Jeremiah 19
The Desolation of Jerusalem.This chapter brings a new message from God to the people of Jerusalem, but the warning is much like what Jeremiah has already said before. God uses strong and clear words, and even changes the setting to make the message stand out. The prophet is told to speak in the presence of leaders—both the highest officials and priests—so everyone will know what God is saying. The message is about the terrible destruction coming to Jerusalem because of their great sins.v. 1: God tells Jeremiah to take some of the elders of the people and priests with him as witnesses. These respected men are to listen to God’s message and see the seriousness of the warning. Even leaders should humble themselves to hear and respect God’s word (Isaiah 8:2 a). v. 2: Jeremiah is told to go to the valley of the son of Hinnom, also called Tophet. This place was known for its connection to idolatry and child sacrifice. Jeremiah is to preach the message there, showing that God’s word can be delivered anywhere, not just in the temple. The location reminds the people of their worst sins . v. 3: Jeremiah announces a coming disaster: Hear ye the word of the Lord...I will bring evil upon this place...that whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. The judgment will be so shocking that people will not be able to forget it. Both rulers and common people are included in this warning. v. 4–5: God lists the people’s sins: They have forsaken me...estranged this place...filled this place with the blood of innocents...burnt their children in the fire to Baal(Jeremiah 19:4–5 b). The people have turned away from God, worshipped false gods, and even committed terrible acts like child sacrifice. These crimes deeply offend God, who never commanded such things (Jeremiah 7:31 c). – v. 6–7: God says the valley will be renamed the Valley of Slaughter. Many people will die there, and their bodies will be left for birds and wild animals because their enemies will not allow proper burial (Jeremiah 19:6–7 d). The ruin will be total and public. v. 7: (additional emphasis): God also promises to destroy the plans of the leaders. I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place. All their efforts to save themselves will fail, because no one can succeed against God’s will. v. 8: Jerusalem will become a place of horror and shame. I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof. People from other nations will be shocked and will mock Jerusalem for its downfall. v. 9: During the siege, things will become so desperate that people will eat the flesh of their own children and friends because of starvation . This is the ultimate result of rejecting God—complete misery and horror. This terrible warning was foretold in the law and later came true (Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53 e; Lamentations 4:10 f). The Desolation of Jerusalem.Here, God gives Jeremiah a powerful sign to make His message of coming judgment even clearer. Jeremiah is told to use an earthen bottle as a symbol. After preaching, he must break the bottle in front of his audience to show that Jerusalem’s destruction will be total and impossible to repair. The sign is meant to make them see that, though they are hardened in their ways, they are still as breakable as pottery when God’s judgment comes. The message is repeated in the valley of Tophet, the very place connected to their sin and coming ruin.v. 10: Jeremiah is told to break the earthen bottle after he finishes his message . This breaking is a sign from God that the people and city will be shattered beyond repair, just like the bottle. Once pottery is broken, it cannot be made whole again. The ruin of Jerusalem will be complete unless God Himself chooses to heal it. v. 11–12: God says, I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again(Jeremiah 19:11 g). There will be so many dead that they will not have enough space to bury them in Tophet. God will make the whole city like Tophet—a place full of death and filth—because of their sins and idolatries (Jeremiah 19:12 h). – v. 13: Even the houses of Jerusalem, including the royal palaces, will become defiled like Tophet, because the people have burned incense to false gods and worshipped the sun, moon, and stars on their rooftops (Jeremiah 19:13; Zephaniah 1:5 i). Their false worship brings a curse on their homes, turning them into ruins. v. 14–15: After leaving Tophet, Jeremiah goes back to the temple and repeats God’s message: I will bring upon this city, and upon all her towns, all the evil that I have pronounced against it; because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words(Jeremiah 19:14-15 j). The people’s stubbornness and refusal to listen to God’s word are the reasons for their coming punishment. God’s warnings will surely come true, just as He has said.
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