Jer 8:16 | KingComments | STEP | It seems that the people see the enemy armies and want to seek refuge ( ). It causes a panicked fear. They call out to each other to go together to the fortified cities. There they will be able to await events, knowing that this calamity is coming from the LORD their God. They acknowledge that the LORD has given them the bitter “poisoned water” to drink as punishment for their deviance. However, this acknowledgment is neither a matter of the heart nor of the conscience. No repentance follows. Certainly, they look forward to peace and healing, as every man, even the most wicked, looks forward to it ( ). However, that peace does not come; on the contrary, nothing good comes at all. Peace was foretold to them by the false prophets and they expected it, but it does not appear to be there. Everyone wishes for peace, but it can only be found with God and His Christ. Those who ignore this believe in a different peace, which, however, will never come. Our expectations only have foundation if we derive them from God’s Word. They also long for healing of their wounds. Because they do not go to the LORD as their Healer with this ( ), they are not healed, but on the contrary, a time of terrors breaks out. Instead of peace, they hear the advancing enemy who has entered the land in the north, near Dan ( ). The sound of the snorting of the horses of the enemy armies fills the air and already has reached Judah. The ground trembles from the sound of wildly charging, neighing stallions. The enemy armies come and devour the whole land and also the city of Jerusalem – all the people and all the produce. The enemy is suddenly represented as serpents, yes, poisonous adders ( ). They will not be able to protect themselves from them ( ; ). These serpents will bite them, so that deadly poison will come into them. The false prophets’ incantation against the venom of these serpents will prove to be fruitless. This is because the LORD sends those serpents.

‏ Jeremiah 8:16

The Invading Army

It seems that the people see the enemy armies and want to seek refuge (Jer 8:14). It causes a panicked fear. They call out to each other to go together to the fortified cities. There they will be able to await events, knowing that this calamity is coming from the LORD their God. They acknowledge that the LORD has given them the bitter “poisoned water” to drink as punishment for their deviance. However, this acknowledgment is neither a matter of the heart nor of the conscience. No repentance follows.

Certainly, they look forward to peace and healing, as every man, even the most wicked, looks forward to it (Jer 8:15). However, that peace does not come; on the contrary, nothing good comes at all. Peace was foretold to them by the false prophets and they expected it, but it does not appear to be there. Everyone wishes for peace, but it can only be found with God and His Christ. Those who ignore this believe in a different peace, which, however, will never come. Our expectations only have foundation if we derive them from God’s Word.

They also long for healing of their wounds. Because they do not go to the LORD as their Healer with this (Exo 15:26b), they are not healed, but on the contrary, a time of terrors breaks out. Instead of peace, they hear the advancing enemy who has entered the land in the north, near Dan (Jer 8:16). The sound of the snorting of the horses of the enemy armies fills the air and already has reached Judah. The ground trembles from the sound of wildly charging, neighing stallions. The enemy armies come and devour the whole land and also the city of Jerusalem – all the people and all the produce.

The enemy is suddenly represented as serpents, yes, poisonous adders (Jer 8:17). They will not be able to protect themselves from them (Ecc 10:11; Psa 58:4-5). These serpents will bite them, so that deadly poison will come into them. The false prophets’ incantation against the venom of these serpents will prove to be fruitless. This is because the LORD sends those serpents.