A Compassion For Those Who Are Lost
January 4, 2021
Commentary
Jeremiah responded to the news of the Babylonian invasion by crying out in anguish. His heart pounded and he could not keep silent as he thought of the approaching battle and the disaster it would bring Judah (vv. 19-21). He concluded that the people of Judah were fools and had no understanding of the way of righteousness which they should have been following (v. 22). A graphic, poetic description is given by the prophet as to the destruction of the land (vv. 23-26). Archaeological excavations have shown that every one of the cities that existed in Jeremiah’s day were completely destroyed. This is more than a simple picture of the invasion. It is also a picture of the devastation man brings upon himself when he rebels against God’s purpose for his life.
Though the whole land would be ruined as God judged the people, He still promised that He would not destroy it completely (v. 27). As the armies approached Judah, the people in every town fled to avoid being killed. They hid in the thickets and among the rocks (vv. 28-29) hoping not to be apprehended by the soldiers. The term “lovers” refers to the foreign powers with whom the Jews maintained diplomatic relations, in particular the Babylonians, who woo Judah and Jerusalem only to destroy them. In contrast the people of Jerusalem made two vain attempts to persuade God to call off His judgment (v. 30). (1) They tried to dress themselves in scarlet and jewels of gold but didn’t have a compassionate heart. (2) They made a pitiful cry for help, but, it came after the day of options had passed. His sermon opened up with the warning: “Flee for safety.” It closed with the cry of death: “Woe is me now for my soul fainteth before murderers” (v. 31).
Application
Jeremiah had a big heart of compassion as he cried out in anguish for those who are away from God and about to face judgment. I want to have more compassion for those who are lost and backslidden.
Jeremiah 4:19– 31 (NET)
19 I said, “Oh, the feeling in the pit of my stomach! I writhe in anguish. Oh, the pain in my heart! My heart pounds within me. I cannot keep silent. For I hear the sound of the trumpet; the sound of the battle cry pierces my soul!
20 I see one destruction after another taking place, so that the whole land lies in ruins. I see our tents suddenly destroyed, their curtains torn down in a mere instant.
21 How long must I see the enemy’s battle flags and hear the military signals of their bugles?”
22 The Lord answered, “This will happen because my people are foolish. They do not know me. They are like children who have no sense. They have no understanding. They are skilled at doing evil. They do not know how to do good.”
23 I looked at the land and saw that it was an empty wasteland. I looked up at the sky, and its light had vanished.
24 I looked at the mountains and saw that they were shaking. All the hills were swaying back and forth!
25 I looked and saw that there were no more people and that all the birds in the sky had flown away.
26 I looked and saw that the fruitful land had become a desert and that all the cities had been laid in ruins. The Lord had brought this all about because of his blazing anger.
27 All this will happen because the Lord said, “The whole land will be desolate; however, I will not completely destroy it.
28 Because of this the land will mourn and the sky above will grow black. For I have made my purpose known, and I will not relent or turn back from carrying it out.”
29 At the sound of the approaching horsemen and archers the people of every town will flee. Some of them will hide in the thickets. Others will climb up among the rocks. All the cities will be deserted. No one will remain in them.
30 And you, Zion, city doomed to destruction, you accomplish nothing by wearing a beautiful dress, decking yourself out in jewels of gold, and putting on eye shadow! You are making yourself beautiful for nothing. Your lovers spurn you. They want to kill you.
31 In fact, I hear a cry like that of a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like that of a woman giving birth to her first baby. It is the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, reaching out for help, saying, “I am done in! My life is ebbing away before these murderers!”