Jeremiah 5

14–17 Because the people have mocked Jeremiah’s words, God will turn those words into fire, a fire that will consume the people (verse 14). Through Jeremiah, the Lord announces to the whole nation³⁴ (Judah and Israel) that He is bringing a distant nation (Babylon) to devour them (verses 15,17). The enemies’ quivers (arrows) are like an open grave that is always looking for new bodies to “devour” (verse 16).

18–19 Again the Lord promises not to destroy Judah completely; there will be survivors, but they will be sent to serve foreigners in a foreign land (verse 19). This is Jeremiah’s first mention that Judah will be sent into exile. Even in exile the people can continue to hope in their eventual return to the land, even as the prophet Isaiah had predicted a century earlier. God’s punishments are not vindictive but rather disciplinary; their purpose is not to destroy but to restore. Even as judgment is about to fall, God—through Jeremiah—continues to urge the people to repent and thereby escape disaster.

20–25 Here God outlines His case against the people of both Jacob and Judah (verse 20), the northern and southern kingdoms.³⁵ The people are foolish and senseless (see Jeremiah 4:22). Their eyes don’t see and their ears don’t hear (verse 21); in spiritual terms, they have become like the idols they worship (see Psalm 115:4–8). It is God the people should fear (see Proverbs 1:7). Not only has He created the universe but Heal so controls it; He sets a boundary for the sea which it never crosses (verse 22). Yet His rebellious people have crossed the “boundary” He has set for them; they have violated His law (verse 23). As a result, God’s covenant blessings of rain and harvest have been withdrawn (verse 24); indeed, the people’s sins have deprived them of what is good—that is, the blessings of God’s covenant (see Leviticus 26:3–13 and comment).

26–31 In verses 26–29, God denounces the wickedness of the people, especially the oppression of the poor by the rich and powerful. God will certainly punish them for this injustice.

In verses 30–31, God reflects on what He sees—the horrible and shocking condition of His people. The leaders tell lies and follow their own law, and the people love it that way; they don’t have to answer to God—so they think! But God asks them: “. . . what will you do in the end when my judgment falls?” (verse 31). People need to think about the end of their lives; it will help them make better choices while they are living.