Disaster from the North
Because of the beauty of arbitrary chapter/verse numbers, chapter 4 begins by concluding the thought from Chapter 3 about Israel and Judah repenting and returning to God. That said, there’s a lot packed in to only those four verses. In essence, God again warns them that if they don’t repent (they being both Israel and Judah in this case), then His anger will rage against them both. God’s condition for handing Jerusalem over to the Israelites is that they put away their idols and false gods (v. 1-2). He commands them to “circumcise [their] hearts” (v. 4) to prevent His rage from coming upon them. Circumcision, being near and dear to many a man’s heart, was a sign of a covenant between man and God that man will be faithful to God. The practice, established with Abraham (Genesis 17:10), was a symbol of faith and obedience. All Hebrew men from that point on were circumcised on the 8th day after birth. Unfortunately, the practice became so routine (especially since it was performed mostly on babies) that it lost its meaning, so God had to tell His people to “circumcise their hearts”; or, renew your vow with me in your heart to be obedient and faithful, for fear of being “cut off” by the sword of the Lord (Gen. 17:14).
Jeremiah continues his prophecy of the impending doom to be brought on by Babylon from the East (who would be approaching through the Northern Kingdoms where the Israelites were). Ever the merciful God, He relentlessly offers His people a way out (always has, always will)–”O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved” (v. 14). This “way out” is the same today, although we have an official practice and even commands for it–baptism. “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).
The most powerful section in this chapter begins in verse 19 when Jeremiah stops relaying God’s explicit message for a brief time and interjects his own feelings on the vision that God has given him. He grieves for the people of Jerusalem and the land of Judah. Following the invasion, the once fruitful land is to become desolate and arid (v. 25-26). Historical and geological evidence has revealed to modern scientists that this area (current day Iran, Iraq, and Turkey) was once lush with vegetation of all kinds. After the flood, the earth’s cyclical climate changes, and warfare tactics that included the use of “salting” the enemy’s crops to kill and prevent the growth of crops, today this land is indeed desolate and arid, just as was prophesied (and it happened just as it was predicted).
Key Verse: Jeremiah 4:7 – “A lion has come out of his lair; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to lay waste your land. Your towns will lie in ruins without inhabitant.” (NIV)
Application for Men: In our own society, the “destroyer of nations” is already loosed. Only, in our case, the destroyer is the very own people of the land, having been tempted by Satan, the great deceiver. America was established by God-fearing Christian men. When they demanded religious freedom, they were demanding freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. The strangle-hold that the Church of England had on the British empire ironically prevented from allowing its members from worshiping in “spirit and in truth.” So when our forefathers said they wanted their freedom, they were demanding to be allowed to worship the way Jesus asked us. When we sit idly by and allow the atheists of the world to remove God from the classroom, the courthouse, the pledge of allegiance, and the workplace, we ourselves are destroying what our founding fathers sacrificed their lives for. Satan is slowly “laying waste” to our land.
Discussion Questions:
- How are circumcision and baptism similar? How are they different?
- Why does God give the very people he’s intent on destroying a way out? How is this different under the Old Law than under our New Covenant?
- In what ways can we work today to “circumcise” our hearts for God? How would this help fight off the “destroyer of nations”?
Tags: Satan
