A Passionate Plea to a Pitiful People

Here we have the beginning of the preaching ministry of Jeremiah. It is a hard message of sin and judgment. Look with me at verse 9.

God is pleading with the people of Judah through Jeremiah. Take special note of the word “plead”.

It is “riv” or “ruv” in the Hebrew and it means to toss, grapple, wrangle, strive, contend, quarrel. Most scholars believe it to be a judicial term. That would mean that God is laying out a legal case before Judah. While I believe that to be true we should also understand the term to communicate a passionate plea to Judah as well. The reason is simple. God is not stating the case to Judah for the sole purpose of condemning them. He is stating the case so they will recognize their own guilt and throw themselves upon the mercy of the Judge in repentance.

Jeremiah is preaching in hope that Judah will experience the grace of God.

We must see our illness or we will not run to the Great Physician.

We must experience spiritual poverty before we will seek the riches of Christ.

It’s to that end that Jeremiah preaches. We will look at the case God lays before Judah and then we will see the grace of God in this chapter.

1. The Goodness of God (1-3).

A. In bringing His word to them (1). Three times they are reminded that God is speaking to them in verses 1-3.

The fact that God would speak to those who are not speaking to Him shows His goodness.

B. In remembering them (2). God remembers how Judah loved Him. Israel and God were like newlyweds. Israel followed God like a young bride follows her husband.

C. In protecting them (3).

Israel was set apart by God “holiness unto the Lord”, a choice possession “firstfruits”.

Those that attacked Israel were judged by God.

This looks back to when God delivered Israel from Egypt. There was genuine love for a brief time. God remembered.

They have wronged the One who has always done them right.

They have cursed the One who has blessed them.

They have forgotten the One who has always remembered them.

2. The Idolatry of Israel (4-8).

A. Their forgetfulness led to idolatry (6-7).

God led them through the wilderness and to the Promised Land.

How do you forget something like that?

* You were in bondage now you are free.

* You traveled through a dangerous desert which you should not have survived: deserts, pits, drought, shadow of death.

* You received a bountiful land you did not deserve.

They forgot all of that. But God says “I remember!”

I remember delivering you from the blood thirsty Pharaoh.

I remember sustaining you through desert, drought and death.

I remember bringing you out alive when it wasn’t possible for any to survive!

We would think it more likely that God would forget us than we would forget God. He has reason to forget us, we have none.

B. Their idolatry was an insult to God (5).

Look at the question God asks in verse 5. “What did I do to deserve this?” More pointedly He asks “What sin did I commit to convince you to turn to the worship of worthless idols?”

We see further insult in verse six. They didn’t even notice the Lord was no longer with them. They are not even looking for God.

It would be like if you were gone from your house for six months, returned and your wife and kids said “you were gone, we didn’t even notice.”

What an insult!

C. The idolatry was widespread (8).

* The priests didn’t even ask “Where is the Lord?”

They handled the Law, had it in their hand but had no relationship with God.

* The pastors transgressed (sinful rebellion) against God.

* The prophets were speaking for Baal (chief male object of worship for the Canaanites).

3. The absurdity of Israel’s actions (9-19).

A. They have left their own God (10-12).

This is not even something pagan people do. God says go to Chittim (from West) and Kedar (to the East), look diligently! The pagans are loyal to their gods and their gods aren’t even real! The pagans are more loyal than you!

Look at verse 11. “Has a nation changed their gods that aren’t even real? No! But you have!!”

In verse 11 God calls the heavens as a witness against Judah. He says “Be astonished! Be afraid! Be desolate (devastated)!”

We should be blown away at the ease in which people forsake the one true God. Even in America we see this.

People are more loyal to their sports team than some people are to the Lord.

They’re more loyal to their political party than they are to the Lord!

How absurd to be more devoted to such small worthless things than we are to our living Lord!

B. They have forsaken the living water. God mentions two evils in verse 13:

1) The people have forsaken living water.

2) The people have embraced broken cisterns.

There were three ways to get water in Jeremiahs day: A spring, a well, a cistern. The best way was a spring the worst way was a cistern. Springs were called fountains. This was pure water that was easily accessible. Cisterns were filled by rain, they often leaked and were a breeding ground for insect larvae.

How absurd to forsake an easily accessible spring for a broken cistern. It made no sense.

God is the fountain of living water the idols were the broken cisterns.

