Today's Reading:

Jeremiah 9
Jeremiah 10
Jeremiah 11
Jeremiah 12

Jeremiah was so full of sorrow for the people of Jerusalem that he wished his eyes were a fountain of tears (9:1). He could see the destruction coming. The land was filled with lies. Even the “wise” had turned from God. In the middle of judgment, the prophet wanted to have an endless supply of tears to mourn the destruction and stubborn sins. The world was obsessed with being smart, strong, or successful. God gave them a different standard. True wisdom, strength, and riches are nothing if not rooted in knowing God. He does not want people to boast about what they can do or their wealth. God wanted them to boast that they know Him, the Only God, the One who is just and righteous. Paul quoted this in 1 Corinthians 1:31 to remind the proud Corinthian believers that all boasting must be redirected to the Lord alone, stripping away human wisdom, strength, and status so that Christ is our true glory.

How does Jeremiah’s deep sorrow challenge you to care more deeply about the brokenness in the world around you today?

Jeremiah literally wished his head were a waterfall; he had tears in his eyes showing his sorrow. He wanted to cry forever over the destruction of his people in Judah. No one could be trusted, not friends or neighbors. They were all constantly lying. This was exactly why judgment was coming. God’s plan was to refine and purify the people. He asked Jeremiah, “Shouldn’t I punish them for their lies?” God said the land would be ruined and become like a desert. The animals would flee because nothing would be left. Jerusalem would be like a heap of ruins with no one living there. God’s justice was mixed with sorrow. Disaster would come because the people had forsaken God’s law and followed their stubborn hearts and worshipped Baal idols, just like their ancestors had taught them. They would eat bitter food and drink poisoned water, then God would scatter them until they were destroyed. God said the “wailing women” (paid professional mourners who would cry extra loud at funerals) should come since all of society from the palace to the streets would die.

In chapter 10, Jeremiah compared the worthless idols to God. The other nations’ idols were handmade from wood and metal, and they bowed to them. Yet, the idols could not speak, walk, or do anything. They were powerless and ridiculous. God, though, is the true God, the living God, the eternal King! Pagan gods did not make the heaven and earth or control the weather, for all of creation obeys God.

God is the portion of Jacob, the inheritance and the greatest treasure. He is enough. This points forward to Jesus as our portion. Jeremiah takes on the fate of the people as his own. Their homes, nation, and security would be gone. Families were torn apart. Jeremiah prayed, for he knows that God directs our paths. He gave a humble and wise prayer, for God to correct them, but to do it with mercy. He also wanted God to judge the nations that destroyed Israel. This prayer is exactly how we should pray, by acknowledging God’s sovereignty, asking for mercy in correction and judgment, and trusting in His judgment.

God told Jeremiah to remind the people of the covenant that He made when He brought the Israelites out of Egypt. They were to obey and do everything that He commanded. They had refused to listen, though, since the time of the Exodus. Both Israel (northern kingdom) and Judah (southern kingdom) committed evil and went to the Temple like nothing was wrong. God was shocked and grieved by this. He had planted Israel like a beautiful olive tree, but due to evil, had to destroy it by setting the tree on fire. God showed Jeremiah the people had plotted against him, and Jeremiah’s own hometown threatened to kill him. Jeremiah called God the Lord Almighty, the powerful ruler over all, and he was turning the hometown situation over to God. When attacked, you do not have to fight back; you can hand it over to God, the One who sees and hears and judges with justice. God said He would take care of them.

Jeremiah brought up two questions to God; the first was, why do the wicked prosper, and the righteous suffer for obeying God? God had a surprising answer: that even the land seems to suffer because of sin. He basically told him that the situation was going to get even harder, and if he could not handle the small issues, how would he handle the larger. Here Jeremiah was overwhelmed and full of grief, and God warned him to prepare for more. The second question was how long would the land mourn? God’s answer was that it would last until the time of judgment was complete. In verse 12:8, God said, “I hate her (Israel).” Those are strong words for how grieved He was and how their sin cut Him deep. “She,” as a speckled bird, had become so different through sin that other wild animals (enemies) attacked. The shepherds (foreign kings) would ruin the vineyard (people of Israel). Devastation would be so bad that the entire land would mourn; nature was tired of their nonsense. The invading armies were the “sword of the Lord” (12:12).

The chapter ends with hope. God would judge the nations that hurt Israel but also show them mercy IF they turned from false gods! Hope was even for the enemies. God is all-inclusive, IF they learn to walk in His ways.

Today's Discussion question:

How does Jeremiah’s deep sorrow challenge you to care more deeply about the brokenness in the world around you today?

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