Jeremiah

Study of Jeremiah 6

• Jeremiah 6:1 O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.
• 2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
• 3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
• 4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
• 5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
• 6 For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

Without God's blessing and help, Judah is defenseless and is compared to a delicate woman. Judgment comes out of the north because of the many sins of Israel.

There are men who teach that God does not send evil but as we study the Old Testament, we see that because of the sin of Israel in turning away from God and committing abominations, God allowed other nations to come and bring Israel under bondage.

Actually all God has to do is withdraw His protection. Israel was not strong in itself. Their strength came from the Lord. When they forsook the Lord, their strength began to decline.

When the twin towers were destroyed in New York city, wicked men planned this. They deceived their followers into thinking they were doing something good and would be rewarded after death. This was evil and wicked. They will be judged by God for this evil deed. Perhaps even now the souls of those men are burning in hell for I doubt they had any chance to repent.

Yet, we wonder where was the hand of God's protection on that day? I don't believe God sent it to us but I wonder if his hand of protection was withdrawn a little. I don't believe it was withdrawn entirely because I've heard stories of good that came from that. It would have been worse if God had not stopped it because we discovered later that more was planned than the twin towers and the Pentagon.

Many in our country continually shut God out of our educational system and replaced the teaching of creation with the silly theory of evolution. I say silly because that is exactly what it is. There is no proof whatsoever of evolution. It is just a theory.

They have allowed women to have their babies aborted if it was not convenient for them to carry the babies to full term. We've even went so far as to allow the babies to be killed moments before their birth. They call this partial-birth abortion. Once the door to abortion opened it gets worse and worse. Now they allow a baby born alive if unwanted by the mother, to just be allowed to die. Some are cut up and their parts sold, their cells are used in vaccines or for medical experiments. EVIL

In July of 2015, our Supreme Court made a complete mockery of God's divine order of marriage to be whatever people want it to be. God is left out. This will lead to confusion, disease and break up the home and family as God created it to be. Even now we are coming up with kids that are confused about their gender. Some are wanting to allow men who think they are women or women who identify as men to use public restrooms according to what they claim their identity to be. Total mass confusion is plaguing our society all because of not retaining God in our knowledge. Romans chapter 1 describes this in detail.

If we read the bible, we will see that these things are an abomination in the sight of God. If we neglect and ignore the teachings of God, why should we expect God to protect us from evil?

God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay a big price on our behalf. He allowed Jesus to be nailed to the cross, be beaten, rejected and actually, physically pay the penalty for every sin that mankind has ever committed. He gave us the option to repent of sins, believe on the Son, Jesus and then receive eternal life.

Yet many ignore this and choose to live in sin and go their own way. They esteem the bible lightly and even make fun of it. In doing so, when evil befalls a nation, why question God about His protection?

Those that lobby for these evil works use freedom and liberty, separation of church and state as an excuse to do these things but then it causes this total confusion and disorder.

Here are the words of Peter:

• 2Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 
• 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
• 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 
• 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 
• 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
• 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
• 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
• 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

When a nation turns away from what is holy and right, the result will be to lose the protection God once gave to that nation.

• Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Oh how wonderful it is to have God as our guide, defender, savior, and protector. No nation in the world can defeat a nation that knows and respects the word of God. I don't write these things to condemn anyone but to urge people to find real life, real love and real joy in the Lord. God's commandments are right and good. They protect our health, our peace, our families and our eternal souls from destruction. God is out for our good, not our evil. When we depart and do what is right in our own eyes, instead of God's way, we bring about more disease, wars, death, trouble and human suffering as a nation. Individuals both good and bad will suffer at times and even die because we live in a fallen world, but those that trust in the Lord will have life eternal.

• Jeremiah 6:7 As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.
• 8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.
• 9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.
• 10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

Just as in the days of Israel, they had no delight in the word of the Lord, it is still the same today. We ignore the word of God to our own peril and destruction. God will not force Himself on anyone. If we do not want His correction then we do not want His presence because He cannot dwell among us if we are full of sin. If He isn't dwelling among us then we are not safe from the many enemies of our nation.

