The NIV heads this chapter, ‘Jerusalem under siege’. Other authors head it ‘Destruction from the North’ or ‘Destruction of Jerusalem’.
Feinberg, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The reason Benjamin is mentioned is that Jerusalem, geographically, belonged to the territory of Benjamin.’
In Jeremiah 4:6, they were warned to flee ‘to Jerusalem’. Now they are warned to ‘get out of Jerusalem’, Jeremiah 6:1. They are to sound the trumpet, signalling its impending doom. The capital of Judah is doomed to destruction. It’s the same repetition of remorse, reminders, and rejection.
This is almost parabolic. Judah is a beautiful, delicate woman, needing protection, Jeremiah 6:2, but she doesn’t want it. So, the army will come like shepherds, Jeremiah 6:3.
The army of those days usually pitched its tents and rested from the journey for a day, talking over old battles, but this army was keen to go in, to noon, Jeremiah 6:4. They seem anxious to get into battle, Jeremiah 6:5.
Tyndale, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The armies of Babylon are here compared to the large numbers of shepherds that once pastured the area around Jerusalem, but this verse describes the soldiers, eager to feed upon the richness of the area.’
The suggested plan of attack was very common for that day. Cut down trees and build siege ramps to use against Jerusalem, Jeremiah 6:6.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This doesn’t refer to fruit trees, rather it means they would be needed to feed the besieging army. But all of the other trees would have been needed to build towers, for overlooking the city, and presumably for other fortifications, as already mentioned.’
God makes it perfectly clear why it was required to punish and destroy His people. Just as water continually pours out of a fountain, the city continues to pour out wickedness, Jeremiah 6:7.
Jerusalem was producing nothing but wickedness and violent oppression, Jeremiah 6:7. The destruction of its daughter is coming, and there will be violence in the streets, Jeremiah 6:7.
If God hadn’t intervened, what would the outcome have been today? Perhaps he did them a favour! Though they wouldn’t have thought so at the time, God is going to depart, Jeremiah 6:8.
We have the picture of a wine dresser. There will be no grapes left on the vines, Jeremiah 6:9.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following concerning Jeremiah 6:9.
‘The Chaldeans are here exhorted to turn back and glean up the remnant of the inhabitants that were left after the capture of Jerusalem; for even that remnant did not profit by the Divine judgments that fell on the inhabitants at large.’
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Not even this gleaning of Israel, however, could nullify God’s promise of their remaining a ‘righteous remnant’ who would return to Jerusalem from Babylon, Jeremiah 4:27 / Jeremiah 5:10 / Jeremiah 5:18.’
A reminder of the refusal to heed all of the various warnings given, Jeremiah 6:10. They have ears but didn’t listen, they wouldn’t hear the word of God, Jeremiah 6:10 / Matthew 11:15.
The destruction will be total and it will affect all of the children, the young men, the old, etc, Jeremiah 6:11. No one will escape, everyone will suffer. Houses, fields, wives, everything will become booty for the invaders, Jeremiah 6:12. What a horrible destruction.
Things have gone from bad to worse, and materialism was always a problem then, and always will be. All of them dealt falsely, they were all greedy and dishonest, Jeremiah 6:13.
They loved their false prophets who cried, Peace, peace when there was no peace, Jeremiah 6:14. They refused to be ashamed of their sins and don’t even blush because of their sins, Jeremiah 6:15. Judah was to be a diamond in the midst of rocks but what a sad end to the story.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following concerning Jeremiah 6:16.
‘Let us observe the metaphor. A traveller is going to a particular city. He comes to a place where the road divides into several paths, and he is afraid of going astray; he stops short, endeavours to find out the right path, but he cannot fix his choice. At last, he sees another traveller; he inquires of him, gets proper directions, proceeds on his journey, arrives at the desired place and reposes after his fatigue.’
They were to stand and seek, they were to select the good ground and walk in it, Jeremiah 6:16. It is not just any old path; it’s the good way, and they are to walk in it.
