Jeremiah 14
THE chapter opens with a vivid description of the effect on Judah and Jerusalem of a drouth, more severe than that of 1934 in the western central region of the United States as well as in other lands. Famine is one of God's "four sore judgments" (Ezekiel 11:2121But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 11:21)) upon the living, and who of His children would deny that He is speaking to the world as well as to believers in the great depression which has continued for five years, and in the drouth of 1934? Millions have been proving the emptiness of a life centered in this world, but how many have found relief in accepting God's offer of salvation through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ?
Judah mourned because of vanished prosperity; the gates thereof (no doubt referring to the rulers and judges, the leaders of the people) languished; they were black unto the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem went up. But neither the mourning nor the crying was in repentance because of their sins,
“Chapt,” verse 4, is "chapped",—rough and broken, because of the absence of rain. "Dragons", verse 6, are the creatures we call jackals.
In verses 7 to 9 the godly are heard; they acknowledge the iniquities, backsliding and sin that had characterized Judah, humbly taking their part in the judgments which God was laying on the nation.
They only ask Him to act for His name's sake; thus they could trust Him; they were receiving their due, but in Jehovah alone was the Hope of Israel, their Saviour in the time of trouble. It is good to see this looking to God alone, in trial; why is there not more of it today?
The answer to the prayer in verses 7-9 is in verse 10; God was, as they said, as a. stranger, a traveler turning aside to stay a night; as a man astonished, a mighty man that cannot save; because He cannot put up with sin. Long had He waited in patience that seemed without limit, but the 14eople loved to wander; they had not refrained their feet; nor would they repent.
He must in faithfulness deal with them; He will remember their iniquity and visit their sins. Since many warning's had been disregarded, their case was now closed; Jeremiah was not to pray for the people for their good; God would not hear their cry, nor accept their offering's; He purposed to consume them by sword, by famine and by pestilence (verse 12).
Jeremiah complained of the false, lying prophets who assured the people that peace, and not the sword or famine, was coming. There are many such today, telling their hearers that there is no hell nor judgment to come; that salvation is not by believing in Christ as the sinner's Substitute; that man is not lost, and therefore needs no Saviour, and other lies of Satan. What will be the judgment that befalls such for eternity? We may well leave the answer to God, who has given in a single verse, Revelation 21:8,8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8) a most solemn statement regarding the doom of the lost, "The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers ... . and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Rev. 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8).
In the Old Testament, references to eternal judgment and eternal blessing are few. For the truth on these subjects we turn to the pages of the New Testament where both are plainly set forth. Suitably then, verses 15 and 16 only tell of the manner of their death who prophesied falsely in Jeremiah's days. After death, for them, the judgment for eternity, (Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27); 2 Peter 3:77But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:7); John 5:26- 2926For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:26‑29)).
The end of Judah's stay in the land is in view in verses 15-18. It was, as we have before noted, then close at hand; Jeremiah saw the closing scenes, but was spared from going to Babylon.
Verses 19 to 22 bring in again the exercises of the feeble remnant who had faith; Jeremiah was not entirely alone. They look to God, asking once more that on the ground of what Jehovah is, He will not spurn them, nor break His covenant with them, On no other ground could they expect mercy, but it is the confessed sinner that meets forgiveness, (Luke 15:21- 2421And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:21‑24); Acts 16:29-3429Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (Acts 16:29‑34); Romans 3:21-2621But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:21‑26)).
"HE" in verse 22, is one of the names of God; upon Him the believers wait, nor will they wait in vain.
Messages of God’s Love 9/30/1934