Jeremiah 40

Jeremiah 40:1

Punishment for Judah’s Deceit

After all the sins mentioned, which make it clear how much they have departed from the LORD, the question sounds in amazement, how they get the idea to boast of their wisdom (Jeremiah 8:8). They boast of their wisdom because they have the law of the LORD with them (cf. Romans 2:17-20). It is with it as with the boasting in the temple at the beginning of the previous chapter (Jeremiah 7:4). But what presumption that is. They indeed have His law, but they do not listen to it.

This is because of the scribes’ false presentation of the law. They have written about the law with a lying pen. They have given their own interpretation of it, as best suits them. By doing so, they have “invalidated the word of God” (Matthew 15:6).

The scribes are often encountered in the Gospels, where they are the opponents of the Lord Jesus. There are certainly good scribes, for example Ezra (Ezra 7:6), but that is an exception. As a category, they distorted and falsified God’s Word “to their own destruction” and that of their hearers (2 Peter 3:16; 2 Corinthians 2:17).

In our day we recognize the boasting of being the temple of the LORD and having His law in those groups that claim to be the only ones to possess the truth. Statements like “we have” and “with us” prove a boasting in pride (cf. 2 Chronicles 13:10-12). This is what we hear – or perhaps very secretly think ourselves in our hearts – when it is said: ‘We have knowledge and understanding, for we alone have commentaries in which the truth is explained.‘

Such boasting is great folly. To claim to possess wisdom and to do so while despising the law, the word of the LORD (Jeremiah 8:9), is supreme folly. How can anyone have wisdom if they reject or bend to their will the source of wisdom, the Word of God? These are the theologians of Jeremiah’s day. However, these have their kindred spirits in our day. Modern theologians also use a liar’s pen, and the hair-splitters, the sectarians, also use it. It shows the total lack of wisdom. True wisdom is “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17).

They will experience the consequences of their foolishness when they are robbed of their wives and when their fields are taken possession of by others (Jeremiah 8:10; Deuteronomy 28:30). Then they will be shamed with all their wisdom. That is the result of their greed for gain, which the whole people, from the least even to the greatest, are after (cf. Micah 3:11). The religious leaders, the priest and the prophet, are no better. They practices deceit by telling the people lies about peace coming (Jeremiah 8:11; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3). “Peace, peace” means perfect peace. Instead of pointing out the rupture of the relationship with the LORD and preaching the way of repentance and conversion, they speak what the people like to hear. The LORD adds succinctly: “But there is no peace.”

The people are hardened (Jeremiah 8:12). There is no sense of guilt whatsoever. Without blushing, they commit the most heinous crimes. Their consciences have been cauterized. They have lost all sense of dignity and honor. If they were confronted with their grossest sins, they would still justify themselves and laugh at those who condemn their actions. This makes them ripe for destruction.

The words of Jer 8:10-12 are a repetition of what has been said before in Jeremiah 6 (Jeremiah 6:12-15). Jeremiah must repeat the truth in order to imprint it indelibly in the minds of the people. But the people, refusing to listen to God’s Word, have been deceived by the false prophets and deceitful priests. Therefore, there is no salvation for them. The punishment is coming. Then they will fall and not be able to stand. They will stumble, for their strength is gone.

The extermination will be complete (Jeremiah 8:13). The LORD Himself will bring that destruction upon them. He will wipe them out. The harvest He has been expecting is not there. His people have borne no fruit for Him. The vine and the fig tree are empty. The leaves have also withered. They have passed by all the blessing the LORD has given them. Instead of thanking Him for His blessing, they have misused it and even served idols with it. Therefore, the former blessings are taken away from them and nothing remains but the total dreariness and desolation mentioned here. Nothing more can be expected from this people (cf. Matthew 21:19).

Jeremiah 40:2

Punishment for Judah’s Deceit

After all the sins mentioned, which make it clear how much they have departed from the LORD, the question sounds in amazement, how they get the idea to boast of their wisdom (Jeremiah 8:8). They boast of their wisdom because they have the law of the LORD with them (cf. Romans 2:17-20). It is with it as with the boasting in the temple at the beginning of the previous chapter (Jeremiah 7:4). But what presumption that is. They indeed have His law, but they do not listen to it.

This is because of the scribes’ false presentation of the law. They have written about the law with a lying pen. They have given their own interpretation of it, as best suits them. By doing so, they have “invalidated the word of God” (Matthew 15:6).

The scribes are often encountered in the Gospels, where they are the opponents of the Lord Jesus. There are certainly good scribes, for example Ezra (Ezra 7:6), but that is an exception. As a category, they distorted and falsified God’s Word “to their own destruction” and that of their hearers (2 Peter 3:16; 2 Corinthians 2:17).