The United States is only as strong as the Lord allows it to be. We need to fear God and not think that we are so great and mighty. We are only great and mighty if He is with us. Without Him we are weak, poor, and blind and defenseless.

• Jeremiah 6:11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

This judgment is upon old and young, men, women and children.

• Jeremiah 6:12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

Others from other nations took over their houses and lands. They may have planted gardens but others ate the fruit of it.

• Jeremiah 6:13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Even the prophets and priest were defiled and full of covetousness.

Word of for covetousness
beh'-tsah - to plunder; by extension gain (usually unjust): - covetousness, (dishonest) gain, lucre, profit.

Desiring money and profit to the point of being dishonest and cheating innocent people is covetousess. It's so easy to become selfish and greedy of gain when our lives is not strong in the Lord.

• Jeremiah 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

I hear this today. I believe in comforting people with the promise of hope and the gospel but that comes after repentance and change. We should not preach peace and joy if we need to repent of sins first. The false prophets were telling them that they were okay like they were and that God was going to bless them. After all they were only human. They couldn't help it, after all its human nature to sin. Everybody is doing it.

I hear this message today. Will God bless sin? Do we not need to get right with God first and repent of sin and turn to the one who frees us from sin, Jesus Christ. If I live with someone in a intimate relationship without being married and give hundreds of dollars to a ministry does that mean God will bless me?

So many think that God's blessings mean material wealth or money. That just is not so. God's best blessings are spiritual. God blesses us with His presence and with His Holy Spirit. He blesses us with inner peace, joy, love, freedom from sin and the promise of eternal life. He does supply our needs and take care of us with material things but to be truly blessed of God is to be blessed spiritually. These are the things of God that can't even be compared to material things. We are missing everything good and wholesome if we are just seeking material things.

• Jeremiah 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

This is a trait I see today. People sin and are not even ashamed. I see people living together without being married, getting abortions, divorcing over silly reasons and they see nothing wrong with it. Before we can be saved from sin, we have to realize that we have sinned. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

• Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

God shows us the right way through His word, through His preachers, and through His Son, Jesus Christ but many sadly are refusing the Old paths where there is the good way.

• Jeremiah 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

He compares those that do not heed the word of God to those who refuse to hearken to the sound of the trumpet. Good preachers and teachers are like watchmen who watch for the souls of the flock. A good pastor cares for his flock. He cares for the lost and desires to see people saved.

A local pastor announced that nine people were saved in a Sunday night service. He rejoiced to hear that. We rejoice along with the angels of heaven when souls come to Christ for salvation.

• Jeremiah 6:18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
• 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

This is why destruction and evil comes to a nation who once knew God but has departed from His teachings. To reject God's law is to reject life.

• Jeremiah 6:20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

It doesn't matter what good we do, whether it is sacrifices, religious ceremonies etc. It is vain if we neglect His word.

• Jeremiah 6:21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
• 22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
• 23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.
• 24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
• 25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
• 26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
• 27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
• 28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
• 29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
• 30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

In the days of Jeremiah, God allowed an evil nation to take over Israel and Judah because of their sin. He did not want this and sent prophet after prophet to warn them first. God would much rather save than destroy. Read the story of Jonah to see the heart of God. God allowed evil to come to get Judah to repent and recognize their sin.

God wants us to repent and accept His gift of eternal life. He does not want us to be lost and suffer the fires of hell for eternity. That is why He sent Jesus to die in our place. He made a way that we can be saved. We can have that living water in our souls this day.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and repent, be sorry for and be willing to turn away from sin and turn to the Lord for salvation. Ask Him to come into your life and you will become a new creature with living water flowing into your soul. Everlasting life will be yours. DC

Study of Jeremiah 7