Introduction
‘This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: ‘Judah mourns, her cities languish; they wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing, they cover their heads. The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads. Even the doe in the field deserts her new-born fawn because there is no grass. Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights and pant like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of food.’ Jeremiah 14:1-6
DROUGHT, FAMINE, SWORD
This chapter in the NIV, is headed drought, famine, sword. This is what God’s people will face because they turned their faces away from God.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Over the years scholars have tried to date this prophecy, some are quite amusing and some have even tried to break up the chapter into units, giving a different date to each ‘unit’. As I have said before, the exact date of any of these prophecies or all of them for that matter, is of little importance. The general facts are important and well known, even if there is a variation in the actual dates.’
What is clear from this chapter is, that there was a terrible drought that fell upon God’s people. God was disciplining them all of the time and He talks of this drought that affects both man and beasts. The ‘word of the Lord’ came to Jeremiah, concerning this drought, Jeremiah 14:1. This word about the drought goes on to Jeremiah 15:4. Remember that drought was one of the covenant curses God proclaimed to the people if they disobeyed Him, Deuteronomy 11:16-17.
Some versions say in Jeremiah 14:2, ‘they sit in black upon the ground.’ In the NIV, this isn’t mentioned, Jeremiah 14:2, but wearing black signifies mourning. It is believed that this goes back even further than the time we are looking at in addition to their dress and humble posture, they were sitting on the ground. What this suggests is that the people are about to raise a mighty cry to God in heaven, Jeremiah 14:2.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Covered from head to foot with a black garment, the emblem of sorrow and calamity.’
The effect of this drought will be devastating. It will affect all human beings, children, servants and nobles, Jeremiah 14:3, the ground would be cracked, Jeremiah 14:4, farmers, Jeremiah 14:4, animals and the grass would die, Jeremiah 14:5-6.
Thomson, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The glazed condition of the eyes of the wild ass gives us the picture of eyes that are practically motionless because the death of the animal is near.’
‘Although our sins testify against us, do something, LORD, for the sake of your name. For we have often rebelled; we have sinned against you. You who are the hope of Israel, its Saviour in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveller who stays only a night? Why are you like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? You are among us, LORD, and we bear your name; do not forsake us!’ Jeremiah 14:7-9
This section tells how the people will react in that they acknowledge their sin to a certain extent.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Some question whether it was Jeremiah or the people themselves who prayed this prayer but it seems that Jeremiah himself is praying on behalf of the people.’
They acknowledge that their sins testify against them and so they ask God do something, for His Name’s sake, Jeremiah 14:7. All through their history, when they faced troubled times, they would then remember to call upon God, Jeremiah 14:7.
They acknowledge that they have often rebelled and sinned against God, Jeremiah 14:7, who was there only hope and Saviour in times of distress, Jeremiah 14:8. It sounds as though they are listening to God and going to do something about it but there is no indication that they will cease from sinning or that they will be willing to serve God.
The people say, yes, we did it but you made us do it and so, they blame God. You, God, turned away from us but it was them that made God a stranger to them, Jeremiah 14:8. It was them that made God like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save, Jeremiah 14:9. Notice they say that God is among them, do not forsake us, Lord. Jeremiah 14:9. What a cheek they have because they are saying it is your fault, God.
‘This is what the LORD says about this people: ‘They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So, the LORD does not accept them; he will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.’ Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine, and plague.’ Jeremiah 14:10-12
God says you can’t blame Me because this is your own fault. They just can’t help but wander off from God, Jeremiah 14:10, and as a result, He’s going to remember their sins and punish them for it, Jeremiah 14:10. They are going to reap the harvest, they are going to reap what you have sown, Galatians 6:7. They had only turned back to God because of their need but they still clung to their idols and so, their prayers were only lip service. God says to Jeremiah, do not pray for their well-being, Jeremiah 14:11.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘They are ripe for destruction, intercede not for them. O, how dreadful is the state of that people in reference to whom the Lord says to his ministers, Pray not for them or, what amounts nearly to a prohibition, withholds from his ministers the spirit of prayer and intercession in behalf of the people!’
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘On two previous occasions, God gave Jeremiah the same instruction, Jeremiah 7:15, and Jeremiah 11:14, but it seems that Jeremiah just keeps on praying. No mother quits praying for a son who has gone astray, no matter what he has done wrong. Perhaps God wasn’t actually forbidding Jeremiah to pray, perhaps He was just pointing out the uselessness of it all.’
God says He won’t listen to His people’s cries, even if they fast or offer sacrifices, Jeremiah 14:12. God knew the end result and because their sacrifices were a mere formality, ritual and without repentance, He is going to destroy them with the sword, famine, and plague, Jeremiah 14:12 / Jeremiah 5:12 / Jeremiah 14:15 / Jeremiah 27:8 / Jeremiah 29:18 / 2 Samuel 24:13 / Isaiah 51:19. Acts of worship without the right attitude. Religion means nothing if those practising it aren’t right, even if the act is right.
