By Eugene Garner

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 11

JUDAH'S BREACH OF THE COVENANT

    The position of covenant-relationship, to which Israel was exalted at Mt. Sinai, placed upon her the responsibility of fidelity to the terms of that covenant. If Judah rejects her covenant obligations, then she forfeits her right to the blessings offered those who walk in the sphere of covenant fellowship with Jehovah, her God.
    Most scholars view this prophetic message as being delivered in connection with the discovery of the scroll containing "the book of the law" (2 Kings 22:8) in the temple (621 B.C.), and the reformation of religious life to which king Josiah called his people - requiring the rejection of every idol, to worship Jehovah alone as God.

    The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, 4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: 5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.

    1. Jeremiah is commanded to hear the words of the covenant and to relay the essence of it to the men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, (comp. Ex. 19:5).
    2. A curse rests upon everyone who refuses to heed the words of God's covenant, (17:5; Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10).
    3. "Covenant" here refers specifically to the Mosaic Covenant (Deut. 11:18; 27:15-26; 28:13; 29:9) wherein God set forth His purpose for Israel when He delivered them from the affliction of Egypt, (vs. 3-5; Deut. 4:20; I Kings 8:51).
      a. It required obedience from the people of the covenant - obedience to the voice of Jehovah their God.
      b. So would they BE His people, and He their God (Deut. 6:3; 11:9; 26:9); a people who refuse to obey the voice of the Lord have no right to claim the blessings of His covenant.
      c. Fidelity to their covenant responsibilities would enable God to fulfill, to them, the blessings long ago pledged to their ancient fathers, of a land flowing with milk and honey.
      d. The choice of Judah, therefore, is between the BLESSING and THE CURSE of the Lord.
    4. Jeremiah answered the Lord, saying, "AMEN" (So be it!) "0 LORD"!
      a. He knew that the choice God offered was a fair one.
      b. And he yearned to see Judah choose the path of OBEDIENCE and blessing, rather than that of DISOBEDIENCE and the curse.

    6 Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them. 7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

    1. Jeremiah is to call upon the whole of Judah to hear and obey the words of God's covenant, (vs. 6; comp. 3:12; 7:2).
    2. From the day that He delivered them from Egypt, the Lord has earnestly protested the nation's careless attitude toward the covenant - urging them to obey His word as they had pledged themselves to do at Mt. Sinai, (vs. 7; I Sam. 8:9; Ex. 15:26; 2 Chron. 36:15).
    3. But their fathers refused to hear and obey, (vs. 8a; 7:24; 9:14; 35:15; Ezek. 20:8).
      a. Walking after the stubbornness of their own willful hearts they have violated the stipulations of the covenant through their apostasy.
      b. Only by a genuine spiritual renewal, on the part of the nation, could they be restored to covenant fellowship and blessing; but this required repentance, and they were NOT READY FOR THAT!
    4. Thus, the Lord is bringing upon them ALL the words of His covenant - with specific reference, here, to His threatenings against the rebellion and disobedience of their unbelieving hearts, (vs. 8b; Lev. 26:14-43; Deut. 8:19; 28:15).

    9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. 11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. 12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.

    1. The revolt of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, is regarded by God as a conspiracy against Himself - though they did not actually regard it as such themselves, (vs. 9; comp. Ezek. 22:25-28; Hos. 6:7-11).
    2. Following a time of outward reformation, Judah is turning again to the iniquities of her forefathers, (vs. 10).
      a. Refusing to hear the word of the Lord (3:10; 13:10; Psa. 78:8-11), they are turning to serve other gods, (vs. l0a; Judg. 2:11-13).
      b. Both Israel and Judah have BROKEN THE COVENANT that God made with their ancient fathers, (vs. l0b; 3:6-11; Ezek. 16:59; Hos. 8:1).
    3. Now Judah faces INESCAPABLE JUDGMENT because of her sins, (vs. 11-12).
      a. Though they cry to Jehovah, He will not hear!
      b. Then they will go to the gods to whom they offer incense; but that will be a total waste, for there is NO LIFE in them!
    4. Since Judah and Jerusalem have been filled with the shameful incense-altars of Baal (3:24), God will abandon them unto Baal until they learn the wretchedness of their evil way! (vs. 13).

    14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. 15 What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest. 16 The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. 17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.

    1. Jeremiah is forbidden to pray for the deliverance of this idolatrous people who insist on bowing to Baal, (vs. 14); the Lord will no more hear such a prayer than he will hear the cry of their calamity in the day of judgment!
    2. Since His beloved has committed acts of wickedness, she has no right in His house; meaningless vows and carnal rituals will not so cleanse her filthiness as to enable her to rejoice when disaster strikes! (vs. 15).
    3. Though the Lord once regarded her as "a green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit," her ruin will come like that of a tree struck by lightning in the midst of an electrical storm, (vs. 16); her branches will be utterly consumed.
    4. The Lord, who planted her, has been goaded to vengeance by her persistent chasing after other lovers - despising the love of Him Who is faithful and true! (vs. 17).

    18 And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings. 19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. 20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause. 21 Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: 22 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine: 23 And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.

    1. Jeremiah had already been warned that he would face danger and opposition because of his faithful ministry, (1:17-19).
    2. These verses describe the opposition he encountered from the people of Anathoth - his own birthplace, (comp. Matt. 10:36).
      a. Since the days of Solomon there had dwelt here a group of priests (kindred of Jeremiah) who had been excluded from the priestly function at Jerusalem, (I Kings 2:26).
      b. Jeremiah's fidelity to the Lord, and to the godly Josiah, had aroused within them such bitterness as made them beastly.
    3. Until God told him of their plot, Jeremiah was as a trustful, unsuspecting lamb being led to the slaughter, (vs. 18-19; comp. Isa. 53:7).
      a. They threatened to cut him off in the prime and vigor of life if he would not cease to prophesy in the name of the Lord, (vs. 19b, 21b).
      b. Murder was their obvious intention; his name should be no more remembered if they succeeded.
      c. Like his Lord, the prophet would "learn obedience" through suffering, (Heb. 5:8-9).
    4. Having committed his case into the hands of His righteous and knowing Lord, Jeremiah asks for vengeance upon his enemies, (vs. 20; comp. 18:21; 2 Chron. 36:17).
      a. He knows that God will do what is right.
      b. His Lord tests the reins (kidneys) - the seat of one's innermost feelings, (Prov. 23:16; Psa. 16:7; 73:21); and He knows the heart - the seat of understanding, (Prov. 15:14; 20:5).
    5. The Lord answers that He will, indeed, punish the men of Anathoth; but He will do it according to His own schedule, (vs. 21a; 22-23; 21:14).
      a. Their young men will die by the sword; their young women of starvation, (18:21).
      b. God will not even spare a remnant of the conspirators (Jer. 6:9); according to Ezra 2:23 only 128 men of Anathoth returned from the exile.
      c. Their calamity will come in the year God has appointed for their punishment, (comp. 23:12).