Jer 9:13 | KingComments | STEP | Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it ( ). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants ( ). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore. The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace ( ). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law ( ). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals ( ). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers. For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool. The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” ( ). This recalls Moses’ warning ( ; ; ). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance. But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations ( ). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses ( ; ). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.

‏ Jeremiah 9:13

The Impending Judgment

Jeremiah sees the results of God’s judgments. He weeps over it and raises a lament over it (Jer 9:10). All around him the ground is blackened. The road is impassable to people, and for the cattle there is nothing on the pastures, because everything laid waste, i.e. has been burned. All the birds and beasts have disappeared, fled. As a result, no sound of beasts will be heard. In Jerusalem there will be no more inhabitants (Jer 9:11). Those who live there will be the jackals. The cities of Judah will also be judged, so that no one lives there anymore.

The wise one is he who draws the lesson from everything that only the fear of the LORD gives rest and peace (Jer 9:12). Such a person understands God’s purpose in His actions and will come to know God’s heart and be able to make that known to others. But there are no such wise men. Therefore, the LORD Himself gives the answer and says that the cause of all misery is that they have forsaken His law (Jer 9:13). Instead of listening to the LORD they have gone after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals (Jer 9:14). They learned this not from the LORD, but from their fathers.

For this they cannot blame their fathers, but it is their own fault, for they have “walked after the stubbornness of their heart”. A thief will not get a reduction of punishment from the judge if he tells him that his father taught him the “thieves’ trade” and that he became a thief as a result. The origin of their sinful ways and actions lies in their stubborn heart. Here also lies the difference between the wise and the fool.

The LORD will therefore make them bear the consequences of their own actions. He will feed them, “this people”, who are now there, “with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink” (Jer 9:15). This recalls Moses’ warning (Deu 29:18; Jer 8:14; Rev 8:11). Wormwood is a plant with a very bitter juice; gall water comes from a poisonous, bitter herb. They represent the bitter suffering of the fall of the kingdom. If they should have been obedient, they would have had honey to eat and milk to drink in abundance.

But this does not end the suffering. The LORD says He will also scatter them among the nations (Jer 9:16). They will be carried away from their land. This judgment has already been announced by Moses (Lev 26:33; Deu 28:64). In the land of their exile, they are not yet at the end of their suffering either. The LORD will send the sword after them and only then will the end come for them. This extermination concerns the wicked members of the people.