Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Jeremiah 16:8-9
The Third Sign - Non-Participation In Celebratory Feasts (Jeremiah 16:8).
The third sign was to absent himself from all celebratory feasts, as an indication that the future was so black that there was nothing to celebrate. It was a sign that soon all merriment would cease in the land. Nothing would attract attention more than someone who refused to partake in celebratory meals in a day when there was little other recreation and such feasts were the highlight of their lives. This above all would cause people to ask him questions.
“And you shall not go into the house of feasting,
To sit with them, to eat and to drink.”
Feasts were of many kinds but the aim of all of them was celebration and to have a good time. Thus Jeremiah's refusal of all invitations would draw comment. Did he not believe in having a good time? And it would give him the opportunity to explain his reasons. His attitude was evidence of the fact that there would soon be nothing to celebrate.
For thus says YHWH of hosts,
The God of Israel,
Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place,
Before your eyes and in your days,
The voice of mirth and the voice of gladness,
The voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.”
When they questioned his behaviour he would be able to point out that soon God would be causing all mirth and merriment to cease, and that it was to happen before their very eyes and in their own day. Thus those who were questioning him would soon see it for themselves. And things would be so bad that even marriage celebrations would cease because of the vicissitudes of the times.