Jeremiah 14
Summary for Jer 14:1-22: 14:1-22 a This chapter is a three-way conversation among the Lord, Jeremiah, and the people. It was sparked by a serious drought that affected the land.Summary for Jer 14:2-3: 14:2-3 b During a drought, no crops were sold in the markets at the Jerusalem gates. Previous harvests could not be stored long, so starvation threatened the people. Cisterns constructed to collect water dried up, and with no rain, no water was available for drinking or for cooking meals. As a result, a great cry went up from Jerusalem.
Summary for Jer 14:4-6: 14:4-6 c Both people and animals were helpless in the drought.
• The farmers would cover their heads with coarse burlap to express shame, humiliation, and mourning.
Summary for Jer 14:7-9: 14:7-9 d Although the people confessed their sins, they did not turn from their wickedness. They tried to manipulate God into helping them by questioning his love, wisdom, and power, while still claiming the special privilege of being his people.
14:10 e The Lord’s answer to their self-serving prayer cut to the heart of the issue. Their status as God’s people had been destroyed by their wickedness, so their prayer was absurd and God’s judgment would proceed.
Summary for Jer 14:11-12: 14:11-12 f For the third time (see 7:16 g; 11:14 h), God told Jeremiah not to pray for the people of Judah and Jerusalem. It would be pointless for the people to fast, since the Lord had decided to pay no attention. The priests’ presentation of burnt offerings and grain offerings, which the Lord had given Moses as a way of worshiping him (see Lev 1–2 i), would be wasted effort, because the Lord would not accept them. Instead, the Lord would respond with war, famine, and disease.
Summary for Jer 14:13-16: 14:13-16 j their prophets: The government of Judah supported a corps of prophets who promoted the religious views of the king and his advisers. The Lord often condemned them, along with the officials and the priests. Here, the Lord exposed them as impostors and described what would happen to them and to the people to whom they prophesied.
Summary for Jer 14:17-18: 14:17-18 k As he surveyed Judah’s condition, God vividly expressed his grief through a short poem. The Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek 18:23 l; 33:11 m).
Summary for Jer 14:19-22: 14:19-22 n Despite the Lord’s command to the contrary (14:11 o), Jeremiah prayed for God to mitigate the disaster that was occurring and the greater disaster to come.
14:22 p Worship of other gods is useless. Only the Creator of the universe has the power to make nature do his bidding.
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