In our day we recognize the boasting of being the temple of the LORD and having His law in those groups that claim to be the only ones to possess the truth. Statements like “we have” and “with us” prove a boasting in pride (cf. 2 Chronicles 13:10-12). This is what we hear – or perhaps very secretly think ourselves in our hearts – when it is said: ‘We have knowledge and understanding, for we alone have commentaries in which the truth is explained.‘

Such boasting is great folly. To claim to possess wisdom and to do so while despising the law, the word of the LORD (Jeremiah 8:9), is supreme folly. How can anyone have wisdom if they reject or bend to their will the source of wisdom, the Word of God? These are the theologians of Jeremiah’s day. However, these have their kindred spirits in our day. Modern theologians also use a liar’s pen, and the hair-splitters, the sectarians, also use it. It shows the total lack of wisdom. True wisdom is “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17).

They will experience the consequences of their foolishness when they are robbed of their wives and when their fields are taken possession of by others (Jeremiah 8:10; Deuteronomy 28:30). Then they will be shamed with all their wisdom. That is the result of their greed for gain, which the whole people, from the least even to the greatest, are after (cf. Micah 3:11). The religious leaders, the priest and the prophet, are no better. They practices deceit by telling the people lies about peace coming (Jeremiah 8:11; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3). “Peace, peace” means perfect peace. Instead of pointing out the rupture of the relationship with the LORD and preaching the way of repentance and conversion, they speak what the people like to hear. The LORD adds succinctly: “But there is no peace.”

The people are hardened (Jeremiah 8:12). There is no sense of guilt whatsoever. Without blushing, they commit the most heinous crimes. Their consciences have been cauterized. They have lost all sense of dignity and honor. If they were confronted with their grossest sins, they would still justify themselves and laugh at those who condemn their actions. This makes them ripe for destruction.

The words of Jer 8:10-12 are a repetition of what has been said before in Jeremiah 6 (Jeremiah 6:12-15). Jeremiah must repeat the truth in order to imprint it indelibly in the minds of the people. But the people, refusing to listen to God’s Word, have been deceived by the false prophets and deceitful priests. Therefore, there is no salvation for them. The punishment is coming. Then they will fall and not be able to stand. They will stumble, for their strength is gone.

The extermination will be complete (Jeremiah 8:13). The LORD Himself will bring that destruction upon them. He will wipe them out. The harvest He has been expecting is not there. His people have borne no fruit for Him. The vine and the fig tree are empty. The leaves have also withered. They have passed by all the blessing the LORD has given them. Instead of thanking Him for His blessing, they have misused it and even served idols with it. Therefore, the former blessings are taken away from them and nothing remains but the total dreariness and desolation mentioned here. Nothing more can be expected from this people (cf. Matthew 21:19).

Jeremiah 40:3

Punishment for Judah’s Deceit

After all the sins mentioned, which make it clear how much they have departed from the LORD, the question sounds in amazement, how they get the idea to boast of their wisdom (Jeremiah 8:8). They boast of their wisdom because they have the law of the LORD with them (cf. Romans 2:17-20). It is with it as with the boasting in the temple at the beginning of the previous chapter (Jeremiah 7:4). But what presumption that is. They indeed have His law, but they do not listen to it.

This is because of the scribes’ false presentation of the law. They have written about the law with a lying pen. They have given their own interpretation of it, as best suits them. By doing so, they have “invalidated the word of God” (Matthew 15:6).

The scribes are often encountered in the Gospels, where they are the opponents of the Lord Jesus. There are certainly good scribes, for example Ezra (Ezra 7:6), but that is an exception. As a category, they distorted and falsified God’s Word “to their own destruction” and that of their hearers (2 Peter 3:16; 2 Corinthians 2:17).

In our day we recognize the boasting of being the temple of the LORD and having His law in those groups that claim to be the only ones to possess the truth. Statements like “we have” and “with us” prove a boasting in pride (cf. 2 Chronicles 13:10-12). This is what we hear – or perhaps very secretly think ourselves in our hearts – when it is said: ‘We have knowledge and understanding, for we alone have commentaries in which the truth is explained.‘

Such boasting is great folly. To claim to possess wisdom and to do so while despising the law, the word of the LORD (Jeremiah 8:9), is supreme folly. How can anyone have wisdom if they reject or bend to their will the source of wisdom, the Word of God? These are the theologians of Jeremiah’s day. However, these have their kindred spirits in our day. Modern theologians also use a liar’s pen, and the hair-splitters, the sectarians, also use it. It shows the total lack of wisdom. True wisdom is “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17).

