Jeremiah 6

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Jeremiah Chapter 6

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Jeremiah

Date Penned: (627-586 BC)

Overview: To Urge God's People to Turn from Sin to God (c 1-52)

Theme: God's Judgement on Judah (c 1-45)

Message: Jerusalem's Last Warning (v 1-30)

Jeremiah 6 Commentary

(6:1) A Warning from the Lord - The Lord warned Jeremiah's own tribe of Benjamin to flee, not to the security of the great walled city of Jerusalem, because it would be under siege, but toward Tekoa, a town about 12 miles south of Jerusalem. The warning smoke signal was lit at Beth-haccerem, halfway between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

(6:3) Shepherds - Those compared to shepherds here were the leaders of Babylon's armies, who camped on the hills surrounding the city, much like ordinary shepherds would. But these "shepherds" were ready to strike a lethal blow.

(6:9) The Remnant - The "remnant of Israel" mentioned here is not to be confused with the righteous remnant. This represents those who would be left after the first wave of destruction. Like a grape gatherer checking for every last grape, Babylon wouldn't be satisfied until every person was taken. The Babylonians invaded Judah three times until they destroyed the nation and its temple completely (2 Kings 24=25).

(6:10) Turning a Deaf Ear - The people became angry and closed their ears. They wanted no part of God's commands because living for God did not appear very exciting. As in Jeremiah's day, people today dislike God's demand for disciplined living. As unsettling as people's responses might be, we must continue to share God's Word with others. Our responsibility is to present God's Word; their responsibility is to accept it. We must not let what people want to hear determine what we say.

(6:14) Refusing to Listen - "Ignore it and maybe it will go away!" Sound familiar? This was Israel's response to Jeremiah's warnings. They kept listening to false predictions of peace because they did not like Jeremiah's condemnation of their sins. But denying the truth never changes it; what God says always happens. We can never remove sin by denying its existence. We must confess to God that we have sinned and ask him to forgive us.

(6:16) The Old Path - The Lord urged the people to ask how to get back onto the right path for living, the old, good way that God had marked out for them. The old, good way hardly sounds enticing today. We want everything new, just released, the latest version. These ancient ways were the forged and tested beliefs instituted originally by God and then taught by past prophets, good leaders, good priests, and good kings. But the people weren't interested in God's path; they were interested in going their own way instead. We face the same decision--going God's way, which is old but true, or following a new path of our own choosing. Don't be misled. New is not always better or beneficial. You can find peace and rest for your soul by walking on God's path.

(6:20) Sheba - Sheba, located in southwest Arabia, was a center of trade for the resins and spices that were ingredients in the incense, holy oil, and sacrifices used in worship at the Jerusalem temple. But God wasn't really looking for sacrifices and rituals; he was looking for people with repentant and obedient hearts.

(6:25) Trusting the Lord - Dangerous travel warnings, increased threat levels, and tight security were as much a part of life in ancient Israel as they are in the world today. Terrorism, in one form or another, has been a tactic throughout history. The question raised about such real or potential dangers forces us to examine our sense of ultimate security. Whether the future looks bleak or hopeful, do we actually trust in God? Or does our trust last only as long as the threat seems distant?

(6:29-30) Purification - Metal is purified by fire. As metal ore is heated, the pure metal melts and is separated from the impurities that float on top. As God tested the people of Judah, however, he could find no purity in their lives. They continued in their sinful ways. What impurities do you see in your life that need to be removed? Confess these to God and allow him to purify you as he sees fit. Take time right now to reflect on the areas of your life that he has already refined; then thank him for what he is doing.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

Trust the Lord

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Jeremiah with chapter 6. In our text today, we see Jerusalem's last warning: Jeremiah warned the tribe of Benjamin to flee and not trust the walled city for security because it was about to be under siege. In making application, we see that the Lord has warned us as a people to repent, that judgment is coming, and to not put our trust in things that we hold on to so dearly. Our possessions and funds are not secure as the Lord gives us everything to sustain us, so we should look to Him and Obey our Lord versus man or money. How about You? Do you place your faith in things or the Lord? Let us learn from our text today and the example of Israel to remember not to put our trust in things but rather place our faith in the Lord and love and obey Him, for He first loved us and has given us all we need.

Jeremiah 6

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Jeremiah 6

¹O 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.

²I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

³The 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.

⁴Prepare 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.

⁵Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

⁶For 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.

⁷As 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.

⁸Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

⁹Thus 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.

¹⁰To 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.

¹¹Therefore 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.

¹²And 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.

¹³For 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.

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

¹⁵Were 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.

¹⁶Thus 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.

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

¹⁸Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

¹⁹Hear, 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.

²⁰To 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.

²¹Therefore 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.

²²Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

²³They 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.

²⁴We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

²⁵Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

²⁶O 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.

²⁷I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

²⁸They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

²⁹The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

³⁰Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

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