Jeremiah 9:1-26
Q.1. Why did the Lord express His grief for Israel? How did their sin affect relationships? For what purpose would He punish His people? What would be the impact on the land? – (Jer.9:1-11)
God took no delight in the demise of His people. He wished that He could hide His face from seeing it (Jer.9:1-2). Destruction was unavoidable because – all of them are adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men … they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me, declares the Lord (Jer.9:2-3). Their apostasy expressed itself in their broken relationships with one another (Jer.9:3-6). Israel wearied themselves committing iniquity (Jer.9:5). God was morally bound to punish His people. However, it was to – refine them and examine them (Jer.9:7 c.f. Jer.9:7-9; 1 Pet.1:7). This destruction would be extended to the Promised land, and God declared, – I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant (Jer.9:11).
Q.2. Why was Israel to experience bitterness? What will happen to the women of Israel? What is the only thing worth boasting of? How does God view circumcision? – (Jer.9:12-26 c.f. Rom.2:25-29)
There is much confusion about the reason for Israel’s demise. Many overlook the restoration of a remnant of His people in future days. Jeremiah explained the problem when he asked – Who is the wise man that may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, that he may declare it? Why is the land ruined, laid waste like a desert, so that no one passes through? (Jer.9:12). God told him – Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it (Jer.9:13). God especially drew attention to the women. He prophesied a shameful end (Jer.9:17-22). Israel had religiously continued the rite of circumcision. However, God considered their claims to be the people of God to be no different from those of their uncircumcised neighbours (Jer.9:25-26). God made His appeal to Israel to understand true wisdom – 23 … “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving-kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord (Jer.9:23-24). This should be our delight.