C. The absurdity of trusting in nations.

In verse 18 you see a reference to Egypt and Assyria. These were nations Israel and Judah looked to for protection. In doing so they embraced their gods. Drinking the water of the Sihor (Nile) symbolized idolatry. Drinking the waters of the Euphrates in Assyria symbolized the same thing.

Look at the questions God asks in verse 14:

Is Israel a slave?

Is Israel a servant?

Is Israel spoiled (a prey to predators)?

That wasn’t what God created them to be. Yet their sin was leading them into captivity by these nations.

In verse 15 you see the nations described as young lions coming and overtaking Israel. They are destroying the cities of God. In verse 16 you see Egypt has shaved the crown of Judah’s head (began taking land away).

How absurd Israel’s idolatry was:

God made them free these nations enslaved them.

God gave them land these nations are taking it.

Sin makes us foolish. Israel’s idolatry was absurd but they could not see it.

4. The sinfulness of Israel (20-28).

A. It is all the worse because God had already given them freedom (20-21).

* God set them free from Egypt.

* They served gods who did not set them free “every high hill, under every green tree”.

* God planted Judah as a good vine. God did His part.

They had no excuse for their sinfulness. They knew better and had more spiritual privileges than any other nation.

B. They could not cleanse their sin by human effort (22-23).

Niter and soap are two different types of cleanser used in that day. They could wash all they wanted with whatever soap they wanted but it would not remove their sin. Their sin was below the surface.

No matter how much they claimed to be clean the reality is they were still dirty (23).

God mentions them in the valley. This is likely a reference to the valley of Hinnom where child sacrifice was made (2 Chr. 28:3).

C. They were enslaved by their sin (23b-26).

God uses the analogy of animals in heat to describe Israel’s enslavement to sin.

You’re like a young camel running to find someone to breed her (23).

You’re like a wild donkey in heat. Normally a male would sniff the wind to find the donkey in heat and go to hear. Israel is like a donkey in heat who is sniffing the wind to try and find someone to breed her. She is driven by her lust. The language is strong but God is making a point.

The false gods no longer had to come to Israel she was searching for them!

God says stop running after gods until your shoes are worn out (25)!

Stop running after gods until your throat is parched (25)!

Judah replies “I cant’ help it! I love doing it! (25)

They are so enslaved that even when they realize these gods can’t help them they still keep their back turned to the true God (27-28). They cry with their voice but there is no repentance.

5. The Stubbornness of Israel (29-37).

A. Israel refuses to see her sin (35).

She blames God (29). Israel is upset because God is disciplining her for her sin. She shakes her fist as many do at God.

God says “I disciplined you to bring you back” (30). When I sent you prophets to get you to come back to me you killed them.

They see God as a wilderness, a place of loss and darkness. They can’t live how they want and follow God so they blame Him (31). They become their own gods.

B. Israel refuses to publicly identify with the Lord (32).

This involves living for Him. They won’t wear their wedding garments. God says “What bride refuses to wear her wedding garments?” Is Israel ashamed of God therefore they won’t publicly identify with Him by living by His commands?

In fact Israel is even teaching pagan nations how to sin more (33). God says “You really know how to prepare yourself to seduce others! You’re even teaching wicked people how to do it better! (33)

C. Israel even mistreated her own people (34-37).

The blood of the poor was on the garments of Israel. She was once an oppressed people now she oppresses.

She can’t even make up her mind if she wants to serve Egypt or Assyria (36). It doesn’t matter which nation she trusts in or which false god she embraces, judgment is coming if she doesn’t repent.

6. The Grace of God.

Let us close with a look at the grace of God in this chapter. It has been a depressing chapter but it is not a chapter without hope. In this midst of this chapter Israel needs to understand that they have a wonderful God.

He Pleads (9).

God is a God of judgment but He is also a God of grace. He pleads because He desires to give forgiveness. He wants to forgive.

What are the prophets but pleaders?

What are the preachers but pleaders?

What are the Scriptures but pleaders?

God pleads with every sinner. The greatest plea is the cross. Look at the cross, there is the proof of our sin and the plea for our repentance.

Yes we are sinners but there is a Savior for all who will believe. If the cross does not move us nothing will.

On the cross Christ pleads to us. It is finished!

On the Cross Christ pleads for us. Father forgive them…

He is a Fountain (13).

The Fountain of Living Waters- what a title for God. Our God is a Fountain:

*He cleanses- There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains!

*He fills- He that believeth on Me (Jesus) out of his belly show flow rivers of living water (John 7:28).

A passionate plea to a pitiful people. Every sinner is invited to be washed and filled by Jesus Christ. We ought to come.