Day 220—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and prophecy.

    Day 220 – Jeremiah 4 – 6 (Continuous judgment is prophesied on Judah for their rejection of the LORD)

Jeremiah 4. This chapter begins with God holding out hope to Judah, if they would repent, turn from their wickedness, and “return to Him.” 

“Remove your detestable things from my presence…. and swear ‘As the Lord lives,’ in truth, justice, and righteousness.”

“Break up your fallow ground, and sow NOT among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD: remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.” 

“O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?”

And yet, they will not, so the destruction God forewarned about will surely come. 

 

Jeremiah 5. An offer of hope is held out if ONE just man can be found.

“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth that I may pardon her.”

But none can be found.  “They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.”   

“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me?’ declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me?”

“But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God.’

And the LORD’s response?  “Shall I not punish them for these things, declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation like this?”

 

Jeremiah 6. The prophet writes of impending disaster for Jerusalem, calling for the people to be warned. “This is a city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.”

“Behold their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold the Word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.  Therefore, I am full of the wrath of the LORD; I am weary of holding it in.”

Therefore, hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them. Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words, and as for my law, they have rejected it. 

 

Read the horrific details of the destruction of Jerusalem and its people in these chapters and know why Jeremiah cries “My anguish, my anguish! I write in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent, for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Crash follows hard on crash; the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are laid waste, my curtains in a moment. How long must I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?” 4:19-21