They will experience the consequences of their foolishness when they are robbed of their wives and when their fields are taken possession of by others (Jeremiah 8:10; Deuteronomy 28:30). Then they will be shamed with all their wisdom. That is the result of their greed for gain, which the whole people, from the least even to the greatest, are after (cf. Micah 3:11). The religious leaders, the priest and the prophet, are no better. They practices deceit by telling the people lies about peace coming (Jeremiah 8:11; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3). “Peace, peace” means perfect peace. Instead of pointing out the rupture of the relationship with the LORD and preaching the way of repentance and conversion, they speak what the people like to hear. The LORD adds succinctly: “But there is no peace.”

The people are hardened (Jeremiah 8:12). There is no sense of guilt whatsoever. Without blushing, they commit the most heinous crimes. Their consciences have been cauterized. They have lost all sense of dignity and honor. If they were confronted with their grossest sins, they would still justify themselves and laugh at those who condemn their actions. This makes them ripe for destruction.

The words of Jer 8:10-12 are a repetition of what has been said before in Jeremiah 6 (Jeremiah 6:12-15). Jeremiah must repeat the truth in order to imprint it indelibly in the minds of the people. But the people, refusing to listen to God’s Word, have been deceived by the false prophets and deceitful priests. Therefore, there is no salvation for them. The punishment is coming. Then they will fall and not be able to stand. They will stumble, for their strength is gone.

The extermination will be complete (Jeremiah 8:13). The LORD Himself will bring that destruction upon them. He will wipe them out. The harvest He has been expecting is not there. His people have borne no fruit for Him. The vine and the fig tree are empty. The leaves have also withered. They have passed by all the blessing the LORD has given them. Instead of thanking Him for His blessing, they have misused it and even served idols with it. Therefore, the former blessings are taken away from them and nothing remains but the total dreariness and desolation mentioned here. Nothing more can be expected from this people (cf. Matthew 21:19).

Jeremiah 40:4

Punishment for Judah’s Deceit

After all the sins mentioned, which make it clear how much they have departed from the LORD, the question sounds in amazement, how they get the idea to boast of their wisdom (Jeremiah 8:8). They boast of their wisdom because they have the law of the LORD with them (cf. Romans 2:17-20). It is with it as with the boasting in the temple at the beginning of the previous chapter (Jeremiah 7:4). But what presumption that is. They indeed have His law, but they do not listen to it.

This is because of the scribes’ false presentation of the law. They have written about the law with a lying pen. They have given their own interpretation of it, as best suits them. By doing so, they have “invalidated the word of God” (Matthew 15:6).

The scribes are often encountered in the Gospels, where they are the opponents of the Lord Jesus. There are certainly good scribes, for example Ezra (Ezra 7:6), but that is an exception. As a category, they distorted and falsified God’s Word “to their own destruction” and that of their hearers (2 Peter 3:16; 2 Corinthians 2:17).

In our day we recognize the boasting of being the temple of the LORD and having His law in those groups that claim to be the only ones to possess the truth. Statements like “we have” and “with us” prove a boasting in pride (cf. 2 Chronicles 13:10-12). This is what we hear – or perhaps very secretly think ourselves in our hearts – when it is said: ‘We have knowledge and understanding, for we alone have commentaries in which the truth is explained.‘

Such boasting is great folly. To claim to possess wisdom and to do so while despising the law, the word of the LORD (Jeremiah 8:9), is supreme folly. How can anyone have wisdom if they reject or bend to their will the source of wisdom, the Word of God? These are the theologians of Jeremiah’s day. However, these have their kindred spirits in our day. Modern theologians also use a liar’s pen, and the hair-splitters, the sectarians, also use it. It shows the total lack of wisdom. True wisdom is “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17).

They will experience the consequences of their foolishness when they are robbed of their wives and when their fields are taken possession of by others (Jeremiah 8:10; Deuteronomy 28:30). Then they will be shamed with all their wisdom. That is the result of their greed for gain, which the whole people, from the least even to the greatest, are after (cf. Micah 3:11). The religious leaders, the priest and the prophet, are no better. They practices deceit by telling the people lies about peace coming (Jeremiah 8:11; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3). “Peace, peace” means perfect peace. Instead of pointing out the rupture of the relationship with the LORD and preaching the way of repentance and conversion, they speak what the people like to hear. The LORD adds succinctly: “But there is no peace.”

