Jeremiah 9
BBCJeremiah 9:1
- The Weeping Prophet’s Lament (Chap. 9)9:1-11 Jeremiah is the speaker in the first two verses. His title “the weeping prophet” is beautifully expressed in verse 1: Oh, that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!Many preachers and missionaries can relate to Jeremiah’s feelings in v. 2. Kyle Yates writes: This verse reveals a glimpse of a tired, worn, discouraged prophet in one of his lowest moments. It might be called “a passing shadow on a great soul.” In his hour of vexation he imagines he would like to break away from people who do not deserve anything of him. How sweet to be relieved of all responsibility and all irritations! He was literally sick of watching the empty, godless, formal substitute for religion. All his days he prayed, loved, preached and warned, only to find the sort of unresponsiveness that seared his soul. He laments the sinfulness and consequent punishment of the people. Then he quotes the Lord as cataloging their sins, arguing the inevitability of judgment, yet weeping over God’s making Jerusalem a den of jackals and the cities of Judah desolate. 9:12-22 The calamity is directly linked to Judah’s idolatry, and for this sin the people will go into exile. The LORD directs that skillful wailing women (professional mourners) be called to lament the terrible slaughter and destruction. There is no use in the people’s boasting in . . . wisdom, might or riches; what really counts is to know the LORD. 9:23, 24 These are two of the most famous verses in Jeremiah. As G. Herbert Livingston remarks, they are worthy to be memorized. Humans strive for wisdom, might, and riches, while God delights in lovingkindness, judgment (justice), and righteousness. Blessed is the one who understands the Lord so as to delight in what He delights. 9:25, 26 An added bitterness in Judah’s cup will be to be punished with Gentile nations, because Judah is uncircumcised in the heart. Clipping the hair on the temples [RV and NASB] was a heathen practice forbidden to the Jews (Lev_19:27).