You Can Read the Bible

Today’s three chapters break neatly across three unique themes. Chapter 10 focuses on the folly of idolatry compared to worshipping the God who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom… None of this is unfamiliar territory, but there is a spiral effect at work: each time idolatry, injustice, and Jeremiah’s intercession are addressed, the tone is just a bit sharper, the rebuke a little stronger.

In chapter 11 the LORD uses a fascinating descriptor: “A conspiracy exists,” He says, “among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem… The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.” This reminds us that, from the LORD’s perspective, obedience to Him was not a choice; for Israel, for Judah, it was not one option among many. Therefore, “What right has my beloved in my house, when she has done many vile deeds?” In fact, he again commands Jeremiah, “Do not pray for this people… for I will not listen.” The coming disaster that they cannot escape, is – from the LORD’s perspective – deserved.

In chapter 12 Jeremiah again raises his voice in complaint: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” Read what follows closely. This is not an abstract complaint about the state of the world. This is a criticism of how the LORD manages things: “…You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit…” Listen just as intently to the LORD’s response: there is a gentle reprimand of the prophet, a greater rebuke of his nation, and finally a promise that justice will have the final say.

As I’ve often reminded, the subject of this Bible is the LORD. It is not Judah, or Jeremiah, or the voice out of the north country. The primary subject is neither Judah’s failure nor Jeremiah’s despair. This was sublimely affirmed in yesterday’s benediction: “but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” I encourage you to listen intently to how His words reveal His character and priorities in today’s passage.

Our verse for this week is Lamentations 3:22-23: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Jeremiah 10 through 12. Now let’s read it!

Jeremiah 10 - 12

Hear the word which Jehovah speaks to you, house of Israel! Jehovah says, "Don't learn the way of the nations, and don't be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers, so that it can't move. They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don't speak. They must be carried, because they can't move. Don't be afraid of them; for they can't do evil, neither is it in them to do good." There is no one like you, Jehovah. You are great, and your name is great in might. Who shouldn't fear you, King of the nations? For it belongs to you. Because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is no one like you. But they are together brutish and foolish, instructed by idols! It is just wood. There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the engraver and of the hands of the goldsmith. Their clothing is blue and purple. They are all the work of skillful men. But Jehovah is the true God. He is the living God, and an everlasting King. At his wrath, the earth trembles. The nations aren't able to withstand his indignation. "You shall say this to them: 'The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.'" God has made the earth by his power. He has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding has he stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice, the waters in the heavens roar, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries. Every man has become brutish and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation they will perish. The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the maker of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance. Jehovah of Armies is his name. Gather up your wares out of the land, you who live under siege. For Jehovah says, "Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it." Woe is me because of my injury! My wound is serious; but I said, "Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it." My tent has been destroyed, and all my cords are broken. My children have gone away from me, and they are no more. There is no one to spread my tent any more, to set up my curtains. For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of Jehovah. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks have scattered. The voice of news, behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling place of jackals. Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Jehovah, correct me, but gently; not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. Pour out your wrath on the nations that don't know you, and on the families that don't call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob. Yes, they have devoured him, consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation. The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying, "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say to them, Jehovah, the God of Israel says: 'Cursed is the man who doesn't hear the words of this covenant, which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace,' saying, 'Obey my voice and do them, according to all which I command you; so you shall be my people, and I will be your God; that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,' as it is today." Then I answered, and said, "Amen, Jehovah." Jehovah said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, 'Hear the words of this covenant, and do them. For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, "Obey my voice." Yet they didn't obey, nor turn their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart. Therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn't do them.'" Jehovah said to me, "A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore Jehovah says, 'Behold, I will bring evil on them which they will not be able to escape; and they will cry to me, but I will not listen to them. Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal.' "Therefore don't pray for this people. Don't lift up cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble. What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has behaved lewdly with many, and the holy flesh has passed from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice." Jehovah called your name, "A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit." With the noise of a great roar he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken. For Jehovah of Armies, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done to themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal. Jehovah gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it. Then you showed me their doings. But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter. I didn't know that they had devised plans against me, saying, "Let's destroy the tree with its fruit, and let's cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered." But, Jehovah of Armies, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I will see your vengeance on them; for to you I have revealed my cause. "Therefore Jehovah says concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, 'You shall not prophesy in Jehovah's name, that you not die by our hand'-- therefore Jehovah of Armies says, 'Behold, I will punish them. The young men will die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters will die by famine. There will be no remnant to them, for I will bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.'" You are righteous, Jehovah, when I contend with you; yet I would like to plead a case with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all at ease who deal very treacherously? You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root. They grow. Yes, they produce fruit. You are near in their mouth, and far from their heart. But you, Jehovah, know me. You see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? Because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals and birds are consumed; because they said, "He won't see our latter end." "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? Though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan? For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you! Even they have cried aloud after you! Don't believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you. "I have forsaken my house. I have cast off my heritage. I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. She has uttered her voice against me. Therefore I have hated her. Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field. Bring them to devour. Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it a desolation. It mourns to me, being desolate. The whole land is made desolate, because no one cares. Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Jehovah devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land. No flesh has peace. They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns. They have exhausted themselves, and profit nothing. You will be ashamed of your fruits, because of Jehovah's fierce anger." Jehovah says, "Concerning all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: Behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. It will happen that after I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them. I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. It will happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, 'As Jehovah lives;' even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the middle of my people. But if they will not hear, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it," says Jehovah.

You Can Read the Bible

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