Jeremiah 8 Key Thought: If idolatry is not removed voluntarily, God will remove it Himself.
Key Verse: “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast deceit; they refuse to return,” v. 5.
Death and Disgrace, vv. 1-3
A. Desecration of the Cemetery: scattering the bones of the death was believed to condemn the dead to perpetual torment.
B. Death preferred by the remnant.
Derangement and Deception, vv. 4-7
A. They do not have the sense enough to get up when they fall.
B. They prefer deceit to truth; “every one turned to his course.”
C. The example of nature:
- The stork, turtle, crane and swallow:
a. they know when to come and go;
b. they know where to go; and
c. they know the way to go. - Yet “My people know not the judgment of the Lord.”
Self-Deception of Self-justification, vv. 8-9
A. “We are wise.”
B. “The Law is with us.”
C. “The false pen of the scribe”: The writings of the Jewish sages is seen as supra-scripture.
“When men reject the word of Jehovah, ‘What manner of wisdom is in them?’ The answer is that the manner of such wisdom is, to quote James, ‘earthly, sensual, devilish’ (Jas_3:13).” (Morgan)
Destruction and Diaspora, Jeremiah 8 : 10-17
A. For those who do not hold the Word of God precious, He will take away what is dear to them:
- Their wives given to invaders;
- Their property taken away.
B. Why?
- They are “given to covetousness, from prophet to priest, ” v. 10 & Jeremiah 6:13-15.
- They give false hope: “peace when there is no peace,” v. 11.
- “They were not at all ashamed,” v. 12.
C. Because the moral rot was so deep, like a grape vine or fig tree picked clean, God will consume them, (Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3; Hebrews 12:29–>”God is a consuming fire).
D. Instead of fleeing to the mountains as God advised, they flee to fortified cities and complain. v. 14.
- They will look for peace, but only find trouble, v. 15.
- Invasion of serpents and vipers, v. 17.
Jeremiah Weeps over Judah and Jerusalem, vv. 18-22
A. Has God abandoned His own land?
B. God replies: “Why have they provoked Me to anger with their graven images and strange vanities?”
C. The harvest is past, summer ended, we are not saved.
“We thought that God would help us in the days of harvest; but the harvest is past. We dreamed that he would chase away our enemies when the summer months had come; but the summer is ended, and still Chaldea has her foot upon Judea’s neck, still we drink the wormwood and the gall, and our enemies open their mouths at us. The harvest is past, and the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” (Spurgeon)
D. “Is there no balm in Gilead, no physician there?” v. 22.