Key Phrase: “everyone doth curse me.”
Jehovah’s Pronouncement, vv.1-9
A. “Intercession is useless; cast them out!” v. 1
- Moses prayed and delivered Israel from judgment, Exodus 32.
- Samuel prayed and rescued Israel from destruction, 1 Samuel 7.
- “Even if Moses and Samuel prayed, My mind could not be toward this people,” see Psalm 99:6-8.
B. Four forms of destruction, vv. 2-4, cf Rev 13:10
- Death / prestilence (Hebrew maveth = death, pestilence)
- Sword / war (Hebrew cherub = sword, as in Genesis 3:24)
- Famine
- Captivity / Exile
C. Four forms of disposition
- Sword / war
- Dogs
- Fowls
- Beasts
D. Reasons for destruction: Manasseh’s sin, see 2 Kings 21:1-16. Judah continued Manasseh’s sinfulness, even after his repentance (2 Chronicles 33:12-13).
Jeremiah’s Protest, v. 10
A. “It would have been better if I’d never been borne!”
B. “Everyone curses me!”
Jehovah’s Promise, vv. 11-14
A. A remnant will survive. Exile will be their salvation.
B. God promised Jeremiah that the enemy will give him favor, see Jeremiah 39:11ff.
Jeremiah’s Prayer, vv. 15-18
A. Remember me
B. Take vengeance on my persecutors
C. Why is my pain perpetual?
- “Time was when Jeremiah thought of Yahweh as a ‘fountain of living water (Jer_2:13). But now he seems like waters that have failed.” (Thompson)
- “In his distraught state, Jeremiah charged the Lord with failure to fulfill his promises to strengthen him in his resistance against his enemies.” (Feinberg)
Jehovah’s Pledge, vv. 19-21
A. Jehovah’s Pledge is conditional: “If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before Me”
- Return / Repent (Hebrew shub = turn back, repent).
- “In Jeremiah’s heart there were unworthy thoughts of God, and these had found expression in his utterances. Let him purge his heart of such alloy (take out the precious from the vile), and devote himself only to the true gold of truth concerning God.” (Morgan)
- “It is ironic that God had to tell Jeremiah to repent. For years Jeremiah had been telling the people of Israel to turn back in repentance. But he had some repenting of his own to do.” (Ryken)
B. “I will make thee . . . a fences brasen wall.”
C. “They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail.”
D. “I will deliver thee . . . and redeem thee.”