JEREMIAH 4:5 TO JEREMIAH 6:30. A new paragraph should begin with
Jeremiah 4:5, introducing a new section of the prophecies, which deals
with the judgment of Judah, its causes and its instrument. This
section is probably somewhat later than Jeremiah 2:1 to Jeremiah 4:4;
it amplifies the vision of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SINS OF JERUSALEM. Jeremiah is bidden to seek even one man in
Jerusalem, for whose sake Yahweh may spare the city (_cf._ Genesis
18:16), one man of justice and faithfulness (_mg.) ;_ even the oaths
they swear by Yahweh mean nothing. The prophet confesses that it is
this lack of faithfulness that... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMING OF THE FOE. Let the enemy, therefore, destroy the vineyard
of Judah, for of its owner Judah has said, He does nothing, rejecting
His warnings by (true) prophets. The word they have rejected now
becomes a fire to consume (_cf._ Jeremiah 23:29; ancient thought
attached great power to the sp... [ Continue Reading ]
LET EVIL-DOERS FEAR YAHWEH. The folly of not fearing Yahweh is rebuked
by a reminder of the power of Him who has set an impassable limit even
to the sea (_cf._ the rebuke of Job's presumption by the description
of Nature as Yahweh's work, Job 38-41). Because they have not feared
Him who gives the re... [ Continue Reading ]