Sermon Tone Analysis

1.

A Warning issued (1-5).

A. The prophet warns his people (1).

Jeremiah speaks to the tribe of Benjamin.

He was a Benjamite himself.

The Southern Kingdom was made up of two nations: Judah and Benjamin.

Jeremiah probably mentions Benjamin because they were his people.

There is no reason to think he wasn’t warning Judah as well.

He speaks specifically to his people by name probably because they were special to him.

Jeremiah tells them to leave Jerusalem.

The walls of the city will not protect them.

He tells them to do two things to warn the people of the coming invasion:

1) Blow the Trumpet

2) Send a signal by fire

Both of these were ways warnings were communicated in Jeremiah’s day.

Tekoa was about 12 miles South of Jerusalem.

We’re not sure where Beth-haccherem was located.

The reason the warning was to be sounded in these other cities is probably to get the message out to As many as possible, especially to people who might thing fleeing to Jerusalem was the answer when the invaders start approaching.

Do we warn the people in our family?

Do we warn them about fleeing to the wrong place for safety?

Do we extend the warning as far as we can?

B. The land will be devastated (2-3).

Judah is described as a lovely and delicate bride.

She once was.

However, she has prostituted herself out.

This once lovely nation will now be destroyed.

The devastation is likened to what sheep do to fields.

The reason sheep must be moved from one pasture to the next is they eat up everything in the pasture.

The enemy of Judah is described as shepherds who will bring their sheep into the land and the sheep will devour everything.

Jerusalem will be surrounded.

The invaders will treat Judah’s land as if it is their own.

They will do to it as they will.

C. The enemy speaks (4-5).

The enemies come to make war.

They decide to start early.

They will attack at noon.

They realize that they may not accomplish what they want because night is coming.

They decide that despite the night they will continue their attack.

Destruction is their goal, and nothing will stop them.

Typically, wars were not fought at night.

But the enemy is so eager to destroy Judah the night does not stop them.

2. God Directs the Invading Army (6-8).

A. He gives them strategy (6a).

He tells them to cut down trees and put them on a mound.

The purpose of this was to create a ramp so the invading army could get over the walls of Jerusalem.

It was a common tactic and it worked very well.

Babylon is the tool God is using for judgment.

They are an awful nation.

They deserve judgment themselves.

But God uses them anyway.

Everything in the universe belongs to God.

He can use whatever or whoever He wants.

Babylon will defeat Judah because God empowers them to.

B. The reason for judgment (6b-7).

God says the nation must be punished because there is nothing but oppression in her.

He likens her evil to a well that is supplied by spring water.

The fresh water keeps coming up from the spring.

But in Judah’s case they are a spring for evil and evil keeps coming up from them.

Her evil is always fresh, it’s always new.

It never stops.

God mentions:

Oppression, violence, and destruction.

This probably refers to the way the lower class was often treated.

Those in positions of power were easily bought and justice was corrupted regularly.

When the Lord looked down at them all He saw was a spiritually sick and wounded people.

This was probably from the Lord’s discipline.

Yet the discipline did not bring about repentance therefore God must bring devastating judgment.

C. God warns the people again (8).

We see God’s grace here.

He is calling them to repentance even at the eleventh hour.

His mercy is obvious.

He will turn from them in disgust.

He will make the land desolate if they do not repent.

If they repent He will give them mercy.

If we die in our sins we will not die unwarned or unloved.

God will make sure of that.

God stands ready to forgive us if we will repent.

We do not have to die in our sins.

It’s true that God is the one bringing this army against Judah.

It’s true that God is the One who created hell.

But God is also the One who created heaven.

Everyone in heaven was once on their way to hell.

God, by His grace forgave them and changed their eternal destiny.

3.

An Exchange Between the Lord and the Prophet (9-15).

A. The Lord speaks (9).

He says that Judah will be gleaned like a thoroughly gleaned vine.

A search will be made for grapes that were perhaps overlooked but none will be found.

The people of Judah should not think this judgment is small.

It’s anything but small.

It is a complete judgment.

Everyone will be affected.

B. The prophet speaks (10-11a).

Jeremiah says there is no one to speak to.

The people are there, but there is no use in speaking to them.

They have uncircumcised ears.

What does that mean?

Their ears are not prepared to listen.

Their hearts are hardened by sin.

When they hear the Word of God they laugh or mock it.

They find no pleasure in God’s Word.

Even though the people will not listen Jeremiah must still preach.