Jeremiah 9
-God’s disgust continues to reign
down on Judah, and in the greater context Israel, in this foreboding chapter of
Holy Scripture. God is grieved and the prophet feels it as he writes of the
impending doom and why it is all necessary. Jeremiah discusses his wish to
leave his people and go from them because of their adulterous spirit and their
assembly of treachery (Jeremiah 9:2). Deceit is the first reason the LORD
gives, which is delineated in repeated expression throughout Jeremiah 9:3
through 9:9. Lies prevail in the land like a weapon, and they proceed from evil
to more evil because they simply do not really know the LORD and His ways. The
mistrust makes people on edge and on guard against his neighbor out of
necessity because of the craftiness and scheming of the majority. Slander is
commonplace and the wicked weary themselves with committing iniquity. They
dwell in deceit and refuse to know God. They speak peace with their mouths, but
their heart is setting a trap for their fellow man. It is a cunning spirit. Therefore,
the LORD will refine them and assay (evaluate, test, try, prove) them because
He has no other alternative. They have depleted their options and now God must
punish the nation to avenge Himself. *Application* There is one thing about it.
God will always receive His glory, one way or another. We cannot continually
thumb our nose at God and expect to get away with it forever. He deserves the
power, glory, honor, and respect, so give it to Him before He has to take it
the hard way. He desires mercy and not judgment, but when necessary, He will
evaluate all things justly. We must come before God on His terms, not our own.
-Jerusalem and all the land of
Israel and Judah will become desolate from the judgment of God (Jeremiah
9:10-11). The next section answers the question “Why (Jeremiah 9:12)?” God
again begins to answer the “Why?” as He continues with His indictment of His
people. The Law has been forsaken and they have not obeyed the Voice of the
LORD to walk according to His statutes (Jeremiah 9:13). Instead, they have
walked after the stubbornness of their own hearts and after the false gods of
the Baals as taught by their fathers (Jeremiah 9:14). The result of this will
bring the LORD’s feeding of them with wormwood (bitterness) and poison. They
will be scattered among the nations at the direction of the Almighty and become
annihilated. Lamentations will be commonplace and shame the norm. Death has
come up through their windows by their own choosing and there is none to gather
them back in their season of judgment (Jeremiah 9:15-22).
-God continues to speak that the
wise should never boast in his own wisdom, nor the mighty in his own might, nor
the rich in his own riches (Jeremiah 9:23). On the other hand, the one who
should boast in confidence is the one who understands and knows the LORD who is
kind, just, and righteous as to His delight (Jeremiah 9:24). God will punish
those who are outwardly and culturally circumcised, yet uncircumcised of heart
(Jeremiah 9:25-26). *Application* It always has been about the heart with the
One-True Living God. He knows us inside and out and understands our complete
motivation. He wants all of us in heartfelt devotion, not just exterior
compliance and ritualistic pageantry. For more insight from the New Testament on
true wisdom see 1 Corinthians 1:18-4:21 and James 3:13-18. For more insight on
might see Zechariah 4:6. For more insight on riches from the New Testament see
James 5:1-5.
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