1 Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.
3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.
4 And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.
5 For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?
6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.
7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people since they return not from their ways.
8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.
9 She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.
10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.
11 The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
13 Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.
14 And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.
15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?
19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.
20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.
Jeremiah 15 is a chapter that dives deeply into the anguish of the prophet Jeremiah, as he grapples with the impending doom of his people, the Israelites, and the harsh response of God to their disobedience. The chapter is riddled with themes of divine judgement, repentance, and the personal struggle of a prophet tasked with delivering a message of doom to his own people.
The chapter begins with God responding to Jeremiah's plea for the people. The Lord says that even if Moses and Samuel, two revered prophets, stood before Him, His mind would not be favourable towards the Israelites. This is a stark reminder of the gravity of Israel's sins. It is a clear indication that their disobedience has reached a point where not even the intercession of the most respected prophets could alter God's judgement.
The severity of God's judgement is further emphasized when He describes the four forms of destruction that He will unleash: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. These forms of destruction are not only physical but also carry symbolic significance. The sword represents war, the dogs represent disgrace, the birds and beasts represent utter desolation. This paints a grim picture of the impending doom that awaits the Israelites.
In this chapter, Jeremiah's personal struggle is also vividly portrayed. He laments his own birth, wishing he had died in his mother's womb. This shows the depth of his despair, not just for himself, but for his people. Jeremiah is in a unique position, he is the bearer of bad news, the one chosen by God to deliver a message of judgement to his own people. This puts him in a place of deep conflict, torn between his love for his people and his duty to God.
Yet, amid his lament, Jeremiah also shows his unwavering faith in God. He acknowledges that God's words were his joy and his heart's delight. Despite the heavy burden he carries, Jeremiah still finds solace in God's words. This highlights the personal relationship between Jeremiah and God, a relationship that is not devoid of conflict but is deeply rooted in faith and trust.
God's response to Jeremiah's lament is both stern and comforting. He rebukes Jeremiah, telling him to repent and return to Him. Yet, He also promises to make Jeremiah a fortified wall, offering him protection against the people. This indicates that even in His judgement, God's mercy and protection are available to those who turn to Him.
The chapter concludes with Jeremiah expressing his frustration and loneliness. He questions why his pain is perpetual and why his wound is incurable. This further underscores the personal struggle of Jeremiah, caught in the middle of a divine judgement and a disobedient people.
In summary, Jeremiah 15 is a profound chapter that delves into the themes of divine judgement, repentance, and the personal struggle of a prophet. It presents a stark picture of the consequences of disobedience, yet also offers a glimmer of hope in the midst of judgement. It is a chapter that reminds us of the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of straying from His commands. It also highlights the personal struggle of those tasked with delivering God's messages, reminding us of the human element in the divine narrative.
One of the main themes in Jeremiah 15 is divine judgement. God's judgement is portrayed as severe and inevitable, a direct consequence of Israel's disobedience. The four forms of destruction that God describes serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of straying from His commands. Yet, even in His judgement, God's call for repentance is evident. He tells Jeremiah to repent and return to Him, indicating that despite the severity of the judgement, there is still room for repentance. This highlights the duality of God's character, as a just judge and a merciful saviour.
Another key theme in this chapter is the personal struggle of Jeremiah. His lament and frustration are a testament to the heavy burden he carries as the bearer of bad news. Yet, amid his despair, his unwavering faith in God is evident. His personal struggle serves as a reminder of the human element in the divine narrative, highlighting the fact that prophets, despite their divine calling, are still humans with emotions and struggles.
Jeremiah 15 also sheds light on the role of prophets. They are not just messengers of God, but also intercessors for the people. They carry the burden of delivering God's messages, often of judgement and doom, to their own people. They are caught in the middle, torn between their duty to God and their love for their people. This chapter underscores the difficulty and complexity of the prophetic role, reminding us of the human element in the divine narrative.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 15 is a profound chapter that presents a stark picture of divine judgement, calls for repentance, and highlights the personal struggle of a prophet. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience, the importance of repentance, and the human element in the divine narrative. Despite the grim picture it paints, the chapter also offers a glimmer of hope, showing that even in the midst of judgement, God's mercy and protection are available to those who turn to Him.
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