Jeremiah 4 Commentary
The LORD God has decided and won’t change His mind; Jerusalem will be destroyed. Jerusalem’s wicked ways are the reason for the destruction. But who cares? The city is peaceful and goes about life as always.
Who wouldn’t think of our own times! People eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage – who knows it until the Son of Man shows up as the Judge of the universe!
The prophet throws in a light complaint. Why has the LORD deceived the people? Why this false peace – the thought of false security. All is normal out there.
But not so with the saint. Even a small lie yet to be said sends the saint into earnest repentance. And which saint truly feels secure against the holy standards of the Sovereign LORD!
Yet it is so peaceful out there – with danger in the blink. We can wonder as the prophet did.
Return to the LORD in truth, not just in empty words of reverence. Let the good words you say about God come from your hearts and not just from your lips.
Don’t mix good and evil in one act. Be one thing; confess it and act it; otherwise, the LORD’s anger will burn like a fire.
As we all know, this fire did come, and Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 B.C. The Book of Lamentations describes for us the horror of God’s anger against Jerusalem. History isn’t static!
Is our world safe today? The LORD Jesus Christ, says no. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”
“They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Verse 22b. Then you know evil, and its author is real! Individuals who decide to live without the power of God within themselves are slaves. They cannot do anything about it. They sin by default.
Then the scripture digs deep into history and comments on the state of humanity. “Without form, and void; and the heavens, they had no light.” Verse 23.
Your mind quickly takes you to the beginning. Yes, a trip to an eternal problem. Let there be light… It’s humanity’s greatest need. And why not? Indeed, why not? Who wouldn’t think of Jesus as the light of this world!
Then you know the LORD has done something about humanity’s darkness! Look to it. Find it. Then walk straight into it.
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