Jeremiah15

The LORD declares an unchangeable judgment upon Judah for their persistent sin, stating that even Moses and Samuel's intercession would not avert the decreed destruction by sword, famine, death, and captivity. Jeremiah laments his suffering as a prophet of contention but is assured by God of his personal protection and restoration if he remains faithful, separating the precious from the vile. God promises to make Jeremiah a fortified wall against his adversaries.
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God Rejects Intercession for Judah

1
Then said Jehovah unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. ​
2
And it shall come to pass, when they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith Jehovah: 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 captivity, to captivity. ​
3
And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith Jehovah: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and to destroy. ​
4
And I will cause them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. ​
5
For who will have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who will bemoan thee? or who will turn aside to ask of thy welfare?
6
Thou hast rejected me, saith Jehovah, thou art gone backward: therefore have I stretched out my hand against thee, and destroyed thee; I am weary with repenting. ​
7
And I have winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I have bereaved them of children, I have destroyed my people; they returned 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 destroyer at noonday: I have caused anguish and terrors to fall upon her suddenly.
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 put to shame and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith Jehovah.

Jeremiah Laments His Calling

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 not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet every one of them doth curse me. ​
11
Jehovah said, Verily I will strengthen thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. ​
12
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? ​
13
Thy substance and thy treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.
14
And I will make them 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.

Jeremiah Prays and Questions God

15
O Jehovah, thou knowest; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered reproach. ​
16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy words were unto me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by thy name, O Jehovah, God of hosts. ​
17
I sat not in the assembly of them that make merry, 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 indeed be unto me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail? ​

The Lord Reaffirms Jeremiah’s Mission

19
Therefore thus saith Jehovah, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, that thou mayest stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall return unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them. ​
20
And I will make thee unto this people a fortified brazen 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 Jehovah. ​
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.

Study Notes for Jeremiah 15

Verse 1

Moses (who interceded after the Golden Calf) and Samuel (who interceded against the Philistines) represent the greatest intercessors in Israel’s history. God emphasizes that Judah’s sin is now too great for even their prayers to be effective.

Verse 2

These four judgments (death, sword, famine, captivity) represent a comprehensive schema of destruction, indicating that no segment of society will escape the coming disaster.

Verse 3

The 'four kinds' of judgment are expanded here to include the humiliation of unburied corpses devoured by animals, a severe curse in the ancient Near East.

Verse 4

Manasseh, one of Judah's most wicked kings (697–642 BC), introduced widespread idolatry and child sacrifice. His unrepented sins are cited as the primary historical catalyst for the severity of the impending judgment.

Verse 6

The anthropopathism, 'I am weary with repenting,' powerfully expresses God’s final exhaustion with Judah's covenant violation, signifying that the period of patient forbearance is over and judgment is certain.

Verse 10

This is the third of Jeremiah's 'Confessions.' He laments his isolation and the constant contention he faces, despite living an honest, non-exploitative life (not lending or borrowing on usury).

Verse 11

This verse is generally interpreted as a personal promise of protection and favor specifically to Jeremiah, assuring him that even his enemies will treat him well during the time of national suffering.

Verse 12

The 'northern iron' likely refers to high-quality, exceptionally hard iron or bronze (perhaps Babylonian weaponry). The rhetorical question asks if Judah can possibly withstand the superior strength of the northern invaders.

Verse 15

Jeremiah appeals to God’s omniscience ('thou knowest') and asks for personal vengeance against those who persecute him for delivering God’s difficult message.

Verse 16

The metaphor 'I did eat them' signifies the intense internalization of God’s word (cf. Ezek. 3:3). The word initially brought joy but later led to isolation because of the message of doom he had to proclaim.

Verse 17

Jeremiah emphasizes his faithfulness, separating himself from the social life and false optimism of the populace because the burden of God's judgment was heavy upon him.

Verse 18

This verse expresses the height of Jeremiah’s crisis of faith. He questions God’s reliability, suggesting that the Lord has become like 'waters that fail,' a deceptive mirage or dried-up stream in the desert.

Verse 19

God demands that Jeremiah repent of his sinful complaints (the 'vile') and purify his speech (the 'precious') before his ministry is restored. He must lead the people back, not be led astray by their despair.

Verse 20

God re-issues the promise of protection given at Jeremiah's call (cf. 1:18). By becoming a 'fenced brasen wall,' Jeremiah is guaranteed divine strength to resist the people’s opposition.

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