Jeremiah 32:16-25
Summary for Jer 32:16-25: 32:16-25 a This prayer of Jeremiah differed from his previous prayers, which expressed strong emotions of anguish and despair and even sharp criticism of the Lord’s treatment of the people of Judah. This prayer was calm, affirming, and worshipful. 32:16 b Jeremiah prayed in response to his purchase of land.32:17 c As the all-powerful Creator of all things, the Sovereign Lord could do what he had promised for his people.
32:18 d The Lord consistently showed his unfailing love, but he also held generations accountable for their sins, and their children harvested the consequences. Through his mercy and his judgment, the Lord demonstrated his unlimited power. Jeremiah was confident that the Lord would show his love to his people as he had promised.
32:19 e The Lord knows what each person does, and he holds each one accountable as he judges their sins fairly.
32:20 f The Lord had done great miracles throughout the history of Israel, but he had also been active all around the world. As a result, everyone knew about Israel’s God.
32:21 g The first great miracle in Israel’s history was the exodus from Egypt, an act filled with mighty signs and wonders. These divine acts caused terror in Egypt and among the desert tribes.
32:22 h God also gave the productive Promised Land to Israel.
32:23 i After Israel entered the Promised Land, they quickly turned from faithfully obeying the Lord. Generation after generation up to Jeremiah’s day was guilty of rebellion. This long history of sin was the cause of the present terrible disaster. Previously, Jeremiah had trouble accepting that this act of God was just, but now he saw that the Lord’s word was true.
32:24 j Jeremiah was amazed at the skill of the attacking Babylonians. They used ramps to lay siege to the walled city. Within Jerusalem, he saw the horrors of war, famine, and disease. It was obvious that the Babylonians would conquer the city. A sense of awe swept through Jeremiah as he realized that he was seeing the fulfillment of everything the Lord had said.
32:25 k Jeremiah was still puzzled about the Lord’s command to buy the field (32:8 l). That field would be under the control of the Babylonian army, and the purchase price drew on Jeremiah’s good money, his savings. Because the Lord had decreed that the city would be destroyed, the purchase appeared futile from a human perspective.
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