Jeremiah 9:1-26

In answer to his own question, Jeremiah sighed for some adequate means of expressing the anguish of his heart, and then for escape to some lonely place in the wilderness. All this was in the nature of complaint against God, for he revealed most carefully how conscious he was of the sin of his people, describing it in terrible detail.

To this cry of His servant Jehovah replied in a fivefold declaration. First, that He had no choice but to afflict because of their sin; He next affirmed His own sorrow also, but by a question reminded the prophet that there was a reason for the perishing of the land and the destruction of the city.

In the next place, He plainly stated what the reason was. Their persistent rebellion had made necessary His wrath. He then called the people to lament, but insisted that it should be for right causes. Finally, He proclaimed the true ground of glorifying for man, not in his own wisdom or riches, but in his understanding and knowledge of Jehovah.