By Eugene Garner

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 6

WARNING OF A COMING SIEGE OF JERUSALEM

    O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. 2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. 3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place. 4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. 5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces. 6 For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her. 7 As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds. 8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

    1. The children of Benjamin are called upon to flee for safety out of the midst of Jerusalem, (vs. 1-2).
      a. A trumpet of alarm is to be sounded in Tekoa, located about 12 miles south of Jerusalem, and the hometown of the prophet Amos, (am. 1:1).
      b. A fire signal is to be set up on Beth-haccerem ("house of the vineyard," about 3 miles northeast of Tekoa, and overlooking the Dead Sea) to guide the fugitives in their flight, (vs. Neh. 3:14).
      c. Evil is seen peeping out of the north - intent on destruction, (vs. 22; 1:14; 4:6).
      d. Destruction awaits the beautiful and luxurious Daughter of Zion, (vs. 2; 4:31; Isa. 1:8).
    2. The enemy from the north is likened to the coming of a shepherd and his grazing flock - eating up all the green grass and devouring everything before them, (vs. 3; 12:10-11; 4:17; 52:13; Isa. 32:14; 2 Kings 25:1; comp. Luke 19:43).
    3. In preparation for their campaign against the once-holy city, they offer sacrifice to their gods, (vs. 4a; comp. I Sam. 7:8-10).
    4. The zeal of the enemy is evident in the fact that the attack on Jerusalem is to be an incessant one - day and night, (vs. 4b-5; 15:8).
    5. It is Jehovah of Hosts Himself that calls for judgment upon Jerusalem, (vs. 6-7).
      a. She must be punished, for she is full of oppression, (22:17).
      b. As a well keeps its water cool, so does she keep her wickedness fresh, (Jas. 3:10-12); within her is the cry of "Outrage! ROBBERY!" (20:8; comp. Psa. 55:9-11; Ezek. 7:11, 23).
      c. Through her very wickedness, sickness and wounds are ever before the Lord, (30:12-13; comp. 14:19).
    6. Thus, Jerusalem is called upon to receive the instruction of moral discipline, (vs. 8; 7:28; 17:23).
      a. Otherwise the soul of the Almighty will be alienated from her, (Ezek. 23:18, 9:28; Psa 78:58-61; 106:40-41; Jer. 12:8).
      b. And her end will be such utter desolation that her land will be uninhabited.

    9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets. 10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. 11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days. 12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD. 13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

    1. Once more a search is made for a faithful remnant - for whose sake God might spare the city from impending destruction, (vs. 9; comp. 5:1-6; 49:9).
    2. But Jeremiah finds no one who will heed his warning!
      a. Their ears were closed (uncircumcised) so that they could not hear, (4:4; 5:21; 7:26; comp. Acts 7:51).
      b. To them the word of the Lord was a reproach which they did not appreciate! (comp. 20:8; 2 Chron. 36:16).
    3. Thus, the prophet, full of the wrath of Jehovah, became so exasperated that he was ready for the Lord to unleash His wrath, like scalding water, upon young and old alike, (vs. 11; Mic. 3:8; comp. Jer. 15:6; 20:9-11; 7:20; 9:21).
    4. When the Lord's hand is stretched out against them their houses, lands and wives will be delivered over to the enemy, (vs. 12; 15:6; 8:10; 38:22-23; Deut. 28:30).
    5. The gain for which all - from prophet to priest - are so greedy, will be worthless in that day! (vs. 13; Isa 56:9-11; 57:17).
    6. Still, the religious leaders are optimistic - dealing fraudulently with the people, (vs. 14).
      a. Their healing of the wounds of the people was very superficial! - like putting a band aid on an active cancer and declaring it cured, (8:11-12, 21; Ezek. 13:10).
      b. And they cried, "Peace!" "All is well!" when the cloud of divine wrath was about to burst upon them!
    7. Were these lying prophets ashamed when their loathsome behavior was discovered? (vs. 15).
      a. They felt NO SHAME! (3:3; 8:12); so practiced were they in wickedness that they had forgotten how to blush!
      b. So, in the day of God's wrath, they will fall along with those whom they have deceived with their hypocrisies!

