Jeremiah 5:24

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Neither say {H559} they in their heart {H3824}, Let us now fear {H3372} the LORD {H3068} our God {H430}, that giveth {H5414} rain {H1653}, both the former {H3138} and the latter {H4456}, in his season {H6256}: he reserveth {H8104} unto us the appointed {H2708} weeks {H7620} of the harvest {H7105}.

They don't say to themselves, "Let's fear ADONAI our God, who gives the fall and spring rains in season, who reserves us the weeks assigned for harvest."

They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Jehovah our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; that preserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Jeremiah 5:24 is a poignant verse from the prophet Jeremiah's message to Judah, highlighting the people's deep spiritual apathy and ingratitude despite God's consistent and vital provision. It serves as a lament over their failure to acknowledge the true source of their blessings.

Context

This verse is situated within a broader section of Jeremiah's prophecy (Jeremiah chapters 4-6) where the prophet delivers a severe indictment against the people of Judah for their widespread apostasy, idolatry, and moral corruption. God, through Jeremiah, exposes their stubborn refusal to repent and their lack of genuine fear or reverence for Him. Despite God's faithfulness in sustaining their agricultural society – a cornerstone of their existence – they fail to recognize His hand or offer Him due praise and obedience. The Lord is setting forth the reasons for the impending judgment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The verse powerfully underscores God's unwavering faithfulness in providing for His creation. He is the one who "giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season," and who "reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest." This speaks to His meticulous care and control over the natural world, ensuring sustenance for life.
  • Human Ingratitude and Forgetfulness: The core indictment is that the people "Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God." They have forgotten or chosen to ignore the benevolent source of their prosperity. This spiritual amnesia is a recurring theme in the prophetic books, where God's people often took His blessings for granted.
  • Lack of Reverential Fear: The "fear of the LORD" here is not terror, but a profound reverence, awe, and obedience that acknowledges God's sovereignty and goodness. Their failure to cultivate this fear demonstrates their broken covenant relationship and spiritual blindness. This contrasts sharply with the wisdom tradition that links the fear of the LORD with the beginning of wisdom.

Linguistic Insights

The phrases "former and the latter rain" are crucial for understanding the agricultural context of ancient Israel. The former rain (Hebrew: yoreh) falls in autumn, preparing the ground for planting, while the latter rain (Hebrew: malqosh) comes in spring, essential for the maturation of crops before harvest. God's provision of both, "in his season," signifies His complete and timely care, ensuring a successful growing cycle and abundant harvest. The "appointed weeks of the harvest" further emphasizes God's precise timing and control over the seasons, guaranteeing the means of sustenance.

Related Scriptures

  • The promise of rain tied to obedience is a significant theme in the Pentateuch, as seen in Deuteronomy 11:14, where God promises "the rain of your land in his season, the first rain and the latter rain," if they obey His commandments.
  • Jeremiah often contrasts God's faithfulness with Judah's unfaithfulness; for instance, Jeremiah 5:25 explicitly states that "your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you."
  • The New Testament also affirms God's universal provision, even for the unrighteous, as noted in Acts 14:17, which speaks of God giving "rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons."

Practical Application

Jeremiah 5:24 serves as a timeless call to gratitude and spiritual awareness. In an age where many blessings are taken for granted, this verse reminds us to look beyond immediate circumstances and recognize God as the ultimate provider of all good things, from daily sustenance to spiritual nourishment. It challenges us to cultivate a heart of genuine reverence and acknowledge His hand in every aspect of our lives, fostering a deeper relationship built on appreciation and obedience rather than spiritual indifference.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 147:8

    Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

  • Joel 2:23

    Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].

  • Genesis 8:22

    While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

  • Matthew 5:45

    That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

  • Jeremiah 14:22

    Are there [any] among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? [art] not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these [things].

  • Acts 14:17

    Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

  • Job 38:37

    Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

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