The people are hardened (Jeremiah 8:12). There is no sense of guilt whatsoever. Without blushing, they commit the most heinous crimes. Their consciences have been cauterized. They have lost all sense of dignity and honor. If they were confronted with their grossest sins, they would still justify themselves and laugh at those who condemn their actions. This makes them ripe for destruction.

The words of Jer 8:10-12 are a repetition of what has been said before in Jeremiah 6 (Jeremiah 6:12-15). Jeremiah must repeat the truth in order to imprint it indelibly in the minds of the people. But the people, refusing to listen to God’s Word, have been deceived by the false prophets and deceitful priests. Therefore, there is no salvation for them. The punishment is coming. Then they will fall and not be able to stand. They will stumble, for their strength is gone.

The extermination will be complete (Jeremiah 8:13). The LORD Himself will bring that destruction upon them. He will wipe them out. The harvest He has been expecting is not there. His people have borne no fruit for Him. The vine and the fig tree are empty. The leaves have also withered. They have passed by all the blessing the LORD has given them. Instead of thanking Him for His blessing, they have misused it and even served idols with it. Therefore, the former blessings are taken away from them and nothing remains but the total dreariness and desolation mentioned here. Nothing more can be expected from this people (cf. Matthew 21:19).

Jeremiah 40:5

The Invading Army

It seems that the people see the enemy armies and want to seek refuge (Jeremiah 8:14). It causes a panicked fear. They call out to each other to go together to the fortified cities. There they will be able to await events, knowing that this calamity is coming from the LORD their God. They acknowledge that the LORD has given them the bitter “poisoned water” to drink as punishment for their deviance. However, this acknowledgment is neither a matter of the heart nor of the conscience. No repentance follows.

Certainly, they look forward to peace and healing, as every man, even the most wicked, looks forward to it (Jeremiah 8:15). However, that peace does not come; on the contrary, nothing good comes at all. Peace was foretold to them by the false prophets and they expected it, but it does not appear to be there. Everyone wishes for peace, but it can only be found with God and His Christ. Those who ignore this believe in a different peace, which, however, will never come. Our expectations only have foundation if we derive them from God’s Word.

They also long for healing of their wounds. Because they do not go to the LORD as their Healer with this (Exodus 15:26b), they are not healed, but on the contrary, a time of terrors breaks out. Instead of peace, they hear the advancing enemy who has entered the land in the north, near Dan (Jeremiah 8:16). The sound of the snorting of the horses of the enemy armies fills the air and already has reached Judah. The ground trembles from the sound of wildly charging, neighing stallions. The enemy armies come and devour the whole land and also the city of Jerusalem – all the people and all the produce.

The enemy is suddenly represented as serpents, yes, poisonous adders (Jeremiah 8:17). They will not be able to protect themselves from them (Ecclesiastes 10:11; Psalms 58:4-5). These serpents will bite them, so that deadly poison will come into them. The false prophets’ incantation against the venom of these serpents will prove to be fruitless. This is because the LORD sends those serpents.

Jeremiah 40:6

The Invading Army

It seems that the people see the enemy armies and want to seek refuge (Jeremiah 8:14). It causes a panicked fear. They call out to each other to go together to the fortified cities. There they will be able to await events, knowing that this calamity is coming from the LORD their God. They acknowledge that the LORD has given them the bitter “poisoned water” to drink as punishment for their deviance. However, this acknowledgment is neither a matter of the heart nor of the conscience. No repentance follows.

Certainly, they look forward to peace and healing, as every man, even the most wicked, looks forward to it (Jeremiah 8:15). However, that peace does not come; on the contrary, nothing good comes at all. Peace was foretold to them by the false prophets and they expected it, but it does not appear to be there. Everyone wishes for peace, but it can only be found with God and His Christ. Those who ignore this believe in a different peace, which, however, will never come. Our expectations only have foundation if we derive them from God’s Word.

They also long for healing of their wounds. Because they do not go to the LORD as their Healer with this (Exodus 15:26b), they are not healed, but on the contrary, a time of terrors breaks out. Instead of peace, they hear the advancing enemy who has entered the land in the north, near Dan (Jeremiah 8:16). The sound of the snorting of the horses of the enemy armies fills the air and already has reached Judah. The ground trembles from the sound of wildly charging, neighing stallions. The enemy armies come and devour the whole land and also the city of Jerusalem – all the people and all the produce.

The enemy is suddenly represented as serpents, yes, poisonous adders (Jeremiah 8:17). They will not be able to protect themselves from them (Ecclesiastes 10:11; Psalms 58:4-5). These serpents will bite them, so that deadly poison will come into them. The false prophets’ incantation against the venom of these serpents will prove to be fruitless. This is because the LORD sends those serpents.

