Friday, January 17 – Jeremiah 8, 9
Study Questions:
1. How does the Lord compare His people’s discernment with that of birds? (Jeremiah 8:7)
2. How does the prophet express the Lord’s sorrow for His people? (Jeremiah 8:18-22)
3. What would be the cause of the exile? (Jeremiah 9:12-14)
Commentary and Reflection:
We continue studying the book of one of the most prominent major prophets of the Old Testament. As we examine these early chapters of Jeremiah, we can understand why he is often called “the weeping prophet.” This was not because he was overly sentimental but because he deeply loved his people and grieved over the spiritual condition of the nation, which was heading toward a tsunami of consequences.
Chapters 8 and 9 present God’s second and third accusations against Judah for their stubborn apostasy.
As we have seen in the previous chapters, Judah’s spiritual condition was deplorable. The only harvest they could expect was the terrible consequences of their sins. Joy and peace would disappear from Jerusalem, replaced by desolation and death. Worse still, the survivors displayed indifference and a lack of repentance.
After stating in Jeremiah 8:1-3 that Jerusalem would become desolate, the prophet continues with a powerful image: “They shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its princes, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves.” This imagery highlights the futility of their idolatry, as even the sun, moon, and stars they worshiped would not prevent this profanation.
In Jeremiah 8:7, the prophet draws an ironic comparison between Judah and migratory birds. Birds, by instinct, know when to migrate and where to go. Yet Judah, despite having God’s direction and warnings, could not recognize or prepare for His judgment. Common sense dictates that when someone falls, they should rise; when they stray, they should correct their course. Yet Israel, like a charging horse heading into battle, stubbornly rushed toward certain destruction.
In Jeremiah 8:7, the prophet draws an ironic comparison between Judah and migratory birds. Birds, by instinct, know when to migrate and where to go. Yet Judah, despite having God’s direction and warnings, could not recognize or prepare for His judgment. Common sense dictates that when someone falls, they should rise; when they stray, they should correct their course. Yet Israel, like a charging horse heading into battle, stubbornly rushed toward certain destruction.
God Himself asks, “Why have these people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return.” (Jeremiah 8:5). The priests and prophets, who should have been spiritual guides, were instead part of the deception. They claimed to know God’s law, but it was an intellectual understanding devoid of transformation. As leaders and stewards of God’s Word today, we must avoid falling into the same error.
One of the most sobering verses in this passage is Jeremiah 8:20: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” These words remind us of the tragic consequences of spiritual procrastination.
In Jeremiah 8:22, God asks: “Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why, then, is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?” Gilead was famous for its medicinal balm, but Israel’s spiritual condition was so severe that no physical remedy could cure it. They needed divine intervention, a heavenly ointment to heal their blindness and rebellion.
Jeremiah 9 continues with the third accusation: the people lacked faithfulness and twisted the truth. As a result, their punishment would be exile and devastation. Their sins were not isolated incidents; they had broken every commandment. Their consciences were hardened, and they had lost the ability to repent.
From Jeremiah 9:10 onward, the prophet describes the desolation of the land and the cities, the silence where there once was life, and the scattering of its people. God commands them to call professional mourners to grieve over Israel’s fate.
The conclusion of God’s message is a final, heartfelt appeal: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
This profound declaration reminds us that true success and meaning in life are not found in wisdom, strength, or wealth but in knowing God and living according to His character of mercy, justice, and righteousness.
The Lord’s longing was for Israel to circumcise their hearts, not just their flesh. External rituals and traditions are meaningless if they are not the fruit of an internal transformation. This message applies directly to us today. Our worship, traditions, and spiritual practices must flow from a sincere heart that seeks to honor God.
Jeremiah’s message serves as a timeless warning and an invitation to return to our “first love.” It’s not too late to seek the Lord, align our lives with His Word, and experience genuine spiritual renewal.
Blessings to all.
Professor Javier Diaz