Jeremiah 8:18-9:6- Lamenting Over The Shepherdless

Thoughts from Reading the Text

8:1-17

Because of the people’s idolatry, they will be judged by God and ultimately shown the foolishness of their ways (1-2)

They will wish that they would die because of how severe the judgement of God is (3)

The people of Israel have hardened their hearts when given the opportunity to repent (4-5)

This is shown by their

unwillingness to stop from their evil ways (6)

Their speaking falsely (6)

Turning to their own ways rather than God’s ways (6)

All creation goes based upon the natural creation of God, but God’s “people” have not (7)

The people claim to be wise in the sight of others and claim to be on God’s side but their ways are far from God (8)

The “wise” will be shown to be foolish because they lead the people of God away from God and his word (9)

They will be judged (10)

They have given false assurance to the people (11)

They were proud to lead the people away from God (12)

They bear no fruit (13)

God’s judgement is immanent (15-17)

8:18-9:6

8:18-21- Lamenting over the lost

Jeremiah has no joy in the judgement of God, he is hurting, despondent, broken over the people’s sin and their judgement. (18)

How this should be us with our family, friends, and nation

The people cry when they realize God is not among them. They realize God is not on their side and that the “prophets” have lied to them. There is no peace in Zion, God will not come to rescue them. (19-20)

This realization from the people of Israel and the realized judgement of God has led Jeremiah to mourn and cry out. To lament over his national brothers and sisters. (21)

The people went to Gilead to get reprieve from the judgement of God (22)

The people were told to escape Jerusalem

There is to be no reprieve from the judgement of God when it is enacted by God (22)

8:22-9:3- Lamenting over the sin of the lost

Jeremiah weeps for the people because they were misled by false prophets who led them and they continue in their sin. They continue to believe in the words of the false prophets, and continue more and more into their sin. (1-2)

The people, following after the false prophets, turn to falsehood, deceit, evil, and have lived lives that the reveal that they don't know the Lord. (3)

9:4-6- Lamenting over the misled

Jeremiah’s weeping for the lost, leads him to see they are blind to the reality they live in. They listen to the false prophets because they don't know any better. They follow after evil ways because they are being taught to. This leads Jeremiah to call the people to turn. To repent. To not listen anymore to the false teachers/ prophets. (4)

Jeremiah calls to not put trust in the people we are most prone to put our trust in. (4)

Because their brothers and neighbors

Deceive, slander, speaks no truth, speak lies, commit iniquity, oppress, and do not know the Lord.

Outline

Introduction

Catching up in Jeremiah

Who is Jeremiah prophesying to?

Judah

Why is Jeremiah prophesying?

What has Jeremiah said?

Because of the people’s idolatry, they will be judged by God and ultimately shown the foolishness of their ways (1-2)

They will wish that they would die because of how severe the judgement of God is (3)

The people of Israel have hardened their hearts when given the opportunity to repent (4-5)

This is shown by their unwillingness to stop from their evil ways (6)

Their speaking falsely (6)

Turning to their own ways rather than God’s ways (6)

All creation goes based upon the natural creation of God, but God’s “people” have not (7)

The people claim to be wise in the sight of others and claim to be on God’s side but their ways are far from God (8)

The “wise” will be shown to be foolish because they lead the people of God away from God and his word (9)

They will be judged (10)

They have given false assurance to the people (11)

They were proud to lead the people away from God (12)

They bear no fruit (13)

God’s judgement is immanent (15-17)

Main Emphasis of Jeremiah 8:18-9:6

Lament Over the Lost (8:18-9:1)

What is the going on?

Jeremiah is weeping over Judah being judged by God because they have gone after idols and have lived in their own ways rather than the way of God.

Jeremiah’s heart is sick, joy is gone (18)

Jeremiah is someone who can not fall asleep at night because of the dread of God’s immanent judgement. You can imagine a scenario in which you have felt this way. In which you were so distraught that you felt sick. So worried that you feel nauseous. This is Jeremiah over the prospect of God’s judgement soon realized on Judah.

And notice how Jeremiah identifies with his people. The same people who have not believed the word’s he was warning them with. The same people who sought his life because of the message of judgement Jeremiah was bringing. Even despite all of this Jeremiah’s heart yearns and associates with the people of Israel. So much so that he says “my people (19)”, “we are not saved (20)”, “My people has led my heart to be wounded (21)”, “my people (22)”, and “my people (1)”

Paul has the same heart for the lost as well.

Romans 9:1–3 ESV

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

There is nothing that is able to soothe the balm of God’s judgement from an unrepentant people

Despite all of the efforts of the people of Judah to escape God’s judgement, to find reprieve from God’s judgement, or to healing from God’s judgement; they can not. There is to be no reprieve from the one under the judgement of God unless one repents. One must turn to God in faith and plea for the mercy and grace of God.

What does this have to do with us?

Believer- We should lament over those who are lost in our lives?

We should weep over those who don't know the Lord because of the judgement that is due their way.

We should be broken hearted over the sinner. Often we disassociate ourselves from our sinful nation by reasoning away that they have what its coming to them. But the love of God should spur us to be as broken-hearted as we are disgusted.

Our broken hearts should lead us in our prayers. We should cry out for the Lord to have mercy and to open the eyes of the sinner.

Hypocrite- The Lord will not allow you to continue to walk in a way that is contrary to his word. Turn to him, walk in his ways.

There is a warning in this passage for the person who is living a double life. The person who claims to be walking with God and to believe in God but reject his ways and his word. The person who likes to pick their favorite passages and places those passages above any other of God’s words. The person who comes to church but spends the rest of their life in the pursuit of the world. The person who wants to have the blessings of God apart from the ways of God.

The warning is to repent. Turn to the Lord whose name you claim and walk in his way. Quit pursuing your passions, desires, and ways and turn to the way of God. the warning is, if you don't, God’s judgement will not escape you. God sees your cold heart and knows that it is not after him.

Unbeliever- Turn before the time of judgement

Lament Over the Sin (9:2-3)

What is the going on?

Jeremiah then turns his eyes unto the sinner and their sin. He desires to depart from them because of their sin.

Jeremiah weeps because of the lives of Judah and the false prophets of Judah. The people willingly choose to listen to and follow the ways of the false prophets rather than God.

What does this have to do with us?

Look at your life. Look at the fruit that you produce.

Turn to the Lord and be know him.

Lament Over the Misled (9:4-6)

What is the going on?

Jeremiah turns then to those who are being misled. The everyday person. Those in the pews. He turns to them to cry and plead for the people to turn from the false prophets and to turn to the Lord.

Matthew 9:36 ESV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jeremiah begins to plead for the people to open their eyes to the reality of those who are leading them. They are deceitful, evil speakers, live in iniquity, slander, oppress, and don't know the Lord in whom they “speak on behalf of”.

What does this have to do with us?

Believer- Keep your trust in the Lord and his Word

Believer- cry out to those who are lost/ misled to repent and turn to the Lord in faith

All- Turn your eyes, ears, and hearts away from those who are leading you astray and trust in the Lord following after his ways