Jeremiah 15

CHAPTER 15

Impending Judgment and Jeremiah’s Distress (15:1–21)

1–2 Here the Lord rejects Jeremiah’s prayer offered at the end of the last chapter (Jeremiah 14:19–22); the judgment against Judah is irreversible. Even Moses and Samuel wouldn’t be able to change the Lord’s mind; both of them were known as powerful intercessors on behalf of their people. If anyone asks where the people will go, the answer is that each person will “go” to the punishment God has appointed for him (verse 2).

3–9 In these verses the Lord describes in graphic terms the judgment that will fall on Judah. The Lord lays a major part of the blame for Judah’s plight on the wicked King Manasseh (verse 4), the grandfather of the godly Josiah (see 2 Kings 21:1–16; 23:26–27).

Verses 5–9 further depict Judah’s destruction in poetic figures. The Lord will winnow the people as a farmer winnows wheat in order to remove the chaff (verse 7); winnowing is a metaphor for judgment (Matthew 3:11–12).

10–11 Here Jeremiah suddenly thinks of himself; the whole land strives with him (verse 10), and he hasn’t done anything to provoke it—such as lending or borrowing. Of course, it is his faithful proclaiming of God’s word that has provoked opposition; nonetheless, Jeremiah regrets that he was ever born. Here we see that Jeremiah, like other great Old Testament figures, shares the weaknesses common to all humans: discouragement, self–pity, and lack of faith.

In verse 11, the Lord consoles Jeremiah and again promises that He will deliver him (see Jeremiah 1:8). The Lord even says that Jeremiah’s enemies will come to him for help. Later this actually happened, especially during the reign of Zedekiah, Judah’s last king (Jeremiah 21:1–2; 37:3).

12–14 The Lord again speaks to the people of Judah. Just as a man cannot hope to break iron from the north (verse 12), so Judah will not be able to break the power of Babylon. Instead, Judah will be plundered by the Babylonians, and its people will be enslaved (verses 13–14).

15–18 Here Jeremiah again descends into self–pity. He pleads that he is suffering reproach for the Lord’s sake (verse 15). Whenever the Lord’s words came to him, he ate them (verse 16)—that is, he took them into his heart and made them part of himself, so that he might more faithfully proclaim them (see Revelation 10:9–11). He has remained alone, unmarried and with only a few friends, because of the Lord’s hand—the Lord’s call—upon him (verse 17). And he has taken the Lord’s side against Judah; he is filled with indignation at the sins of the people.

But then Jeremiah goes too far; he questions the Lord’s faithfulness and dependability: Is the Lord a deceptive brook—a dried–up brook—or a spring that fails? (verse 18). King DAVID and even Jesus Himself came close to feeling the same anguish that Jeremiah expresses here (see Psalm 22:1; Mark 15:34).

19–21 The Lord calls on Jeremiah to repent of his lack of faith (verse 19). Then He renews Jeremiah’s call, using some of the same words He used when He first called Jeremiah as a young man (see Jeremiah 1:17–19 and comment). After hearing this strong reassurance from the Lord, Jeremiah didn’t question the Lord’s dependability again.

In verse 19, God tells Jeremiah: “Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.” As we proclaim God’s word, people will be drawn to hear it. But as God’s spokespersons, we must not be drawn to the people—that is, to the world and its ways. As Christians, we must be prepared to endure the ridicule and opposition of the world. We need to follow in the footsteps of Jeremiah—and our Lord (1 Peter 2:21–23).