Jeremiah 40:7

The Invading Army

It seems that the people see the enemy armies and want to seek refuge (Jeremiah 8:14). It causes a panicked fear. They call out to each other to go together to the fortified cities. There they will be able to await events, knowing that this calamity is coming from the LORD their God. They acknowledge that the LORD has given them the bitter “poisoned water” to drink as punishment for their deviance. However, this acknowledgment is neither a matter of the heart nor of the conscience. No repentance follows.

Certainly, they look forward to peace and healing, as every man, even the most wicked, looks forward to it (Jeremiah 8:15). However, that peace does not come; on the contrary, nothing good comes at all. Peace was foretold to them by the false prophets and they expected it, but it does not appear to be there. Everyone wishes for peace, but it can only be found with God and His Christ. Those who ignore this believe in a different peace, which, however, will never come. Our expectations only have foundation if we derive them from God’s Word.

They also long for healing of their wounds. Because they do not go to the LORD as their Healer with this (Exodus 15:26b), they are not healed, but on the contrary, a time of terrors breaks out. Instead of peace, they hear the advancing enemy who has entered the land in the north, near Dan (Jeremiah 8:16). The sound of the snorting of the horses of the enemy armies fills the air and already has reached Judah. The ground trembles from the sound of wildly charging, neighing stallions. The enemy armies come and devour the whole land and also the city of Jerusalem – all the people and all the produce.

The enemy is suddenly represented as serpents, yes, poisonous adders (Jeremiah 8:17). They will not be able to protect themselves from them (Ecclesiastes 10:11; Psalms 58:4-5). These serpents will bite them, so that deadly poison will come into them. The false prophets’ incantation against the venom of these serpents will prove to be fruitless. This is because the LORD sends those serpents.

Jeremiah 40:8

The Invading Army

It seems that the people see the enemy armies and want to seek refuge (Jeremiah 8:14). It causes a panicked fear. They call out to each other to go together to the fortified cities. There they will be able to await events, knowing that this calamity is coming from the LORD their God. They acknowledge that the LORD has given them the bitter “poisoned water” to drink as punishment for their deviance. However, this acknowledgment is neither a matter of the heart nor of the conscience. No repentance follows.

Certainly, they look forward to peace and healing, as every man, even the most wicked, looks forward to it (Jeremiah 8:15). However, that peace does not come; on the contrary, nothing good comes at all. Peace was foretold to them by the false prophets and they expected it, but it does not appear to be there. Everyone wishes for peace, but it can only be found with God and His Christ. Those who ignore this believe in a different peace, which, however, will never come. Our expectations only have foundation if we derive them from God’s Word.

They also long for healing of their wounds. Because they do not go to the LORD as their Healer with this (Exodus 15:26b), they are not healed, but on the contrary, a time of terrors breaks out. Instead of peace, they hear the advancing enemy who has entered the land in the north, near Dan (Jeremiah 8:16). The sound of the snorting of the horses of the enemy armies fills the air and already has reached Judah. The ground trembles from the sound of wildly charging, neighing stallions. The enemy armies come and devour the whole land and also the city of Jerusalem – all the people and all the produce.

The enemy is suddenly represented as serpents, yes, poisonous adders (Jeremiah 8:17). They will not be able to protect themselves from them (Ecclesiastes 10:11; Psalms 58:4-5). These serpents will bite them, so that deadly poison will come into them. The false prophets’ incantation against the venom of these serpents will prove to be fruitless. This is because the LORD sends those serpents.

Jeremiah 40:9

The Sorrow of Jeremiah

Jeremiah has now been a prophet for many years, but his prophesying has been without results. Instead of being heartened by seeing that the people are listening, he only sees more apostasy (Jeremiah 8:18). The prospect of the very imminent destruction breaks his heart. He loves his people deeply, but his love is met with rejection. He knows the way of blessing for his people, but the people will not go that way.

That’s how it can be with us when we see what people need and present it to them, but they flatly refuse the offer of grace. That hurts, not for ourselves, but for them. Jeremiah and Paul and Moses loved God’s people wholeheartedly and suffered their rejection of grace. More than all of them, the Lord Jesus suffered from the rejection of Him and His grace.

Jeremiah hears the distant cries for help from his people (Jeremiah 8:19). His prophetic ear hears the people crying out for help even from the exile. The answer to the questions is that the LORD is most certainly in Zion and that her King is with her. But, the answer continues, why do the people who will soon ask if the LORD is in Zion now hold so fast to the idols from the foreign lands? That is the reason for His wrath. That is why He has had to surrender His people into the hands of enemies.

