AUGUST 6 JEREMIAH 16-20

Jeremiah 16-20

These chapters contain some of the most famous of Jeremiah’s words. Before we look at them, let me summarize the chapters:

Jeremiah 16 explains that the “Day of Disaster” is certain and soon. In fact, God tells Jeremiah not to marry, not to attend funerals or feasts; basically, not to do anything that would lead people to believe that all is well, that all will continue on as it has.

Jeremiah 17 affirms the reasons for the “Day of Disaster:” Judah has sinned (17:1); Judah is cursed for disobedience (17:5-8, reminiscent of Psalm 1). Israel has turned away from God (17:13). Among many offenses, they have not observed the Sabbath!

Jeremiah 18 recounts the prophet’s famous visit to the potter’s house, where we learn a lesson about the sovereignty of God: God has the right to prepare a disaster for His wayward people (18:11). Jeremiah interrupts his prophecy with words about his own plight: people conspire against him; they’ve dug a pit for him (18:18-20).

In Jeremiah 19, he takes a jar from the potter’s house to the people and priests in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (where the human sacrifices had taken place). There he pronounces the disaster again, and punctuates the prophecy with a visual: He breaks the jar! This is what God will do to you, he says!

Jeremiah 20 describes some of the prophet’s persecution: he is arrested by priest named Pashhur, beaten and put in stocks. Jeremiah responds by describing Israel’s and Pashhur’s exile. But Jeremiah’s depression returns (no wonder). He alternates between complaint and praise, doubt and faith. Such vacillation seems to accost most of God’s prophets, even today.

The famous verses I wanted you to look at are two: Jeremiah 17:9-10. They are worth committing to memory:  First, Jeremiah asks:

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

Then God answers:

“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Sobering, isn’t it?

Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary