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Jeremiah 12:5
Verse
Context
God’s Answer to Jeremiah
4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.” 5“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan? 6Even your brothers— your own father’s household— even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
Sermons
William Booth
Chuck Smith
Steve Mays
Ian Paisley
J. Wilbur ChapmanSummary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jehovah's reply to Jeremiah's complaint. horses--that is, horsemen: the argument a fortiori. A proverbial phrase. The injuries done thee by the men of Anathoth ("the footmen") are small compared with those which the men of Jerusalem ("the horsemen") are about to inflict on thee. If the former weary thee out, how wilt thou contend with the king, the court, and the priests at Jerusalem? wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee--English Version thus fills up the sentence with the italicized words, to answer to the parallel clause in the first sentence of the verse. The parallelism is, however, sufficiently retained with a less ellipsis: "If (it is only) in a land of peace thou art confident" [MAURER]. swelling of Jordan--In harvest-time and earlier (April and May) it overflows its banks (Jos 3:15), and fills the valley called the Ghor. Or, "the pride of Jordan," namely, its wooded banks abounding in lions and other wild beasts (Jer 49:19; Jer 50:44; Zac 11:3; compare Kg2 6:2). MAUNDRELL says that between the Sea of Tiberias and Lake Merom the banks are so wooded that the traveller cannot see the river at all without first passing through the woods. If in the campaign country (alone) thou art secure, how wilt thou do when thou fallest into the wooded haunts of wild beasts?
John Gill Bible Commentary
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee,.... The Targum introduces the words thus, "this is the answer which was made to Jeremiah the prophet, concerning his question; a prophet thou art, like to a man that runs with footmen, and is weary.'' Then how canst thou contend with horses? or with men on horses: the sense is, either as Kimchi gives it, thou art among men like thyself, and thou art not able to find out their secrets and their designs against thee (see Jer 11:18); how shouldest thou know my secrets in the government of the world, as to the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous? be silent, and do not trouble thyself about these things: or rather, as thou hast had a conflict with the men of Anathoth, and they have been too many for thee; they have grieved and distressed thee, and have made thee weary of my work and service; and thou hast been ready to give out, and declare that thou wilt be no longer concerned therein; what wilt thou do, when thou comest to be exercised with greater and sorer trials, and shalt have to do with the king of Judah and his court, with his princes and nobles, the sanhedrim at Jerusalem, and the priests and inhabitants thereof? The Targum interprets the footmen of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and of the good things done to him; and the horses of the righteous fathers of the Jews, who run like horses to do good works, and of the much greater good reserved for them; but very improperly: much better might it be applied, as it is by some, to the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, who gave the Jews much trouble; and therefore what would they do with the Chaldean army, consisting of a large cavalry, and which would come upon them like an impetuous stream, and overflow, as the swelling of Jordan, as follows? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee; if in his own native country, where he promised himself much peace, safety, and security, he met with that which ruffled and disturbed him: then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? when it overflowed its bank, Jos 3:15 and may denote the pride and haughtiness of the king and princes of Judea, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and the difficulties that would attend the prophet's discharge of his duty among them; and the same thing is signified by this proverbial expression as the former.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
12:5-13 The Lord rebuked his messenger and responded to his question with questions of his own. 12:5 Jeremiah’s racing against mere men was the conflict he experienced with his family and friends. It could not be compared to the race against horses that would take place when the foreign army arrived. The coming war would be as severe as finding one’s way through the thickets near the Jordan.
Jeremiah 12:5
God’s Answer to Jeremiah
4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.” 5“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan? 6Even your brothers— your own father’s household— even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Through Jordan
By William Booth7.2K02:32Faith in TrialsClassic RecordingsDeliverance through ChristPSA 23:4PSA 46:1ISA 43:2JER 12:5JHN 16:33ROM 8:312CO 4:17HEB 12:21PE 5:7REV 21:4William Booth emphasizes the challenges faced in life, comparing them to running with footmen and contending with the swelling of Jordan, symbolizing trials and tribulations. He encourages believers to look to Jesus for strength and deliverance, reminding them that their troubles are temporary and that faith can lead to a glorious crown and kingdom. Booth warns against relying on false supports and urges a return to Christ for peace and pardon, assuring that with faith, one can safely cross the river of trials into eternal glory.
(Through the Bible) Jeremiah 11-15
By Chuck Smith1.4K1:22:42DEU 27:9DEU 28:13JER 11:16JER 12:5MAT 6:33In this sermon, the preacher tells a story about three men who find a genie and are granted three wishes each. The first man wishes to be back in London, the second wishes to be back in Italy, and the third wishes for his friends to be with him. The preacher uses this story to illustrate the power of wishes and the longing for familiar and comfortable places. He then transitions to a discussion about the challenges and difficulties that believers will face in life. The preacher references the book of Jeremiah and highlights how God acknowledges the struggles of His people but warns that things will get even tougher. The sermon emphasizes the need for believers to persevere and trust in God, even in the midst of adversity.
Be Strong in the Lord
By Steve Mays1.4K48:25TrustingISA 40:28JER 12:5MAT 5:14MAT 6:33MAT 22:37EPH 6:10EPH 6:14In this sermon, Steve Mays emphasizes the importance of standing strong in the face of spiritual warfare. He highlights the fact that many believers are walking away from God in these challenging times and urges listeners to remain committed to their faith. Mays discusses the weapons of spiritual warfare mentioned in Ephesians 6, including the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Gospel of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, and Sword of the Spirit. He emphasizes the need to be strong in the Lord and rely on His power. Mays also reflects on his own journey and expresses his desire to finish the course with joy and fulfill the ministry God has given him.
Contrasting Picture of Life and Death
By Ian Paisley1.1K45:17GEN 1:21PSA 23:2ISA 1:7JER 12:5MAT 6:332TI 4:3HEB 12:1In this sermon, the preacher discusses the challenges and struggles of life, comparing them to footmen in a race. He emphasizes that everyone will face disappointments, sickness, sorrow, and tragedy along their journey. However, the preacher also highlights the importance of relying on Jesus to overcome these obstacles and find peace. He concludes by reminding the audience that there will come a day when the footmen will be replaced by the cavalry charge of death, and everyone will face the final battle.
Forerunner Ministry: Friends of the Bridegroom
By Mike Bickle251:01:37Forerunner MinistrySpiritual PreparationISA 40:3JER 12:5MAT 11:11JHN 1:23REV 7:9Mike Bickle emphasizes the significance of the forerunner ministry in preparing believers for the return of the Lord, drawing from Isaiah 40, which prophesies a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for God. He explains that forerunners are called to help people respond rightly to both unprecedented revival and judgment, which will occur in the end times. Bickle encourages the church to strengthen their spiritual identity and focus, as many will be called to this ministry of mercy to guide others through the coming challenges. He highlights the importance of deep preparation and understanding of God's word to effectively communicate His message in a time of confusion and fear. Ultimately, the forerunner ministry is about making clear the heart of God and connecting people to Him as the bridegroom.
(The Lord and His Church) 2. Encouragement in Tribulation
By Zac Poonen0JER 12:5MAT 23:8MRK 10:30JHN 16:33ACT 14:222CO 1:4COL 3:2REV 1:9REV 2:10Zac Poonen preaches on the life of John, emphasizing his humility as he referred to himself simply as 'your brother'. John, despite his age and experience, did not exalt himself with titles but recognized all believers as brothers under the leadership of Christ. John's mention of being a 'fellow-partaker in the tribulation which is in Jesus' highlights the reality that every disciple should expect trials and tribulations while following Christ, as exemplified by John's own experience on the island of Patmos. Poonen challenges believers to embrace tribulations as a means of spiritual growth and preparation for the future, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and enduring in faith amidst trials. He also stresses the significance of being 'in the Spirit' like John, tuning our minds to hear God's voice amidst the distractions and voices of the world.
The Swelling of Jordan
By J. Wilbur Chapman02KI 5:14JER 12:5LUK 15:4JHN 3:16JAS 2:10J. Wilbur Chapman preaches on the significance of the river Jordan in the Bible, symbolizing experiences that stand between us and our future. He emphasizes the importance of fulfilling all the commands of God to attain light, peace, power, and eternal life. Chapman warns about being in caves of sin like dissipation, infidelity, and morality, and the consequences of standing in terror before God without refuge when the waters of judgment rise.
Great Tribulation Travails
By E.A. Adeboye0JER 12:5ROM 5:201TH 5:22TI 3:1E.A. Adeboye emphasizes the importance of not delaying in serving God, especially in the face of increasing corruption and challenges in the world. He warns against compromising one's faith and waiting until the Great Tribulation to get serious with God, highlighting the extreme conditions and lawlessness that will prevail during that time under the rule of the Antichrist. Adeboye urges believers to rely on God's grace to stay pure and faithful, rather than succumbing to the temptations and depravity that will escalate during the Great Tribulation, making current struggles seem minor in comparison.
The Importance of Perseverance
By Zac Poonen0JER 12:5MAT 24:13MRK 10:30JHN 16:33JHN 17:15ACT 14:222CO 1:4REV 2:10REV 14:4Zac Poonen preaches on the importance of being prepared to partake in the tribulations that come with following Jesus, just as John experienced tribulation on the island of Patmos for his faithfulness to God's word. The doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture can lull Christians into false comfort, but Jesus never promised an escape from tribulation, instead focusing on making us overcomers. God's desire is for us to be saved from evil, not necessarily from tribulation, as seen in the examples of early Christians who glorified God through their suffering.
Patience of Perseverance
By Hugh Black0JER 12:5ROM 5:31CO 16:13HEB 10:36JAS 1:12Hugh Black preaches on the importance of endurance and unwavering resolve in the face of challenges, drawing inspiration from Jeremiah 12:5. He emphasizes the need for a heroic soul that can withstand difficulties and continue to fight for what is right, even when faced with overwhelming obstacles. Black highlights the biblical concept of true patience, which involves bearing, suffering, sacrificing, and enduring all things without giving up, ultimately showcasing the power of resilience and perseverance.