The people reply that the harvest time is over (Jeremiah 8:20). The summer, the prosperous time, when the full yield of the land may be harvested, has ended, without anything to harvest. The promise of harvest is connected to obedience to the LORD. They have given up that obedience. They have also spiritually let pass by the acceptable time, the time when the LORD called for repentance and conversion (cf. Luke 19:43-44; 2 Corinthians 6:2). Salvation is no longer within reach.

This realization brings Jeremiah into great distress of soul (Jeremiah 8:21). The break is final. This breaks his heart and brings him to mourn. He pains himself asking for medicine and a physician (Jeremiah 8:22). Balm is used as medicine and also as a beauty aid (Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 46:11; Jeremiah 51:8; Ezekiel 27:17). It is a restorative, nice-smelling ointment. Its use does well to a person. But it is only available from the “physician” that is the LORD. They are both – the LORD as the Physician (Exodus 15:16) and His Word as the balm – available. So why didn’t the people make use of it?

Jeremiah 40:10

The Sorrow of Jeremiah

Jeremiah has now been a prophet for many years, but his prophesying has been without results. Instead of being heartened by seeing that the people are listening, he only sees more apostasy (Jeremiah 8:18). The prospect of the very imminent destruction breaks his heart. He loves his people deeply, but his love is met with rejection. He knows the way of blessing for his people, but the people will not go that way.

That’s how it can be with us when we see what people need and present it to them, but they flatly refuse the offer of grace. That hurts, not for ourselves, but for them. Jeremiah and Paul and Moses loved God’s people wholeheartedly and suffered their rejection of grace. More than all of them, the Lord Jesus suffered from the rejection of Him and His grace.

Jeremiah hears the distant cries for help from his people (Jeremiah 8:19). His prophetic ear hears the people crying out for help even from the exile. The answer to the questions is that the LORD is most certainly in Zion and that her King is with her. But, the answer continues, why do the people who will soon ask if the LORD is in Zion now hold so fast to the idols from the foreign lands? That is the reason for His wrath. That is why He has had to surrender His people into the hands of enemies.

The people reply that the harvest time is over (Jeremiah 8:20). The summer, the prosperous time, when the full yield of the land may be harvested, has ended, without anything to harvest. The promise of harvest is connected to obedience to the LORD. They have given up that obedience. They have also spiritually let pass by the acceptable time, the time when the LORD called for repentance and conversion (cf. Luke 19:43-44; 2 Corinthians 6:2). Salvation is no longer within reach.

This realization brings Jeremiah into great distress of soul (Jeremiah 8:21). The break is final. This breaks his heart and brings him to mourn. He pains himself asking for medicine and a physician (Jeremiah 8:22). Balm is used as medicine and also as a beauty aid (Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 46:11; Jeremiah 51:8; Ezekiel 27:17). It is a restorative, nice-smelling ointment. Its use does well to a person. But it is only available from the “physician” that is the LORD. They are both – the LORD as the Physician (Exodus 15:16) and His Word as the balm – available. So why didn’t the people make use of it?

Jeremiah 40:11

The Sorrow of Jeremiah

Jeremiah has now been a prophet for many years, but his prophesying has been without results. Instead of being heartened by seeing that the people are listening, he only sees more apostasy (Jeremiah 8:18). The prospect of the very imminent destruction breaks his heart. He loves his people deeply, but his love is met with rejection. He knows the way of blessing for his people, but the people will not go that way.

That’s how it can be with us when we see what people need and present it to them, but they flatly refuse the offer of grace. That hurts, not for ourselves, but for them. Jeremiah and Paul and Moses loved God’s people wholeheartedly and suffered their rejection of grace. More than all of them, the Lord Jesus suffered from the rejection of Him and His grace.

Jeremiah hears the distant cries for help from his people (Jeremiah 8:19). His prophetic ear hears the people crying out for help even from the exile. The answer to the questions is that the LORD is most certainly in Zion and that her King is with her. But, the answer continues, why do the people who will soon ask if the LORD is in Zion now hold so fast to the idols from the foreign lands? That is the reason for His wrath. That is why He has had to surrender His people into the hands of enemies.

The people reply that the harvest time is over (Jeremiah 8:20). The summer, the prosperous time, when the full yield of the land may be harvested, has ended, without anything to harvest. The promise of harvest is connected to obedience to the LORD. They have given up that obedience. They have also spiritually let pass by the acceptable time, the time when the LORD called for repentance and conversion (cf. Luke 19:43-44; 2 Corinthians 6:2). Salvation is no longer within reach.

