Jeremiah 19
-In the fifteen verses of this
chapter God tells Jeremiah to go and buy an earthenware potter’s jar and bring
some of the elders and senior priests to the valley of Ben-hinnom (Topheth,
lamentation) to make His point to them (Jeremiah 19:1). God reveals He is about
to bring a calamity upon the land that will make “the ears of everyone that
hears of it tingle (Jeremiah 19:3).” The reason given for this calamity is
six-fold: 1. Because they have
forsaken their true God, 2. Because they have made the land an alien place
(accepted other religious belief systems), 3. Because they have burned
sacrifices to other gods who were unknown and worthless, 4. Because they filled
the land with the blood of the innocent (including child sacrifices), 5.
Because they stiffened their necks in rebellion against God, 6. Because they
have not taken heed to His Words (Jeremiah 19:4-5, 15). *Application* This list
as it pertains to us today includes erecting idols that take priority over
serving our God, being tolerant of other world views to the point of
capitulation, practicing paganism, violence, rebellion, and neglecting the Word
of God (i.e.- the Bible). Sound like our current society at all? What do you
think?
-Because of the atrocities, God
declares that the days are coming when they will no longer call the deep and
narrow valley located to the north of Mt. Zion and in the southwestern area of
Jerusalem with the name of Ben-hinnom. It will be known rather as the valley of
Slaughter (Jeremiah 19:6, see Joshua 15:8;18:16, 2 Kings 23:10, 2 Chronicles
23:8; 33:6 to understand the history and know why God was so disdained with
this place). God will make their counsel void, set them to the sword, and give
their carcasses to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth. The city
will become a desolation and an object of hissing that astonishes all who pass
by it (Jeremiah 19:7-8). Further, there is the prediction of cannibalism during
their time of disaster, which did come to pass (Jeremiah 19:9, Lamentations
4:10, Ezekiel 5:10).
-The clay jar is instructed by
the LORD to be broken in the sight of the men who accompanied Jeremiah to
relate the fact that God is breaking His people and the city of Jerusalem,
“even as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired (Jeremiah
19:10-11).” The LORD relates further that the valley will be their place of
burial as an only place due to the vast carnage. Jeremiah goes back from
Topheth (Ben-hinnom) where he had prophesied to the court of the LORD’s House
and there proclaimed disaster upon them from the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel (Jeremiah 19:12-15). *Application* Before you are broken beyond repair
it is wise to surrender wholeheartedly to God and His ways. Call upon Him while
there is time. Who knows when that precious time that you’ve been given for
making a righteous decision in faith for Christ Jesus will end. Behold, today
is the day of salvation and life change. Don’t delay!
Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 19:15
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