‘But I said, ‘Alas, Sovereign LORD! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ Then the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries, and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.’ Jeremiah 14:13-16
Jeremiah now brings up the subject of the false prophets. These prophets are deceiving the people by promising peace, Jeremiah 14:13. They are saying that everything will be alright but this is not true. So, God says, they are liars, He didn’t send them, neither have I spoken to them, Jeremiah 14:14 / 1 Kings 13. They are deluded, Jeremiah 14:15, and what they say will not happen, will happen but it will happen to them, Jeremiah 14:15.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Jeremiah had told Jehoiakim that, if he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, he should be overthrown, and the land wasted by sword and famine, the false prophets said there shall be neither sword nor famine, but peace and prosperity. The king believed them, and withheld the tribute. Nebuchadnezzar, being incensed, invaded and destroyed the land; and the false prophets fell in these calamities, 2 Kings 25:3 / Lamentations 2:11-19.’
Why were the people deceived by the false prophets? Possibly because they liked being deceived, Jeremiah 5:32, or because they have been deceived and now go on to deceive others, 2 Timothy 3:11-13. Even today we believe what we want to believe. Some so-called Christians actually study the Bible to find verses that will prove that their sins are okay with God so that they can go on doing them.
So the same thing applies to false teachers today. They are not sincere, misguided men, they are unbelievers who preach a message that they have no confidence in. Following false teachers is no excuse for not obeying God’s word. Jesus put it this way, ‘if the blind follow the blind, both will fall into the ditch,’ Matthew 15:14.
These people, in Jeremiah’s day, imagined that violating the terms of the covenant wouldn’t incur God’s wrath, Jeremiah 14:16. What fools they were, but even today we have men who teach that ‘we are justified by faith alone.’
‘Speak this word to them: ‘Let my eyes overflow with tears night and day without ceasing; for the Virgin Daughter, my people, has suffered a grievous wound, a crushing blow. If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I go into the city, I see the ravages of famine. Both prophet and priest have gone to a land they know not.’ Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror. We acknowledge our wickedness, LORD, and the guilt of our ancestors; we have indeed sinned against you.’ Jeremiah 14:17-20
God tells Jeremiah to speak to the people, and we can almost hear the grieve in God’s word to them, Jeremiah 14:17-18 / Ezekiel 18:23 / Ezekiel 18:32. In other words, following false teachers is no excuse for not obeying God’s Word. Jesus put it this way, ‘if the blind follow the blind, both will fall into the ditch,’ Matthew 15:14.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Jeremiah 14:17-18.
‘First, the land was sadly distressed by Pharaoh-Necho, king of Egypt. Secondly, it was laid under a heavy tribute by Nebuchadnezzar. And, thirdly, it was nearly desolated by a famine afterwards. In a few years all these calamities fell upon them, these might be well called a great breach, a very grievous blow. Every place presents frightful spectacles; the wounded, the dying, the starving, and the slain, none to bury the dead, none to commiserate the dying, none to bring either relief or consolation. Even the prophets and the priests are obliged to leave the cities, and wander about in unfrequented and unknown places, seeking for the necessaries of life.’
Judah’s reaction to God’s word are more or less, have you gone for good, forever? Didn’t we say that we will wait for you, God? Jeremiah 14:19. They have looked to God to heal them but no healing came, only terror, Jeremiah 14:19. They have acknowledged their guilt and sin but through all of this, they are still blaming God and expecting God to heal them, without any action on their part.
‘For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonour your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us and do not break it. Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, LORD our God. Therefore, our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.’ Jeremiah 14:21-22
Jeremiah asks God not to despise His people for God’s Name sake and he asks God not to dishonour His glorious throne, Jeremiah 14:21.
Feinberg, in his commentary, says the following about God’s glorious throne.
‘This is a reference to the temple, 2 Kings 19:15 / Psalms 99:1.’
He asks God to remember His covenant with them and do not break it, Jeremiah 14:21. But God has remembered His covenant, Exodus 24:7-8 / Exodus 19:5, it is they who have broken it and so, God has to deal with the situation.
Broadman, Bible Commentary, says the following.
‘Here is a group of people who had gone so far in sin that they have become ignorant of God. They have forgotten the God of holiness and righteousness. How could they be such fools?’
Despite the fact that they had already broken the covenant, they wanted God to go ahead and fulfil His part of it!
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘They stopped being God’s people when they abandoned Him and turned to idols. But they still wanted God to be their God. They wanted Him to defend, support, and bless them, whilst they continued to worship idols instead of Him. They seemed to be ignorant of the fact that if one of the parties broke the covenant, the other one is no longer bound by it.’
And look at Jeremiah 14:22, what next are they going to resort to? Flattery. You can do so many things God. You can do such wonderful things God. Only you, Lord, can bring rain from the heavens, not the ‘worthless idols’ that we worship, Jeremiah 14:22. You can help us can’t you, Lord? Your our only hope because you’re the one who does all of these things, Jeremiah 14:22.