This realization brings Jeremiah into great distress of soul (Jeremiah 8:21). The break is final. This breaks his heart and brings him to mourn. He pains himself asking for medicine and a physician (Jeremiah 8:22). Balm is used as medicine and also as a beauty aid (Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 46:11; Jeremiah 51:8; Ezekiel 27:17). It is a restorative, nice-smelling ointment. Its use does well to a person. But it is only available from the “physician” that is the LORD. They are both – the LORD as the Physician (Exodus 15:16) and His Word as the balm – available. So why didn’t the people make use of it?

Jeremiah 40:12

The Sorrow of Jeremiah

Jeremiah has now been a prophet for many years, but his prophesying has been without results. Instead of being heartened by seeing that the people are listening, he only sees more apostasy (Jeremiah 8:18). The prospect of the very imminent destruction breaks his heart. He loves his people deeply, but his love is met with rejection. He knows the way of blessing for his people, but the people will not go that way.

That’s how it can be with us when we see what people need and present it to them, but they flatly refuse the offer of grace. That hurts, not for ourselves, but for them. Jeremiah and Paul and Moses loved God’s people wholeheartedly and suffered their rejection of grace. More than all of them, the Lord Jesus suffered from the rejection of Him and His grace.

Jeremiah hears the distant cries for help from his people (Jeremiah 8:19). His prophetic ear hears the people crying out for help even from the exile. The answer to the questions is that the LORD is most certainly in Zion and that her King is with her. But, the answer continues, why do the people who will soon ask if the LORD is in Zion now hold so fast to the idols from the foreign lands? That is the reason for His wrath. That is why He has had to surrender His people into the hands of enemies.

The people reply that the harvest time is over (Jeremiah 8:20). The summer, the prosperous time, when the full yield of the land may be harvested, has ended, without anything to harvest. The promise of harvest is connected to obedience to the LORD. They have given up that obedience. They have also spiritually let pass by the acceptable time, the time when the LORD called for repentance and conversion (cf. Luke 19:43-44; 2 Corinthians 6:2). Salvation is no longer within reach.

This realization brings Jeremiah into great distress of soul (Jeremiah 8:21). The break is final. This breaks his heart and brings him to mourn. He pains himself asking for medicine and a physician (Jeremiah 8:22). Balm is used as medicine and also as a beauty aid (Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 46:11; Jeremiah 51:8; Ezekiel 27:17). It is a restorative, nice-smelling ointment. Its use does well to a person. But it is only available from the “physician” that is the LORD. They are both – the LORD as the Physician (Exodus 15:16) and His Word as the balm – available. So why didn’t the people make use of it?

Jeremiah 40:13

The Sorrow of Jeremiah

Jeremiah has now been a prophet for many years, but his prophesying has been without results. Instead of being heartened by seeing that the people are listening, he only sees more apostasy (Jeremiah 8:18). The prospect of the very imminent destruction breaks his heart. He loves his people deeply, but his love is met with rejection. He knows the way of blessing for his people, but the people will not go that way.

That’s how it can be with us when we see what people need and present it to them, but they flatly refuse the offer of grace. That hurts, not for ourselves, but for them. Jeremiah and Paul and Moses loved God’s people wholeheartedly and suffered their rejection of grace. More than all of them, the Lord Jesus suffered from the rejection of Him and His grace.

Jeremiah hears the distant cries for help from his people (Jeremiah 8:19). His prophetic ear hears the people crying out for help even from the exile. The answer to the questions is that the LORD is most certainly in Zion and that her King is with her. But, the answer continues, why do the people who will soon ask if the LORD is in Zion now hold so fast to the idols from the foreign lands? That is the reason for His wrath. That is why He has had to surrender His people into the hands of enemies.

The people reply that the harvest time is over (Jeremiah 8:20). The summer, the prosperous time, when the full yield of the land may be harvested, has ended, without anything to harvest. The promise of harvest is connected to obedience to the LORD. They have given up that obedience. They have also spiritually let pass by the acceptable time, the time when the LORD called for repentance and conversion (cf. Luke 19:43-44; 2 Corinthians 6:2). Salvation is no longer within reach.

This realization brings Jeremiah into great distress of soul (Jeremiah 8:21). The break is final. This breaks his heart and brings him to mourn. He pains himself asking for medicine and a physician (Jeremiah 8:22). Balm is used as medicine and also as a beauty aid (Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 46:11; Jeremiah 51:8; Ezekiel 27:17). It is a restorative, nice-smelling ointment. Its use does well to a person. But it is only available from the “physician” that is the LORD. They are both – the LORD as the Physician (Exodus 15:16) and His Word as the balm – available. So why didn’t the people make use of it?