    16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. 20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. 21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

    1. The Lord called upon Judah to stand at the crossroads and look - to ask for the ancient paths (vs. 16a; 31:21; Isa. 8:20; Mal. 4:4; comp. Jn. 5:45-47) wherein is the way that is good.
      a. Walking therein they would find rest for their souls, (vs. 1 6b; comp. Matt. 11:28-29).
      b. But Judah responded: We will NOT take it!"
    2. God also set over the nation watchmen (prophets) who urged them to "Heed the trumpet of alarm!" (vs. 17; 25:4-7; Isa. 58:1; Ezek. 3:16-21; 33:1-19); they replied, "We will NOT heed it!"
    3. The nations, and the earth, are called upon to hear what the Lord will do to His rebellious people, (vs. 18; comp. 22:29; Isa. 12-3; I Pet. 4:17).
    4. Because they rejected, repudiated and condemned the law of the Lord, He will not accept their sacrifices and offerings - however costly they may be! (vs. 19-20).
      a. Their rituals are a mockery if their hearts are not in the offerings!
      b. Sacrifice without obedience is NEVER acceptable to God, (I Sam. 15:22; comp. Amos 5:21-24; Hos. 6:6; Isa. 1:10-20; Mic. 6:6-8).
    5. Thus, God will place such obstacles in their path as will result in their fall - father and son, neighbor and friend perishing together, (vs. 21; 9:21-22; Isa. 9:14-17).

    22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. 23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion. 24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail. 25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

    1. Jehovah calls upon Judah to "Behold" a people coming against them from the north country, (vs. 22-23; 1:15; 5:15; 102:2).
      a. From the uttermost part of the earth a great nation is stirred up against them - a people who approach with bow and spear, (vs. 22b-23a; 4:29; comp. Isa 5:30; Neh. 1:9).
      b. Cruel, merciless, loud, swift and orderly, they come to make war against the daughter of Zion, (vs. 23b).
    2. At the report of the rapacious hosts bearing down upon them, the people of Judah are paralyzed with fear, (vs. 24; 4:19-20; Isa. 28:19;Jer. 4:31; 13:21; 30:6); but they DO NOT REPENT!
    3. Jeremiah sees "terror on every side" - his people utterly helpless, (vs. 25; 20:3, 10; 46:5; 49:29; comp. Isa. 5:24).
    4. If Judah were wise she would be garbed in sackcloth (4:8) and wallowing in ashes (25:34) - lamenting the wretchedness of her sin in such bitterness as one who mourns the loss of an only son! (vs. 26; Amos 8:10; comp. Zech. 12:10); the destroyer is coming soon!

    27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way. 28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. 29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. 30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

    1. Jeremiah, who has already been appointed "overseer" of the nations, is here made the assayer and examiner (tower and fortress) of their conduct, (vs. 27; 9:7; Isa. 1:25; Mal. 3:3-4).
    2. The intense heat to which precious metals are subjected is sufficient to separate the dross from the pure metal; but, deepening the judgment of the Lord upon her, Judah has REFUSED to be refined, (vs. 28-29).
    3. Thus, men will consider them "reject silver" because the Lord has rejected them, (vs. 30; comp. 7:29).
    4. It will be profitable to note how this word "reprobate" (Heb. "mass") is used in these earlier messages of Jeremiah - appearing 8 times.
      a. In 2:36-37 the Lord asks why they gad about so much to change their ways; they will be ashamed of Egypt, with whom they are trying to form an alliance, as they were ashamed of Assyria; the Lord has REJECTED those in whom they placed their trust - for they are UNWORTHY objects of trust.
      b. In 3:3 the word is used of Judah's attitude toward the chastisement of the Lord - designed to bring her to repentance so that fellowship might be restored with her God; but, she REFUSED to be ashamed - showing contempt for God's ways.
      c. After charging her with infidelity, and playing the harlot with other nations, the Lord told her that those in whom she trusted for her safety DESPISED her - holding her in contempt! (4:30).
      d. The word is used twice in 5:3 - showing that because Judah REFUSED God's instructive discipline (holding it in contempt), they also REFUSED to repent!
      e. When men REFUSE (will not hearken to) the word of God, and REFUSE to be governed by His laws, there is no limit beyond which they will not go in their willful rebellion against the Most High, (6:19).
      f. No wonder the end result is as it is: "Men shall call her REJECT silver because God has REJECTED HER!" (6:30; Isa. 1:22).