“At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be brought out of their tombs. 2 And they shall be spread before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have gone after, and which they have sought and worshiped. And they shall not be gathered or buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. 3 Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family in all the places where I have driven them, declares the Lord of hosts.
Sin and Treachery
4 “You shall say to them, Thus says the Lord:
When men fall, do they not rise again?
If one turns away, does he not return?
5 Why then has this people turned away
in perpetual backsliding?
They hold fast to deceit;
they refuse to return.
6 I have paid attention and listened,
but they have not spoken rightly;
no man relents of his evil,
saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turns to his own course,
like a horse plunging headlong into battle.
7 Even the stork in the heavens
knows her times,
and the turtledove, swallow, and crane
keep the time of their coming,
but my people know not
the rules of the Lord.
8 “How can you say, ‘We are wise,
and the law of the Lord is with us’?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribes
has made it into a lie.
9 The wise men shall be put to shame;
they shall be dismayed and taken;
behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord,
so what wisdom is in them?
10 Therefore I will give their wives to others
and their fields to conquerors,
because from the least to the greatest
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
11 They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
12 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among the fallen;
when I punish them, they shall be overthrown,
says the Lord.
13 When I would gather them, declares the Lord,
there are no grapes on the vine,
nor figs on the fig tree;
even the leaves are withered,
and what I gave them has passed away from them.”
14 Why do we sit still?
Gather together; let us go into the fortified cities
and perish there,
for the Lord our God has doomed us to perish
and has given us poisoned water to drink,
because we have sinned against the Lord.
15 We looked for peace, but no good came;
for a time of healing, but behold, terror.
16 “The snorting of their horses is heard from Dan;
at the sound of the neighing of their stallions
the whole land quakes.
They come and devour the land and all that fills it,
the city and those who dwell in it.
17 For behold, I am sending among you serpents,
adders that cannot be charmed,
and they shall bite you,”
declares the Lord.
Jeremiah Grieves for His People
18 My joy is gone; grief is upon me;
my heart is sick within me.
19 Behold, the cry of the daughter of my people
from the length and breadth of the land:
“Is the Lord not in Zion?
Is her King not in her?”
“Why have they provoked me to anger with their carved images
and with their foreign idols?”
20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
and we are not saved.”
21 For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded;
I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of the daughter of my people
not been restored? Jeremiah 8 ESV
Jeremiah 8 Sin and Treachery
1-3. Shall be brought out of their tombs - However they were buried, whatever noble things were said about them at their funeral, now all will be brought out into the light of the sun and moon, the celestial bodies they worshiped. How different they appear now, and take note, for in their time they lived in comfort, but what of life after death, and why is it that all their progeny now wish for death?
“This custom of raising the bodies of the dead, and scattering their bones about, seems to have been general. It was the highest expression of hatred and contempt. [The Greek poet] Horace refers to it.” (Clarke)
4-7. In perpetual backsliding - They had a surface religion, regardless of whatever token comforts or feelings it gave them, it meant nothing to God. I remember growing up, being taught about carnal Christians and back sliders, but at church they never taught about confronting such things. There were people who called themselves Christians, but were known to be actively pursuing sin, some even flaunting it in church, daring anyone to say anything about it. I was one of those people, who continued to show up, people knew my life style, but even knowing that I was back sliding they would still ask me to teach. I had no inclination or intention towards repentance, but a part of me wanted to hold some form of godliness, keep some tie to the church. When God is calling us back, He is not calling us back to a pew, but to obedience, holiness. The expectation is that though Judah has slipped that she will not remain in this state, that she will realize her falleness, get up, dust herself off and come back broken before the Lord.
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this? 3Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.…
…4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus, 5hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord. 6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?… 1 Corinthians 5: 1-6
They hold fast to deceit - They don't speak of their sin rightly, most will not even see it as sin, much less so great an offence to God that they should mourn. We have voices for ourselves, much more appealing to us than God, for these resonate with our passions, our perversions, our lust, greed, violence, all that pride demands for us.
17Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. 18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.… Romans 16: 17-19
Keep the time of their coming - Even birds know when winter is approaching, and they respond in like. For this they are smarter than these people, for what comes upon those who continue is such things? You know, for you have read, but you choose not to heed.
…26If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.…
…29How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.… Hebrews 10: 26-31
8-13. But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie - They have taken the law of God, read it, twisted it and then taught it. People get up in pulpits all the time, in the name of the Lord even, ordained by a school of divinity, and even author books. Some are subtle, some don't have to be because their audience doesn't care, they have no discernment yet consider themselves wise. These men and women open the Bible, and the obvious ones take a verse out of context, "you have not because you ask not," which turns into a sermon about high paying jobs, Rolls Royces, and their love life. "Judge not lest ye be judged", which turns into a sermon about not questioning them or others about sin, ultimately judging people who they think should be judged for being judgmental but not calling it that because that would make them seem judgmental but they assure you that is not the case.
…2You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. 4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.… James 4: 2-4
…4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.… Matthew 7: 4-6
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.… James 5: 19-20
…19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 20But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin. 21I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.… 1 Timothy 5: 19-21
So what wisdom is in them - Well, if they rejected God's words then nothing of eternal value.
From the least to the greatest - It's like socialism, it doesn't solve the problem of greed, but of that it is itself born. These ear tickling ministers are the same, saying what people want for more money which brings more power which brings more money. Rich or poor, it doesn't matter, they all share the same heart of envy, greed and pride. They keep saying, "peace, peace, peace," but there is none.
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination - No, I can unfortunately say this from experience, and I grew up in the time of wild personal testimonies, where we heard of people's checkered pasts. They made that time, the time before their "conversion", sound so exciting, and they joked about the things, that when I think about it now, were the things God poured out His wrath on Christ for, obliterated Sodom for. I have all my life made fun of the serious, but maybe some of them are sober minded for a reason, maybe they have come to detest the things that Jesus died for, maybe they are wise.
1This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? 2Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.… Isaiah 66: 1-2
14-17. But no good came - The false prophets promised good times and prosperity, even without repentance, or with some legalistic jargon, practices that would in their mind be found acceptable, but instead they are about to drink from the cup of God's wrath.
Serpents that cannot be charmed - They have sent out negotiators in the past, paid other armies, prayed to other deities that are not, followed the token sacrifices and remedies as prescribed by the false prophets and priests, but to no avail. Babylon is here at God's beckon, your prophets lied to you, God still hates sin, the temple won't protect you. "But I am safe, I bought an indulgence from the priest, and he was able to cut a deal for the rest of my family too."
…19“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.… Acts 8: 19-21
18-22. My heart is sick within me - He sees the terror, Jeremiah finds it overwhelming, and probably frustrating, because he continues to talk to a people that don't believe him.
…2I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, 4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.… Romans 9: 2-4
Is the Lord not in Zion - Jeremiah reaches out for an answer, how can this be, are these not God's people, is this not His city? God answers, the people provoked Him with their idolatry.
Is there no balm in Gilead - Surely they are sick, whether they knew it or not, but their prophets and priests said they were well. Name it and claim it, but what went wrong? It seems Jeremiah wishes he was wrong, what a horrible sight, to see his people under siege and then taken captive.
“Gilead was the land just east of the Jordan River. It was known for its healing balsams… Scholars have been unable to determine how the balm of Gilead was made, but it seems to have been a soothing, aromatic resin made from a tree or a plant. It might be compared to aloe vera.” (Ryken)
…15While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him. 16When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”… Mark 2: 15-17
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