Key Verse: Verse 8: “Their tonuve is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: sone speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he layeth wait.”
The Prophet Weeps, vv. 1-2
A. “Oh, that my head were waters”: In the last chapter, Jeremiah wept because he saw Judah conquered and exiled.
B. “Oh, that I had a lodging place in the wilderness”: Jeremiah wanted to leave and get away from their corruption.
The Lord Describes Their Skillful Deceit, vv. 3-6
A. “They bend their tongues like bows for lies”: They lie with forethought, skill, power, and intent.
B. “They proceed from evil to evil”
C. “Everyone deceives his neighbor”
The Lord’s Judgment, vv. 7-16
A. Metalworker Illustration of God’s Judgment, v. 7
“I will refine and try them”: The metal worker puts metal into fire and heat, and with a hammer, beats the metal into shape.
B. The Result of God’s Judgment, vv. 8-11
The cities will be burnt to ruins. Farm animals will be gone. Only wild animals will inhabit the ruins. God will feed them with wormwood and gall to drink.
C. The Reason for God’s Judgment, vv. 12-16
- They forsook God and the Law.
- They follow their own hearts and follow Baal.
The Lord Summons the Mourners, vv. 17-21
A. The Professional Lamenters, vv. 17-21
Professional mourners led grieving relatives in displays of grief, teaching them how to grieve.
- “We are ashamed”
- “We’ve been cast out of our land”
- “Death came through our windows, killing our children and young men.”
B. The Reason for the Lament, v. 22
- The carcasses will be left unburied.
- Like cuttings after harvest, no one will gather them.
Prepare for the Judgment, vv. 23-26
A. Glory in a true knowledge of God, vv. 23-24
- Worldly men glory in the wrong things: wisdom, might, riches.
- Glory instead in Knowing and Doing God’s Will.
a. Know His Lovingkindness, His covenant relationship to His people.
b. Know His Judgment, knowing right from wrong.
c. Know His Righteousness, His goodness and holiness.
B. Warning to those who reject God, vv. 25-26
- Circumcision will not matter. What will matter is knowing and doing God’s will.
- Those who reject knowing and doing God’s will are just as uncircumcised as the heathen.