Worse than I Expected

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Opening Prayer

Thank You for being my Father. I simply need Your provision and Your presence. I wait before You.

Read Jeremiah 5:1-13

^[1] “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. ^[2] Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.” ^[3] LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. ^[4] I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God. ^[5] So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. ^[6] Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many. ^[7] “Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. ^[8] They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife. ^[9] Should I not punish them for this?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? ^[10] “Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the LORD. ^[11] The people of Israel and the people of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me,” declares the LORD. ^[12] They have lied about the LORD; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine. ^[13] The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.”

Meditate

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deut. 32:4). Such a God is worthy of our devotion and praise.

Think Further

God had been willing to spare Sodom if there were “ten righteous persons” (Gen. 18:32). Now the challenge to the people is to find just “one person,” then “I will forgive” (1; the imperatives are plural). The NIV’s “honestly” highlights one aspect of the more general “justly” (NRSV), while “truth” includes the idea of faithfulness, integrity, trustworthiness. Both terms describe God’s character in Deuteronomy 32:4 (“just,” “faithful”). They are contrasted with a casual approach to using God’s name in swearing oaths or making promises (2,7) and false affirmations of what God will not do (12). Both kinds of lies continue to bring chaos to any society.

Jeremiah agonizes over the people’s failure to learn from previous situations, but they have an excuse (3,4). Any hope of change, however, is dashed as he turns to “the leaders” (5). They should know, because of their position, education and expertise, but they too rebel and mock the words of warning from Jeremiah (6,12) and previous prophets (e.g. Huldah, 2 Kings 22:14-20). Those who are listened to as “prophets” are just “wind” (13). All in positions of leadership, backed by training and experience, and anyone claiming to speak a “word” from God–today we might add those who shape public opinion–have a responsibility to “seek truth” for the well-being of society, with accountability to God.

The contrast between God’s generosity and the people’s blatant apostasy is again described in shocking imagery (7,8; see also 2:20-25). As horses primarily were evidence of royal might, “the image of ‘lusty stallions’ surely alludes to sexual infidelity and perversion, but it is also a metaphor for shameless self-assertion” (Walter Brueggemann), seen bluntly in verse 12. How can God “forgive” if people persist in going their own arrogant lying ways (7)? The rest of the book will show how hope will come only through judgment (33:7-9).

Apply

Jeremiah seems inclined to excuse the poor and blame the upper class (4-6). Are they equally at fault? Why do you think so? What does this passage appear to say?

Closing prayer

Lord, I know I can be blind to my faults and sins. Bring into my life those who can point out my spiritual blind-spots, and hold me accountable.

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