Jer 13:17 | KingComments | STEP | The troubles arise when God’s people, instead of listening to the LORD and taking to heart what He has spoken, act haughty ( ). Haughtiness is the primal sin and leads to doing one’s own will. If “the LORD has spoken”, that should be the end of all self-conceit and self-will. But God’s people do not care what the LORD has spoken and act haughtily. In His grace, He points this out once again. Jeremiah calls for them to give glory to the LORD their God ( ), which means confessing their sins (cf. ). They must give up their pride. If the people do not, God will bring darkness, that is, spiritually darkness. A person who is in darkness cannot orient himself. They will not know how to walk without stumbling ( ). Even when it is only dusk and thus not yet utter darkness, their feet will still stumble on the mountains. When they find that darkness surrounds them and they long for light, the LORD will make their light a shadow of death and turn it into darkness. This is because they seek the light, the outcome from their distress, not from Him, but from others. Whoever refuses the light and chooses the darkness (cf. ) is given over to the darkness he has chosen. So it will be, in an even more terrible sense, with the very gifted professing Christianity after the church is caught up to be with the Lord forever. Then “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” ( ). Jeremiah is again overwhelmed by the persistent rebellion and pride of the people ( ). He feels the sin of his people deep within him. He cannot express his grief openly, for they would not understand. He expresses his intense sorrow in hidden places. Paul also has intense sorrow over the decay of the church, evidenced by self-seeking ( ). Do we feel the same sorrow and weep over it in secret when we see believers going a wayward way? Jeremiah already sees in the spirit that “the flock of the LORD” has been taken captive. He sees how his prophecy is coming true. However, this does not fill him with a certain satisfaction, but with deep sorrow. His deep love for his people is evident in his deep emotions. It is the deep love he shares with the LORD, Who bears the greatest sorrow about what He must do to His people, His flock. The expression “flock” indicates that the LORD has always cared for His people like a Shepherd, but they are unwilling sheep who reject His care.

‏ Jeremiah 13:17

Warning Against Pride

The troubles arise when God’s people, instead of listening to the LORD and taking to heart what He has spoken, act haughty (Jer 13:15). Haughtiness is the primal sin and leads to doing one’s own will. If “the LORD has spoken”, that should be the end of all self-conceit and self-will. But God’s people do not care what the LORD has spoken and act haughtily.

In His grace, He points this out once again. Jeremiah calls for them to give glory to the LORD their God (Jer 13:16), which means confessing their sins (cf. Jos 7:19). They must give up their pride. If the people do not, God will bring darkness, that is, spiritually darkness. A person who is in darkness cannot orient himself. They will not know how to walk without stumbling (Jn 11:10).

Even when it is only dusk and thus not yet utter darkness, their feet will still stumble on the mountains. When they find that darkness surrounds them and they long for light, the LORD will make their light a shadow of death and turn it into darkness. This is because they seek the light, the outcome from their distress, not from Him, but from others.

Whoever refuses the light and chooses the darkness (cf. Jn 3:19-20) is given over to the darkness he has chosen. So it will be, in an even more terrible sense, with the very gifted professing Christianity after the church is caught up to be with the Lord forever. Then “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2Thes 2:11-12).

Jeremiah is again overwhelmed by the persistent rebellion and pride of the people (Jer 13:17). He feels the sin of his people deep within him. He cannot express his grief openly, for they would not understand. He expresses his intense sorrow in hidden places. Paul also has intense sorrow over the decay of the church, evidenced by self-seeking (Phil 3:18-19). Do we feel the same sorrow and weep over it in secret when we see believers going a wayward way?

Jeremiah already sees in the spirit that “the flock of the LORD” has been taken captive. He sees how his prophecy is coming true. However, this does not fill him with a certain satisfaction, but with deep sorrow. His deep love for his people is evident in his deep emotions. It is the deep love he shares with the LORD, Who bears the greatest sorrow about what He must do to His people, His flock. The expression “flock” indicates that the LORD has always cared for His people like a Shepherd, but they are unwilling sheep who reject His care.