Dave Burnette's Commentary

Jeremiah Chapter 15

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 is Persecuted (v 1-21)

Jeremiah 15 Commentary 

(15:1) Intercession - Moses and Samuel were two of God's greatest prophets. Like Jeremiah, both interceded for the people before God (Exodus 32:11; Numbers 14:11-20; 1 Samuel 7:9; 12:17; Psalm 99:6). Intercession is often effective. In this case, however, the people were so wicked and stubborn that God knew they would not return to him. 

(15:3-4) Destroyers - The goal of these destroyers was to wipe out the living and devour the dead. This would happen because of Manasseh's evil reign and the people's sin (2 Kings 21:1-16; 23:26; 24:3). The destruction would be complete. The people may have argued that they should not be held responsible for Manasseh's sins, but they were continuing what Manasseh had begun. If we follow corrupt leaders knowingly and willingly, we can't excuse ourselves by blaming their bad examples. 

(15:15) Ignoring God - Jeremiah is known among the prophets for being uniquely vulnerable with his emotions before God. In this section, Jeremiah is complaining to God about the distressing situation in which he finds himself--his people want to kill him (11:18-23), and they're ignoring God's messages through him. The Lord promises that he will take care of Jeremiah, but the prophet continues to complain. When we feel depressed or discouraged, it is easy to ignore the ways that God cares for us and promises to be faithful to us. But just as God continued to respond to Jeremiah with reassurances of his rescue and protection, God will always be with us when we feel despair (15:19-21). 

(15:16) Study Scriptures - Jeremiah filled himself with God's words. He pored over them and internalized their meaning. If we love and treasure God's Word, we should read and study it diligently. We should not give the Bible a quick once-over, but we should really dig into the Scriptures, study them carefully, inwardly digest them, and let them change our lives. In God's Word, we find the kind of wisdom that leads to real and lasting joy. 

(15:17-21) A Pity Party - Jeremiah accused God of not helping him when he really needed it. Jeremiah had taken his eyes off God's purposes and was feeling sorry for himself. He was angry, hurt, and afraid. In response, God didn't get angry at Jeremiah; he answered by rearranging Jeremiah's priorities. As God's mouthpiece, Jeremiah's role was to influence the people, not let them influence him. There are three important lessons for all leaders in this passage: (1) In prayer we can reveal our deepest thoughts to God; (2) God expects us to trust him, no matter what; and (3) we are here to influence others for God, not be influenced by them.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application


Why do Bad Things Happen?

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 15. In our text today, we see that Jerusalem is persecuted for its failure to repent. In making an application, we see some here saying why bad things happen to good people, and the truth is they were not excellent but unrepentant sinners. Today, people say the same: why do bad things happen to good or innocent people? The truth is no one is good because of sin. We are all sinners, and the price of that sin is death. But God, in His grace and mercy, provided a way for sinful man to have His sins forgiven. How about you? Are you saved, and are your sins forgiven? Let us learn from our text today and the account of Jeremiah to see that even if we think we are good - the truth is we are sinners in need of a savior, and that savior is Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

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Jeremiah 15

Jeremiah 15

 1Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

 2And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; 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 the captivity, to the captivity.

 3And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.

 4And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.

 5For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?

 6Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

 7And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people since they return not from their ways.

 8Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

 9She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

 10Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

 11The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

 12Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?

 13Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

 14And I will make thee 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.

 15O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

 16Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

 17I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

 18Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

 19Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

 20And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen 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 the LORD.

 21And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.