Jeremiah 14
Lamentation Caused by a Great Drought; Prayer for Mercy; Pleading with God.This chapter begins with a great drought in Judah. The drought brings suffering to everyone—ordinary people, leaders, farmers, and even wild animals. The prophet Jeremiah describes the pain of the whole land and prays for God’s mercy. He admits the people’s sins and pleads with God, reminding Him of His relationship with Israel and asking Him not to leave them.v. 1: The first verse introduces the whole chapter. It says this is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. Even the prayers in this chapter are given by God, because true prayer starts in the heart by God’s Spirit. v. 2: The people of Judah are very sad because there is no rain. Judah mournsand everyone looks weak and pale. At the city gates, people sit on the ground in sorrow, and the poor are black unto the groundfrom hunger . The whole city cries out for help, but it seems to be a cry of pain rather than true repentance. v. 3: Even the nobles and important people suffer. They send their children or servants to find water, but the water jars come back empty. The springs are dry, and everyone is ashamed and confoundedbecause they cannot find water. Their pride and riches cannot help them now . This shows us how much we should thank God for water and other basic needs. v. 4: The farmers feel the drought most directly. The ground is so hard and dry that it cannot be ploughed. The ploughmen were ashamedbecause there is no work to do and no hope for crops. This reminds us that farmers depend on God’s blessing for their harvests (Psalm 65:10 a). v. 5–6: Even wild animals suffer. The hinds, which are usually gentle and care for their young, must leave their newborn calves because there is no grass. The wild donkeys look for food on the barren hills, snuffing up the wind like dragonsbecause they are desperate for water. Their eyes grow weak because there is nothing to eat. Even the animals are affected by human sin (Jeremiah 14:5–6 b). – v. 7–9: Jeremiah prays for the people. He admits, Our iniquities testify against us—their sins are obvious and cannot be denied. He asks God to act, not because they deserve it, but for your name's sake. He pleads, Leave us not—the people fear losing God’s presence more than anything else. Jeremiah reminds God that He is the hope of Israeland has always saved His people in times of trouble. He asks why God seems distant, like a stranger in the landor a mighty man who cannot save(Jeremiah 14:7–9 c). Jeremiah is more worried about God’s reputation among the nations than his own comfort. He pleads for God to remember His people and act for the sake of His great name. – – Divine Threatenings.This section is like a conversation between God and Jeremiah, similar to the story of the owner and the gardener discussing the barren fig tree (Luke 13:7 d). Jeremiah prays for the people, asking God to show mercy. But God answers by explaining why He cannot accept their prayers or sacrifices. The people have chosen to wander away from Him, and even the prophet’s prayers cannot help them if they refuse to listen. False prophets have also misled the people, but God says both the deceivers and those who follow them will face judgment.v. 10: God says He will not accept the people because they have chosen to wander from Him. They do not want to return or change their ways. God says, they have loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet. Because of this, He will remember their sins and punish them. Their land is suffering because of their actions. v. 11: God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people’s good. He says, Pray not thou for this people for their good. This means that as long as the people refuse to listen and change, even the prophet’s prayers will not help them. v. 12: God says that even if the people fast, offer sacrifices, or pray loudly, He will not accept them. Their actions are not sincere because their hearts are still far from God. He says, I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. God has many ways to punish those who refuse to repent. v. 13: Jeremiah tries to defend the people by saying that false prophets have misled them. He says, Ah! Lord God, the prophets say to them, You shall not see the sword nor famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Jeremiah asks God to have mercy because the people have been deceived by leaders who claim to speak for God. v. 14: God answers that these prophets are lying. He says, They prophesy lies in my name. I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke to them. Their visions are false and come from their own hearts, not from God. What they say is empty and worthless. v. 15: God says that the false prophets will be punished first. By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. They promised peace, but they themselves will suffer the very things they said would not happen. v. 16: The people who believed these lies will also be punished. The people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword. There will be no one to bury them, not even their family members, because everyone will be suffering. God says, I will pour their wickedness upon them—they will see that their troubles are the result of their own sins. The Prophet's Intercession.This section shows Jeremiah’s deep sorrow for the suffering of Judah and Jerusalem. He is told by God to express his grief openly. Even though God had told Jeremiah not to pray for the people, Jeremiah still cries out to God for help. He weeps for the people, confesses their sins, and asks God to remember His promises and not to abandon them. In these verses, Jeremiah reminds us to care about both God’s honor and the needs of others, and to depend on God for mercy and help.v. 17–18: God tells Jeremiah to weep for the people and to show his sadness in front of everyone. Jeremiah says, Let my eyes run down with tears day and night(Jeremiah 14:17 e). He is heartbroken because he sees that many will die by the sword in the countryside and by hunger in the city. The people are suffering terribly. Even the prophets and priests are wandering in a foreign land, either as captives or as refugees, not knowing where to go (Jeremiah 14:18 f). Jeremiah’s sadness shows that God does not take pleasure in punishing people, and God’s true servants feel sorrow when others suffer. – v. 19: Jeremiah prays for the people, asking God why He seems to have completely rejected Judah. He says, Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? Hath thy soul loathed Zion?He admits they have been punished and looked for peace, but found only trouble. He asks God to show mercy and not to be angry forever . v. 20: Jeremiah confesses the sins of the people. He says, We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against thee. He admits that they deserve the punishment but hopes God will forgive them because they are truly sorry. v. 21: Jeremiah asks God not to abandon or hate the people. He pleads, Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory. He reminds God of His promises and asks Him to remember His covenant. Jeremiah is more concerned about God’s honor and the reputation of His temple than about their own comfort. v. 22: Jeremiah declares that only God can send rain and help them. He asks, Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain?The answer is no. Only the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and only He can send rain and end the drought (Jeremiah 14:22 g). Jeremiah says, Therefore we will wait upon thee, showing faith that God alone can answer their prayers and meet their needs.
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