Jer 4:3-18 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Jer 4:3-18: 4:3-18 These verses bring the kingdom of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem , to center stage in God’s courtroom. The Lord decreed that he would judge Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. 4:3 Sinners must intentionally face their rebellion and change their ways through confession and repentance (Hos 10:12 ; cp. Matt 13:1-9 ).

Summary for Jer 4:3-18: 4:3-18 ^a These verses bring the kingdom of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, to center stage in God’s courtroom. The Lord decreed that he would judge Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. 4:3 ^b Sinners must intentionally face their rebellion and change their ways through confession and repentance (Hos 10:12 ^c; cp. Matt 13:1-9 ^d).
4:4 ^e To deal with their sin, the people needed to give up the pride and power that were so precious to them (Deut 10:16 ^f; 30:6 ^g; Amos 5:6 ^h; Mark 9:43 ⁱ; Rom 2:28 ^j; Col 2:11 ^k).

• surrender your pride and power: Literally circumcise yourselves. Circumcision was a covenant sign of submission to God.
Summary for Jer 4:5-6: 4:5-6 ^l God was opening the pot of boiling water (see 1:13-14 ^m) and pouring out a cruel army upon the people (8:14 ⁿ; 50:2 ^o; Josh 10:20 ^p; Isa 62:10 ^q).
4:7 ^r The coming army of Babylonian soldiers was like a cruel and vicious lion (see 2:15 ^s). With power and savagery, it would wipe out everything, leaving houses empty and in ruins (25:9 ^t, 38 ^u; 50:17 ^v; 2 Kgs 24:1 ^w; Isa 1:7 ^x; 6:11 ^y; Ezek 26:7-10 ^z; Dan 7:4 ^aa).
4:8 ^ab The Israelites were in trouble with the Lord and needed to make things right with him. Putting an army in the field or organizing guerrilla bands would be futile. Instead, Jeremiah called for the people to repent by mourning and by weeping with broken hearts (Isa 22:12 ^ac). By using the pronoun us, the prophet seems to include himself in the need for repentance (see Jer 10:24 ^ad).
4:9 ^ae The impact of the foreign invasion would show Judah’s leaders that they were not as invincible as they believed (48:41 ^af; Isa 22:3-5 ^ag).
4:10 ^ah Jeremiah was confused and offended because he and the people thought that God had promised peace for Jerusalem. However, these promises were false prophecies (6:14 ^ai; 14:13 ^aj; 23:16-17 ^ak).
Summary for Jer 4:11-12: 4:11-12 ^al The Lord’s people would soon feel the burning wind and roaring blast of God’s judgment (13:24 ^am; Hos 13:15 ^an).
4:13 ^ao Like his countrymen, Jeremiah was fearful when he heard that the invasion from the north had begun (Deut 28:49 ^ap; Isa 5:28 ^aq; Lam 4:19 ^ar; Hos 8:1 ^as; Hab 1:8 ^at).
Summary for Jer 4:14-15: 4:14-15 ^au Jeremiah still hoped that his people would cleanse their heart, get rid of their evil thoughts, and make a clean break with idolatry. Otherwise, they would face God’s judgment (4:1 ^av; 6:19 ^aw; 13:27 ^ax; 50:17 ^ay; Prov 1:22 ^az; Isa 1:16 ^ba; Jas 4:8 ^bb).
Summary for Jer 4:17-18: 4:17-18 ^bc The foreign armies already surrounded the capital city. The impending attack was due to the people’s rebellion against the Lord.