses’ warning (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 8:14; Revelation 8:11). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance.
But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations (Jeremiah 9:16). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.
Jeremiah 41:10
The Impending Judgment
Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it (Jeremiah 9:10). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants (Jeremiah 9:11). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore.
The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace (Jeremiah 9:12). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law (Jeremiah 9:13). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals (Jeremiah 9:14). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers.
For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool.
The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” (Jeremiah 9:15). This recalls Moses’ warning (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 8:14; Revelation 8:11). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance.
But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations (Jeremiah 9:16). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.
Jeremiah 41:11
The Impending Judgment
Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it (Jeremiah 9:10). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants (Jeremiah 9:11). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore.
The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace (Jeremiah 9:12). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law (Jeremiah 9:13). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals (Jeremiah 9:14). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers.
For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool.
The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” (Jeremiah 9:15). This recalls Moses’ warning (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 8:14; Revelation 8:11). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance.
But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations (Jeremiah 9:16). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.
Jeremiah 41:12
The Impending Judgment
Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it (Jeremiah 9:10). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants (Jeremiah 9:11). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore.
The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace (Jeremiah 9:12). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law (Jeremiah 9:13). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals (Jeremiah 9:14). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers.
For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool.
The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” (Jeremiah 9:15). This recalls Moses’ warning (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 8:14; Revelation 8:11). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance.
But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations (Jeremiah 9:16). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.
Jeremiah 41:13
The Impending Judgment
Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it (Jeremiah 9:10). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants (Jeremiah 9:11). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore.
The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace (Jeremiah 9:12). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law (Jeremiah 9:13). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals (Jeremiah 9:14). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers.
For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool.
The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” (Jeremiah 9:15). This recalls Moses’ warning (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 8:14; Revelation 8:11). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance.
But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations (Jeremiah 9:16). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.
Jeremiah 41:14
The Impending Judgment
Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it (Jeremiah 9:10). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants (Jeremiah 9:11). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore.
The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace (Jeremiah 9:12). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law (Jeremiah 9:13). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals (Jeremiah 9:14). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers.
For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool.
The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” (Jeremiah 9:15). This recalls Moses’ warning (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 8:14; Revelation 8:11). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance.
But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations (Jeremiah 9:16). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.
Jeremiah 41:15
The General Dirge
The LORD calls for mourning (Jeremiah 9:17). Mourning women are called to come and wail. Judah is thereby likened to a death house. Death has also entered there in all its horrors, causing tremendous grief. More people need to come and help express their sorrow so that tears flow (Jeremiah 9:18). They want to unite with the mourning of Zion that mourns because she has been destroyed (Jeremiah 9:19). The occasion of the mourning is not the sin, but the consequences it must bear, such as the abandonment of the land and the overturning of their dwellings. When we mourn, we must not deceive ourselves and know the real reason for our sorrow.
The women, along with the children, suffer the most from the effects of sin (Jeremiah 9:20). To them comes the word of the LORD and the call to listen to it. The suffering is so great – and therefore the need for mourning women – that they must tell the cause of the suffering to their daughters and girlfriends, so that they will also mourn. They must tell what has happened in their palaces, their well-timbered dwellings, and to their little children and their young men (Jeremiah 9:21).
The LORD tells them to paint the results of sin in all their horror (Jeremiah 9:22). They are not to paint it more beautifully than it is. Nor is it so much the judgment of God as it is the results of their own actions. Death is presented here as a grim reaper who reaps ears from the field, binds them into sheaves and lays them on the ground. The corpses lie in the field like sheaves, and then not to be buried later, but as dung.
All the horrors that have befallen humanity in world wars have left many millions dead and countless physically and mentally crippled. There have also been economic losses of astronomical proportions. What is the result? Does man learn from it? We see that the love of wealth and pleasure has only increased and that God has been pushed further than ever from society.
Jeremiah 41:16
The General Dirge
The LORD calls for mourning (Jeremiah 9:17). Mourning women are called to come and wail. Judah is thereby likened to a death house. Death has also entered there in all its horrors, causing tremendous grief. More people need to come and help express their sorrow so that tears flow (Jeremiah 9:18). They want to unite with the mourning of Zion that mourns because she has been destroyed (Jeremiah 9:19). The occasion of the mourning is not the sin, but the consequences it must bear, such as the abandonment of the land and the overturning of their dwellings. When we mourn, we must not deceive ourselves and know the real reason for our sorrow.