The Work of Preparing
By Glenn Meldrum0JER 12:5Glenn Meldrum preaches about the obtainability of revival, emphasizing the need to fill every valley in our lives by facing difficulties and overcoming them through God's grace. He discusses the valley of extreme individualism in American culture, highlighting how self-idolatry and self-indulgence hinder spiritual growth. Meldrum also addresses the importance of bringing down every mountain of pride and unbelief, stressing the need for personal responsibility in preparing for revival. He urges believers to make the crooked ways straight by aligning their lives with God's Word and to make the rough ways smooth by pursuing intimacy with God. Ultimately, the goal is for the Lord's glory to be revealed through genuine revival, where Christians must prioritize giving God the glory and preparing for His return.
A Test of Faith
By Arthur John Gossip0PSA 18:2JER 12:5MAT 7:24HEB 10:23JAS 1:6Arthur John Gossip emphasizes the importance of having a steadfast and unwavering faith in God, comparing the challenges faced in life to running with footmen and contending with horses. He warns against having a fair-weather religion that crumbles under pressure, using the analogy of an airplane crashing when faced with a sudden obstacle. Gossip highlights the parable of building on sand versus building on the rock, illustrating the necessity of a strong foundation in God to withstand life's storms and trials.
Encouragement in Tribulation
By Zac Poonen0Perseverance in FaithOvercoming TribulationJER 12:5MAT 24:13MRK 10:30JHN 16:33JHN 17:15ACT 14:22REV 1:9REV 2:10REV 14:4Zac Poonen emphasizes that Jesus never promised an escape from tribulation but rather the strength to overcome it, as stated in John 16:33. He highlights that God is more concerned with our character development through trials than our comfort, and that true discipleship often involves enduring hardships. Poonen references historical examples of early Christians who faced severe tribulations without divine rescue, illustrating that faithfulness in suffering leads to spiritual strength and eventual reward. He encourages believers to embrace their current trials as preparation for greater challenges ahead, reinforcing the message that perseverance is essential in the Christian faith.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jehovah's reply to Jeremiah's complaint. horses--that is, horsemen: the argument a fortiori. A proverbial phrase. The injuries done thee by the men of Anathoth ("the footmen") are small compared with those which the men of Jerusalem ("the horsemen") are about to inflict on thee. If the former weary thee out, how wilt thou contend with the king, the court, and the priests at Jerusalem? wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee--English Version thus fills up the sentence with the italicized words, to answer to the parallel clause in the first sentence of the verse. The parallelism is, however, sufficiently retained with a less ellipsis: "If (it is only) in a land of peace thou art confident" [MAURER]. swelling of Jordan--In harvest-time and earlier (April and May) it overflows its banks (Jos 3:15), and fills the valley called the Ghor. Or, "the pride of Jordan," namely, its wooded banks abounding in lions and other wild beasts (Jer 49:19; Jer 50:44; Zac 11:3; compare Kg2 6:2). MAUNDRELL says that between the Sea of Tiberias and Lake Merom the banks are so wooded that the traveller cannot see the river at all without first passing through the woods. If in the campaign country (alone) thou art secure, how wilt thou do when thou fallest into the wooded haunts of wild beasts?
John Gill Bible Commentary
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee,.... The Targum introduces the words thus, "this is the answer which was made to Jeremiah the prophet, concerning his question; a prophet thou art, like to a man that runs with footmen, and is weary.'' Then how canst thou contend with horses? or with men on horses: the sense is, either as Kimchi gives it, thou art among men like thyself, and thou art not able to find out their secrets and their designs against thee (see Jer 11:18); how shouldest thou know my secrets in the government of the world, as to the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous? be silent, and do not trouble thyself about these things: or rather, as thou hast had a conflict with the men of Anathoth, and they have been too many for thee; they have grieved and distressed thee, and have made thee weary of my work and service; and thou hast been ready to give out, and declare that thou wilt be no longer concerned therein; what wilt thou do, when thou comest to be exercised with greater and sorer trials, and shalt have to do with the king of Judah and his court, with his princes and nobles, the sanhedrim at Jerusalem, and the priests and inhabitants thereof? The Targum interprets the footmen of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and of the good things done to him; and the horses of the righteous fathers of the Jews, who run like horses to do good works, and of the much greater good reserved for them; but very improperly: much better might it be applied, as it is by some, to the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, who gave the Jews much trouble; and therefore what would they do with the Chaldean army, consisting of a large cavalry, and which would come upon them like an impetuous stream, and overflow, as the swelling of Jordan, as follows? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee; if in his own native country, where he promised himself much peace, safety, and security, he met with that which ruffled and disturbed him: then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? when it overflowed its bank, Jos 3:15 and may denote the pride and haughtiness of the king and princes of Judea, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and the difficulties that would attend the prophet's discharge of his duty among them; and the same thing is signified by this proverbial expression as the former.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
12:5-13 The Lord rebuked his messenger and responded to his question with questions of his own. 12:5 Jeremiah’s racing against mere men was the conflict he experienced with his family and friends. It could not be compared to the race against horses that would take place when the foreign army arrived. The coming war would be as severe as finding one’s way through the thickets near the Jordan.