Jeremiah 40:15

The Complaint of the Prophet

Jeremiah’s soul struggle continues here. He is deeply concerned with the condition of his people and the disasters that are coming upon them. He suffers greatly that they have not listened (Jeremiah 9:1). He has an intense love for God’s people to whom he belongs with heart and soul. He wishes he had more tears to express his sorrow for all those who have perished and will perish as a result of God’s discipline (Jeremiah 13:17; Jeremiah 14:17).

What is written here has earned him the nickname “the weeping prophet’. He resembles the Lord Jesus here, Who also wept over the city (Luke 19:41). It is also reminiscent of Paul’s sorrow for his brothers after the flesh (Romans 9:1-5; Romans 10:1). Do we also weep for the condition of God’s people, both generally and in the local church where we are? Or do we avoid these feelings and prefer to indulge in the ‘fun’ aspects of being a Christian? Do we prefer to be entertained rather than exhorted?

Jeremiah would prefer not to have anything more to do with this people at all by now (Jeremiah 9:2; cf. Psalms 55:6-8). They are all, each and every one, “adulterers”. The whole is “an assembly of treacherous men”. There will have been exceptions, but this is the characteristic of the whole that is observed by all who see it. Jeremiah does not only observe it. What he sees torments his soul and he expresses it.

In this he also aligns his feelings with those of God, Who’s eyes also “are too pure to approve evil” (Habakkuk 1:13a). This is opposite Jeremiah 9:1, but does not contradict it. There he carries the people on his heart. Here he sees their sins. He loves the people, but he hates their sins. He wants to get away from such an adulterous and treacherous troop, that he may not have to see their sins any longer. The fact that his preaching does not seem to have any effect may also play a role in this desire. What is the point of continuing to preach? Such a wish can arise in anyone who does a work for the Lord, where the result only seems to be even more unfaithfulness.

Going to live in “a wayfarers’ lodging place”, by the way, will not give the coveted peace. We can compare it to retiring to a monastery. It is not an option anyway for a believer, one of whose tasks is to witness to his Savior in his daily life. We must also remember that in a monastery we take ourselves with us. Learning how to live to the glory of the Lord in accordance with the truth in a wicked world and an apostate Christianity, we can only do in the practice of daily life in dealing with Him.

Jeremiah 40:16

The Complaint of the Prophet

Jeremiah’s soul struggle continues here. He is deeply concerned with the condition of his people and the disasters that are coming upon them. He suffers greatly that they have not listened (Jeremiah 9:1). He has an intense love for God’s people to whom he belongs with heart and soul. He wishes he had more tears to express his sorrow for all those who have perished and will perish as a result of God’s discipline (Jeremiah 13:17; Jeremiah 14:17).

What is written here has earned him the nickname “the weeping prophet’. He resembles the Lord Jesus here, Who also wept over the city (Luke 19:41). It is also reminiscent of Paul’s sorrow for his brothers after the flesh (Romans 9:1-5; Romans 10:1). Do we also weep for the condition of God’s people, both generally and in the local church where we are? Or do we avoid these feelings and prefer to indulge in the ‘fun’ aspects of being a Christian? Do we prefer to be entertained rather than exhorted?

Jeremiah would prefer not to have anything more to do with this people at all by now (Jeremiah 9:2; cf. Psalms 55:6-8). They are all, each and every one, “adulterers”. The whole is “an assembly of treacherous men”. There will have been exceptions, but this is the characteristic of the whole that is observed by all who see it. Jeremiah does not only observe it. What he sees torments his soul and he expresses it.

In this he also aligns his feelings with those of God, Who’s eyes also “are too pure to approve evil” (Habakkuk 1:13a). This is opposite Jeremiah 9:1, but does not contradict it. There he carries the people on his heart. Here he sees their sins. He loves the people, but he hates their sins. He wants to get away from such an adulterous and treacherous troop, that he may not have to see their sins any longer. The fact that his preaching does not seem to have any effect may also play a role in this desire. What is the point of continuing to preach? Such a wish can arise in anyone who does a work for the Lord, where the result only seems to be even more unfaithfulness.

Going to live in “a wayfarers’ lodging place”, by the way, will not give the coveted peace. We can compare it to retiring to a monastery. It is not an option anyway for a believer, one of whose tasks is to witness to his Savior in his daily life. We must also remember that in a monastery we take ourselves with us. Learning how to live to the glory of the Lord in accordance with the truth in a wicked world and an apostate Christianity, we can only do in the practice of daily life in dealing with Him.