1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,
2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
6 Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do: but they did them not.
9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
15 What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
16 The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
18 And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.
19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
21 Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:
22 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:
23 And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
Jeremiah Chapter 11 is a profound chapter in the book of Jeremiah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. It encompasses themes of covenant, disobedience, punishment, and yet, God's enduring mercy. Jeremiah, the prophet, is given a message from God about the covenant He made with the Israelites, their disobedience to this covenant, and the resulting consequences.
The chapter begins with God instructing Jeremiah to hear the words of the covenant and speak them to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The covenant referred to here is the one God made with the Israelites when He brought them out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. It was a covenant of obedience. God promised blessings and prosperity to the Israelites if they obeyed His commandments. However, if they chose the path of disobedience, curses and calamities would be their portion.
In this chapter, God, through Jeremiah, reminds the people of the covenant and their obligations. He emphasises the importance of obedience, saying, "Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God." (Jeremiah 11:4, KJV). However, the people of Judah and Jerusalem had consistently disobeyed God, following after their own desires and the idolatrous practices of the nations around them.
The Israelites' disobedience was not due to ignorance. They had been warned repeatedly about the consequences of their rebellion. The text states, "The words of this covenant, which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God." (Jeremiah 11:4, KJV). Despite these warnings, the Israelites did not listen or incline their ear but walked each in the stubbornness of their evil heart.
The consequences of the Israelites' disobedience are severe. God declares that He would bring upon them all the curses written in the covenant because they did not obey His words. This includes disaster from which they cannot escape, cries of distress, and unanswered prayers. The severity of the punishment reflects the seriousness of their sin. They had broken the covenant, turned their backs on their God, and walked after other gods to serve them.
In the face of such dire consequences, some might question God's justice. However, it is crucial to remember that God is not only just but also merciful. He had given the Israelites multiple opportunities to repent and turn back to Him. Yet, they chose to persist in their disobedience. Therefore, God's judgement is a response to their persistent rebellion.
In the latter part of the chapter, Jeremiah intercedes for the people, but God tells him not to pray for them because He would not listen to their cries. This indicates the extent of the Israelites' rebellion and the severity of God's judgement. However, this does not mean that God had entirely abandoned His people. Even in judgement, God's mercy remains. He is always ready to forgive and restore those who repent and turn back to Him.
Jeremiah Chapter 11 offers several spiritual lessons for believers. First, it underscores the importance of obedience. As believers, we are called to obey God's commandments out of love for Him. Disobedience leads to spiritual decline and ultimately, judgement.
Second, the chapter reminds us of the consequences of persistent sin. Persistent disobedience leads to hardened hearts, making us insensitive to God's voice and leading us away from His presence. The consequences of such a state are severe, as seen in the judgement pronounced upon the Israelites.
Third, the chapter highlights God's justice and mercy. Despite the severity of the judgement, God's mercy endures. He is always ready to forgive and restore those who repent and turn back to Him. This is a reminder for us to always seek God's forgiveness and mercy, no matter how far we have strayed.
In conclusion, Jeremiah Chapter 11 is a profound chapter that teaches about the importance of obedience to God's commandments, the consequences of disobedience, and the enduring mercy of God. As believers, we are called to heed these lessons and strive to live in obedience to God's word, knowing that His mercies are new every morning.
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