Tuesday, January 21 – Jeremiah 16, 17
Study Questions:
1. What did God forbid Jeremiah to do? (Jeremiah 16:2, 5, 8)
2. What beautiful prayer from Jeremiah should be ours? (Jeremiah 16:19)
3. With what was Judah’s sin written? (Jeremiah 17:1)
4. Who did God say would be cursed? (Jeremiah 17:5)
5. Who would be blessed? (Jeremiah 17:7).
Commentary and Reflection:
God gave Jeremiah unusual commands to symbolize the coming judgment: He was forbidden to marry, mourn, or attend feasts. These prohibitions served as vivid prophetic symbols of Judah’s future devastation. Marriage and children represent hope and continuity, mourning represents compassion and human connection, and feasts represent joy. This absence pointed to a time of widespread death, sorrow, and loss.
God explains why judgment is coming: Judah had persistently rebelled, following their ancestors’ sins and adding guilt. They worshiped idols, rejected God’s commandments, and lived according to their evil hearts. Despite repeated warnings, they refused to repent.
However, amidst the judgment, God promises restoration. He declares that the deliverance from Babylonian exile would surpass even the Exodus from Egypt in significance. God would bring His people back from every land where they were scattered, showcasing His power and faithfulness.
Jeremiah prays a heartfelt prayer: “O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of affliction” (Jer. 16:19). This prayer expresses trust in God despite the looming disaster. God also promises that the nations will recognize His power and authority and acknowledge Him as the one true God.
In Jeremiah 17 the prophet vividly describes Judah’s sin as being engraved with an iron pen and a diamond point on their hearts and altars. Their rebellion was profound and permanent, influencing not only their hearts but also their outward worship practices.
God contrasts two types of people:
1. “Cursed is the man who trusts in man” (Jer. 17:5). Such a person is likened to a dry shrub in the desert, unable to thrive or bear fruit.
2. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord” (Jer. 17:7). This person is compared to a tree planted by the waters, thriving even in drought and remaining green and fruitful.
1. “Cursed is the man who trusts in man” (Jer. 17:5). Such a person is likened to a dry shrub in the desert, unable to thrive or bear fruit.
2. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord” (Jer. 17:7). This person is compared to a tree planted by the waters, thriving even in drought and remaining green and fruitful.
Jeremiah warns against trusting one’s own heart, declaring: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). Human emotions and desires are unreliable, often leading to self-deception. Only God can search and test the heart, rewarding each person according to their actions and motives.
The prophet also warns against trusting in wealth: “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right” (Jer. 17:11). Ill-gotten wealth will not bring lasting security and will ultimately leave the owner humiliated.
Jeremiah then declares God’s sovereignty: “A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary” (Jer. 17:12). God alone is worthy of trust and worship.
The chapter ends with a call to honor the Sabbath. God commands Jeremiah to remind the people of the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy. Observing it was a sign of their covenant with God and would bring blessings and preservation. Ignoring it would result in destruction and fire upon Jerusalem.
Jeremiah’s life and message remind us of the cost of faithfulness in times of spiritual decline. Despite rejection and isolation, Jeremiah remained steadfast in delivering God’s word.
“Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” (Ephesians 6:24)
May you have a blessed and prosperous day!
Pastor Hector de Armas