Jeremiah 4:17-27

17 As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she has been rebellious against me, says the LORD.

18 Your way and your doings have procured these things to you; this is your wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reaches to your heart.

19 My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I can't hold my shalom; because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the shofar, the alarm of war.

20 Destruction on destruction is cried; for the whole land is laid waste: suddenly are my tents destroyed, [and] my curtains in a moment.

21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the shofar?

22 For my people are foolish, they don't know me; they are foolish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

23 I saw the eretz, and, behold, it was waste and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

24 I saw the mountains, and, behold, they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth.

25 I saw, and, behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the sky were fled.

26 I saw, and, behold, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all the cities of it were broken down at the presence of the LORD, [and] before his fierce anger.

27 For thus says the LORD, The whole land shall be a desolation; yet will I not make a full end.

Jeremiah 4:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 4

This chapter begins with several exhortations to repentance; first to Israel, or the ten tribes, to return to the Lord with their whole hearts, and put away their abominations, and serve him in sincerity and uprightness of soul; with promises of rest and safety to themselves; and that it would have a happy influence on the Gentiles, and issue in their conversion; who would hereupon bless themselves in the Lord, and glory in him, Jer 4:1,2, and next to the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, to show a concern for renewing and sanctifying grace, signified by various metaphors, lest they should be consumed with the fire of divine wrath, Jer 4:3,4 and then the destruction of that land and city is foretold and described, partly by what was introductory to it, and the proclamation of it, signified by blowing the trumpet, and setting up the standard, Jer 4:5,6,15,19,20, by an account of the destroyers, their cruelty, swiftness, and diligence, Jer 4:7,13,16,17, and of the destruction itself, compared to a violent wind, Jer 4:11,12, by the effect it should have upon the inhabitants of all sorts, high and low, Jer 4:8,9, and had upon the prophet himself, Jer 4:10,19,21, and by the cause and ground of it, the sins of the people, which they are called upon to repent of, Jer 4:14,17,18,22 and by a vision the prophet had of the dreadful desolation of the land, Jer 4:23-29 and by the vain and false hopes the people would have of their recovery, and the great anxiety and distress they would be in, Jer 4:30,31.