Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 6

WARNING OF A COMING SIEGE OF

JERUSALEM

1. The children of Benjamin are called upon to flee for safety out of the midst of Jerusalem, (vs. 1-2).

a. A trumpet of alarm is to be sounded in Tekoa, located about 12 miles south of Jerusalem, and the hometown of the prophet Amos, (Amos 1:1).

b. A fire signal is to be set up on Beth-haccerem ("house of the vineyard," about 3 miles northeast of Tekoa, and overlooking the Dead Sea) to guide the fugitives in their flight, (vs. Nehemiah 3:14).

c. Evil is seen peeping out of the north - intent on destruction, (vs. 22; Jeremiah 1:14; Jeremiah 4:6).

d. Destruction awaits the beautiful and luxurious Daughter of Zion, (vs. 2; Jeremiah 4:31; Isaiah 1:8).

2. The enemy from the north is likened to the coming of a shepherd and his grazing flock - eating up all the green grass and devouring everything before them, (vs. 3; Jeremiah 12:10-11; Jeremiah 4:17; Jeremiah 52:13; Isaiah 32:14; 2 Kings 25:1; comp. Luke 19:43).

3. In preparation for their campaign against the once-holy city, they offer sacrifice to their gods, (vs. 4a; comp. 1 Samuel 7:8-10).

4. The zeal of the enemy is evident in the fact that the attack on Jerusalem is to be an incessant one -day and night, (vs. 4b-5; Jeremiah 15:8).

5. It is Jehovah of Hosts Himself that calls for judgment upon Jerusalem, (vs. 6-7).

a. She must be punished, for she is full of oppression, (Jeremiah 22:17).

b. As a well keeps its water cool, so does she keep her wickedness fresh, (James 3:10-12); within her is the cry of "Outrage! ROBBERY!" (Jeremiah 20:8; comp. Psalms 55:9-11; Ezekiel 7:11; Ezekiel 7:23).

c. Through her very wickedness, sickness and wounds are ever before the Lord, (Jeremiah 30:12-13; comp. Jeremiah 14:19).

6. Thus, Jerusalem is called upon to receive the instruction of moral discipline, (vs. 8; Jeremiah 7:28; Jeremiah 17:23).

a. Otherwise the soul of the Almighty will be alienated from her, (Psalms 78:58-61; Psalms 106:40-41; Jeremiah 12:8).

b. And her end will be such utter desolation that her land will be uninhabited.

Vs. 9-15; PUNISHMENT: THE DESERVED END OF CORRUPTION

1. Once more a search is made for a faithful remnant - for whose sake God might spare the city from impending destruction, (vs. 9; comp. Jeremiah 5:1-6; Jeremiah 49:9).

2. But Jeremiah finds no one who will heed his warning!

a. Their ears were closed (uncircumcised) so that they could not hear, (Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 5:21; Jeremiah 7:26; comp. Acts 7:51).

b. To them the word of the Lord was a reproach which they did not appreciate! (comp. Jeremiah 20:8; 2 Chronicles 36:16).

3. Thus, the prophet, full of the wrath of Jehovah, became so exasperated that he was ready for the Lord to unleash His wrath, like scalding water, upon young and old alike, (vs. 11; Micah 3:8; comp. Jeremiah 15:6; Jeremiah 20:9-11; Jeremiah 7:20; Jeremiah 9:21). ,

4. When the Lord’s hand is stretched out against them their houses, lands and wives will be delivered over to the enemy, (vs. 12; Jeremiah 15:6; Jeremiah 8:10; Jeremiah 38:22-23; Deuteronomy 28:30).

5. The gain for which all - from prophet to priest - are so greedy, will be worthless in that day! (vs. 13; Isaiah 56:9-11; Isaiah 57:17).

6. Still, the religious leaders are optimistic - dealing fraudulently with the people, (vs. 14).

a. Their healing of the wounds of the people was very superficial! - like putting a band aid on an active cancer and declaring it cured, (Jeremiah 8:11-12; Jeremiah 8:21;Ezekiel 13:10).

b. And they cried, "Peace!" "All is well" when the cloud of divine wrath was about to burst upon them!

7. Were these lying prophets ashamed when their loathsome behavior was discovered? (vs. 15).

a. They felt NO SHAME! (Jeremiah 3:3; Jeremiah 8:12); so practiced were they in wickedness that they had forgotten how to blush!

b. So, in the day of God’s wrath, they will fall along with those whom they have deceived with their hypocrisies!

