Jer 14:21 | KingComments | STEP | Although Jeremiah was not allowed by the LORD to pray for this people ( ), at the sight of the misery of his people he cannot help but pray to Him for them ( ). The LORD is his only refuge in his distress. He cries out to the LORD asking if He has then rejected Judah altogether and if He then truly has loathed Zion. This is a third ‘why-question’. The first is: why does God leave the wicked in peace ( ); the second is why does the LORD hold Himself as a stranger to the faithful ( ). The third is the question of the discipline that comes upon the people, why it happens. He cannot imagine that the LORD now loathed Zion, whom He loved so much and in whom He rejoiced so much. What is the reason that He has so smitten them that no healing is possible for them anymore (cf. )? From the word “us” we see that Jeremiah takes the place of the repentant part of the people and identifies with them. The people desperately look forward to peace, but it is nowhere in sight. There is nothing good from which they can derive any hope of improving the situation. Healing is nowhere to be found either. Instead, they see only more terror. Looking forward to peace is in vain because the people have forsaken the LORD. Therefore, there is terror instead of healing. No one but Jeremiah knows better why God has so stricken His people and there is no healing. He then gives the answer himself: it is because of their wickedness and iniquity ( ). He confesses the iniquity of their fathers and that they themselves have also sinned against the LORD. At the same time, he simply cannot believe that the LORD has made a final end of His people, that He has rejected them forever. Therefore, he appeals to the Name of the LORD, to His glorious throne, and to His covenant with His people ( ). There is no change in the conduct of the people, but surely not in the LORD either? Surely He can bless His people from His own Name and His own government and His own obligations? Yes, He can, but it must be on a righteous basis. He has that basis in Christ and His work on the cross. Jeremiah’s only hope is the LORD, Whom he compares to the nullities, the idols, of the heathen nations ( ). The idols can give nothing of rain – there is still that terrible drought. Only the LORD, Who is the God of His people, can do that ( ). Therein lies the hope of Jeremiah and of the remnant, and therefore they, “we”, look forward to Him, to Him Who “has done all these things”, Who alone can give rain and blessing.

‏ Jeremiah 14:21

Confession and Prayer for Help

Although Jeremiah was not allowed by the LORD to pray for this people (Jer 14:11), at the sight of the misery of his people he cannot help but pray to Him for them (Jer 14:19). The LORD is his only refuge in his distress. He cries out to the LORD asking if He has then rejected Judah altogether and if He then truly has loathed Zion. This is a third ‘why-question’. The first is: why does God leave the wicked in peace (Jer 12:1); the second is why does the LORD hold Himself as a stranger to the faithful (Jer 14:8). The third is the question of the discipline that comes upon the people, why it happens.

He cannot imagine that the LORD now loathed Zion, whom He loved so much and in whom He rejoiced so much. What is the reason that He has so smitten them that no healing is possible for them anymore (cf. 2Chr 36:16)? From the word “us” we see that Jeremiah takes the place of the repentant part of the people and identifies with them.

The people desperately look forward to peace, but it is nowhere in sight. There is nothing good from which they can derive any hope of improving the situation. Healing is nowhere to be found either. Instead, they see only more terror. Looking forward to peace is in vain because the people have forsaken the LORD. Therefore, there is terror instead of healing.

No one but Jeremiah knows better why God has so stricken His people and there is no healing. He then gives the answer himself: it is because of their wickedness and iniquity (Jer 14:20). He confesses the iniquity of their fathers and that they themselves have also sinned against the LORD. At the same time, he simply cannot believe that the LORD has made a final end of His people, that He has rejected them forever.

Therefore, he appeals to the Name of the LORD, to His glorious throne, and to His covenant with His people (Jer 14:21). There is no change in the conduct of the people, but surely not in the LORD either? Surely He can bless His people from His own Name and His own government and His own obligations? Yes, He can, but it must be on a righteous basis. He has that basis in Christ and His work on the cross.

Jeremiah’s only hope is the LORD, Whom he compares to the nullities, the idols, of the heathen nations (Jer 14:22). The idols can give nothing of rain – there is still that terrible drought. Only the LORD, Who is the God of His people, can do that (Job 38:25-28). Therein lies the hope of Jeremiah and of the remnant, and therefore they, “we”, look forward to Him, to Him Who “has done all these things”, Who alone can give rain and blessing.