The women, along with the children, suffer the most from the effects of sin (Jeremiah 9:20). To them comes the word of the LORD and the call to listen to it. The suffering is so great – and therefore the need for mourning women – that they must tell the cause of the suffering to their daughters and girlfriends, so that they will also mourn. They must tell what has happened in their palaces, their well-timbered dwellings, and to their little children and their young men (Jeremiah 9:21).
The LORD tells them to paint the results of sin in all their horror (Jeremiah 9:22). They are not to paint it more beautifully than it is. Nor is it so much the judgment of God as it is the results of their own actions. Death is presented here as a grim reaper who reaps ears from the field, binds them into sheaves and lays them on the ground. The corpses lie in the field like sheaves, and then not to be buried later, but as dung.
All the horrors that have befallen humanity in world wars have left many millions dead and countless physically and mentally crippled. There have also been economic losses of astronomical proportions. What is the result? Does man learn from it? We see that the love of wealth and pleasure has only increased and that God has been pushed further than ever from society.
Jeremiah 41:17
The General Dirge
The LORD calls for mourning (Jeremiah 9:17). Mourning women are called to come and wail. Judah is thereby likened to a death house. Death has also entered there in all its horrors, causing tremendous grief. More people need to come and help express their sorrow so that tears flow (Jeremiah 9:18). They want to unite with the mourning of Zion that mourns because she has been destroyed (Jeremiah 9:19). The occasion of the mourning is not the sin, but the consequences it must bear, such as the abandonment of the land and the overturning of their dwellings. When we mourn, we must not deceive ourselves and know the real reason for our sorrow.
The women, along with the children, suffer the most from the effects of sin (Jeremiah 9:20). To them comes the word of the LORD and the call to listen to it. The suffering is so great – and therefore the need for mourning women – that they must tell the cause of the suffering to their daughters and girlfriends, so that they will also mourn. They must tell what has happened in their palaces, their well-timbered dwellings, and to their little children and their young men (Jeremiah 9:21).
The LORD tells them to paint the results of sin in all their horror (Jeremiah 9:22). They are not to paint it more beautifully than it is. Nor is it so much the judgment of God as it is the results of their own actions. Death is presented here as a grim reaper who reaps ears from the field, binds them into sheaves and lays them on the ground. The corpses lie in the field like sheaves, and then not to be buried later, but as dung.
All the horrors that have befallen humanity in world wars have left many millions dead and countless physically and mentally crippled. There have also been economic losses of astronomical proportions. What is the result? Does man learn from it? We see that the love of wealth and pleasure has only increased and that God has been pushed further than ever from society.
Jeremiah 41:18
The General Dirge
The LORD calls for mourning (Jeremiah 9:17). Mourning women are called to come and wail. Judah is thereby likened to a death house. Death has also entered there in all its horrors, causing tremendous grief. More people need to come and help express their sorrow so that tears flow (Jeremiah 9:18). They want to unite with the mourning of Zion that mourns because she has been destroyed (Jeremiah 9:19). The occasion of the mourning is not the sin, but the consequences it must bear, such as the abandonment of the land and the overturning of their dwellings. When we mourn, we must not deceive ourselves and know the real reason for our sorrow.
The women, along with the children, suffer the most from the effects of sin (Jeremiah 9:20). To them comes the word of the LORD and the call to listen to it. The suffering is so great – and therefore the need for mourning women – that they must tell the cause of the suffering to their daughters and girlfriends, so that they will also mourn. They must tell what has happened in their palaces, their well-timbered dwellings, and to their little children and their young men (Jeremiah 9:21).
The LORD tells them to paint the results of sin in all their horror (Jeremiah 9:22). They are not to paint it more beautifully than it is. Nor is it so much the judgment of God as it is the results of their own actions. Death is presented here as a grim reaper who reaps ears from the field, binds them into sheaves and lays them on the ground. The corpses lie in the field like sheaves, and then not to be buried later, but as dung.
All the horrors that have befallen humanity in world wars have left many millions dead and countless physically and mentally crippled. There have also been economic losses of astronomical proportions. What is the result? Does man learn from it? We see that the love of wealth and pleasure has only increased and that God has been pushed further than ever from society.