The Book of Jeremiah
Lesson 7
Jeremiah 13 – 14
Introduction
The people of Judah had conspired against God to commit all kinds of abominations and because of this, God will bring disaster upon the people; but this disaster/punishment of the people raises for Jeremiah a question about God, “why does the way of the guilty prosper?” God does not directly answer Jeremiah; God tells him that things are going to get worse. Yet, God promises to “pluck out” a people who will be scattered among the nations. These people will be in exile and from them, God will raise up a new nation to serve God. Tonight, we’ll learn more about God’s destruction of the nation.
I. What is the meaning of the loincloth?
a) Jeremiah is told to go and buy a loincloth (underwear) and to put it on; then he is told to take the loincloth and hide it in the crack of a rock near the Euphrates River. For Jeremiah to do this, it leaves him naked and exposed (13:1-5). Later, Jeremiah is told to retrieve the loincloth and when he does, he finds it completely ruined (13:6-7).
b) The hiding of the loincloth is a dramatic illustration both of God’s relationship with the people (both Judah and Israel) and their being ruined/corrupted. Judah and Israel are to be as close to God as underwear to the body; “For as the loincloth clings to one's loins, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the LORD (13:11).” However, “This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own will and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing (13:10).”
c) Just as a ruined loincloth leaves Jeremiah exposed, God is going to ruin the pride of the people (13:9). “And I will dash them one against another, parents and children together, says the LORD. I will not pity or spare or have compassion when I destroy them (13:14).” Notice, God will neither have pity or compassion on the people.
II. Why has Judah’s skirt been lifted?
a) The ruined loincloth left Jeremiah exposed; God promised to do the same to the people by ruining their pride (13:9). Here we have the well-known saying, can “Ethiopians change their skin or leopards their spots?” Neither can the people who are accustomed to doing evil now turn and do good (13:23). “I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighings, your shameless prostitutions on the hills of the countryside. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean (13:27)?”
b) Again, the lying prophets are exposed, they who have said “…You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you true peace in this place (14:13).” “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds (14:14).”
c) God will expose the people for their sins. “…it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you are violated (13:22).” Just as Jeremiah was exposed, so shall the people be exposed; and when they are exposed, they are also violated.
d) “I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert. This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, says the LORD, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies. I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen (13:24-26).”
e) Some of the people have already been carried away into exile and more will be scattered (13:19-20). For their abominations/sins their punishment is the violation of their destruction, and their being carried away into exile. Remember, God will have neither pity nor compassion upon them in their destruction (13:14).
III. Why is Jeremiah told not to pray for the people?
a) “The LORD said to me: Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Although they fast, I do not hear their cry, and although they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I do not accept them; but by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence I consume them (14:11-12).” The time for prayer and intercession has passed; the destruction of the people has begun.
b) God has withheld the rain, and the people are suffering a drought. “Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns, they find no water, they return with their vessels empty. They are ashamed and dismayed and cover their heads, because the ground is cracked. Because there has been no rain on the land the farmers are dismayed; they cover their heads (14:3-4).” The drought is only the beginnings of their punishment, because God will return their wickedness upon them.
c) “You shall say to them this word: Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter-- my people-- is struck down with a crushing blow, with a very grievous wound. If I go out into the field, look-- those killed by the sword! And if I enter the city, look-- those sick with famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade throughout the land, and have no knowledge (14:17-18).”
d) Now the people call out: “We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you. Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us (14:20-21).” Like at the beginning of the flood, when the rains began it was too late to repent. Their destruction has begun, and God will not have compassion upon them.
Next Week: Jeremiah 15 – 16
Questions for the week:
1. What is the land of the North?
2. Why must Jeremiah be celibate and alone?
3. Why will God send fishermen and hunters?