Here is a challenge for all of us: Stand at the crossroads and look, Jeremiah 6:16. Look and see and ask. How stupid it is when men go through life without a thoughtful, careful examination of the way that they have chosen. They were to ask for the ancient paths, Jeremiah 6:16.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The ancient paths were the ways of faith, devotion, and honour of the one true God. These were revealed to God’s people in the Pentateuch. Today, the ‘good way’ is found for us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, John 14:6. There is a call for action here. It’s not enough to know about the ‘good way’, they need to ‘walk in it’. Those who walk in the good way will find rest for their souls, Jeremiah 6:16. Jesus identified Himself in this good way in what we call the great invitation in Matthew 11:28-30.’
Paul tells us how to walk in Ephesians. Once you walked in transgression and sins, following the course of this world, Ephesians 2:1. We were created for good work and ‘we should walk in them,’ Ephesians 2:10. Walk in love, Ephesians 5:1. Walk as children of light, Ephesians 5:7-10.
Look carefully at how you walk, Ephesians 5:15. Read also Ephesians 4:1-3 and Ephesians 4:17-24. If we did this, we would have satisfaction for our souls, Matthew 11:28-30.
All that they had in the past. All they could have had then and in the future, but they will not walk in God’s ways. They even claimed, We will not listen to God, Jeremiah 6:17.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning Jeremiah 6:18.
‘This solemn invitation is to the whole Gentile world, as well as the whole earth, to hear what God will do, which needs some special understanding. It’s the promise of God to ‘bring evil against His own people. After the captivity of the Jews, they never again enjoyed the status of being the wife of God. All of the promises of Abraham would afterwards be fulfilled in Christ Jesus. However, no Jews were ever rejected just because of their race. But he would never again be automatically a member of the new covenant on account of his race.’
They even claimed, We will not listen to God, Jeremiah 6:19. Their thoughts were evil, and they rejected God’s Law, Jeremiah 6:19. God wasn’t against the sacrifices He asked for, but He was against the way these sacrifices were being offered, Jeremiah 6:20.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The calamus aromaticus, which, when dried and pulverised, yields a very fine aromatic smell, Isaiah 43:24. This was employed in making the holy anointing oil, Exodus 30:23.’
Sacrifices from habitual sinners, insincere and hypocritical worshippers, were an abomination to God and therefore, not acceptable to Him, Jeremiah 6:20. Their insincere offerings were not acceptable to God, Jeremiah 6:20.
Repetition, repetition, and more repetition. God says he will put stumbling blocks on which they will fall, Jeremiah 6:21. God says an external force is coming, a great nation from the north, Jeremiah 6:22. The slaughter will be cruel, Jeremiah 6:23, and no mercy will be shown. Why should there be? No pity will be given.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Babylonians were cruel invaders, but perhaps not quite as terrible as the Assyrians. Some people believe that Judah’s deliverance through the Babylonians was an element of mercy on God’s part, but both invasions were terrible.’
When the nation comes, they will be helpless, their hands will be limp, and the pain will be like that of a woman in labour, Jeremiah 6:24. We get the idea from Jeremiah 6:24 that the people are frightening themselves with the stories of this oncoming army. Stay in the city, it’s safe, Jeremiah 6:25, so they thought! They always think they are safe in the city, but no one can hide from or escape the wrath of God.
Jamieson, Faucet and Brown, in their commentary, say the following.
‘It was the custom of the Jewish people to put ashes on their heads, but to ‘roll in ashes’, Jeremiah 6:26, refers to something more than ordinary grief.’
God says He has made them a tester of metals and His people the ore, that they may observe and test their ways, Jeremiah 6:27. They had become a revolting nation, all of them habitual slanderers, Jeremiah 6:28. They should have been like gold, but like bronze and iron, they are all mixed up, Jeremiah 6:28.
Despite the fire and God doing the refining, the wicked still continued, and so, God’s patience ran out, Jeremiah 6:29. Malachi 3:1-3 speaks of the refining fire that gets everything pure. This is what God wanted for Judah. He rejected them and consigned them to destruction and captivity, Jeremiah 6:30.