Vs. 16-21: REJECTION OF THE OLD PATHS LEADS TO RUIN

1. The Lord called upon Judah to stand at the crossroads and look - to ask for the ancient paths (vs. 16a; Jeremiah 31:21; Isaiah 8:20; Malachi 4:4; comp. John 5:45-47) wherein is the way that is good.

a. Walking therein they would find rest for their souls, (vs. 16b; comp. Matthew 11:28-29).

b. But Judah responded: "We will NOT take !t!"

2. God also set over the nation watchmen (prophets) who urged them to "Heed the trumpet of alarm!" (vs. 17; Jeremiah 25:4-7; Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 3:16-21; Ezekiel 33:1-19); they replied, "We will NOT heed it!"

3. The nations, and the earth, are called upon to hear what the Lord will do to His rebellious people, (vs. 18; comp. Jeremiah 22:29; Isaiah 1:2-3; 1 Peter 4:17).

4. Because they rejected, repudiated and condemned the law of the Lord, He will not accept their sacrifices and offerings - however costly they may be! (vs.19-20).

a. Their rituals are a mockery if their hearts are not in the offerings!

b. Sacrifice without obedience is NEVER acceptable to God, (1 Samuel 15:22; comp. Amos 5:21-24; Hosea 6:6; Isaiah 1:10-20; Micah 6:6-8).

5. Thus, God will place such obstacles in their path as will result in their fall - father and son, neighbor and friend perishing together, (vs. 21; Jeremiah 9:21-22; Isaiah 9:14-17).

Vs. 22-26: TERROR FROM THE NORTH

1. Jehovah calls upon Judah to "Behold" a people coming against them from the north country, (vs. 22-23; Jeremiah 1:15; Jeremiah 5:15; Jeremiah 10:22).

a. From the uttermost part of the earth a great nation is stirred up against them - a people who approach with bow and spear, (vs. 22b ­23a; Jeremiah 4:29; comp. Isaiah 5:30; Nehemiah 1:9).

b. Cruel, merciless, loud, swift and orderly, they come to make war against the daughter of Zion, (vs. 23b).

2. At the report of the rapacious hosts bearing down upon them, the people of Judah are paralyzed with fear, (vs. 24; Jeremiah 4:19-20; Isaiah 28:19; Jeremiah 4:31; Jeremiah 13:21; Jeremiah 30:6); but they DO NOT REPENT!

3. Jeremiah sees "terror on every side" - his people utterly helpless, (vs. 25; 20:3, comp. Isaiah 5:24).

4. If Judah were wise she would be garbed in sackcloth (Jeremiah 4:8) and wallowing in ashes (Jeremiah 25:34) - lamenting the wretchedness of her sin in such bitterness as one who mourns the loss of an only son! (vs. 26; Amos 8:10; comp. Zechariah 12:10); the destroyer is coming soon!

Vs. 27-30: JEREL41AH APPOINTED THE ASSAYER OF JUDAH

1. Jeremiah, who has already been appointed "overseer" of the nations, is here made the assayer and examiner (tower and fortress) of their conduct, (vs. 27; Jeremiah 9:7; Isaiah 1:25; Malachi 3:3-4).

2. The intense heat to which precious metals are subjected is sufficient to separate the dross from the pure metal; but, deepening the judgment of the Lord upon her, Judah has REFUSED to be refined, (vs. 28-29).

3. Thus, men will consider them "reject silver." because the Lord has rejected them, (vs. 30; comp. Jeremiah 7:29).

4. It will be profitable to note how this word "reprobate" (Heb "mass") is used in these earlier messages of Jeremiah - appearing 8 times.

a. In Jeremiah 2:36-37 the Lord asks why they gad about so much to change their ways; they will be ashamed of Egypt, with whom they are trying to form an alliance, as they were ashamed of Assyria; the Lord has REJECTED those in whom they placed their trust -- for they are UNWORTHY objects of trust.

b. In Jeremiah 3:3 the word is used of Judah’s attitude toward the chastisement of the Lord - designed to bring her to repentance so that fellowship might be restored with her God; but, she REFUSED to be ashamed-showing contempt for God’s ways.

c. After charging her with infidelity, and playing the harlot with other nations, the Lord told her that those in whom she trusted for her safety DESPISED her-holding her in contempt! (Jeremiah 4:30).

d. The word is used twice in Jeremiah 5:3 - showing that because Judah REFUSED God’s instructive discipline (holding it in contempt), they also REFUSED to repent!

e. When men REFUSE (will not hearken to) the word of God, and REFUSE to be governed by His laws, there is no limit beyond which they will not go in their willful rebellion against the Most High, (Jeremiah 6:19).

f. No wonder the end result is as it is: "Men shall call her REJECT silver because God has REJECTED HER!" (Jeremiah 6:30; Isaiah 1:22).