Jeremías 14:1-9

1 Palabra del SEÑOR que fue dada a Jeremías, con motivo de la sequía

2 Se enlutó Judá, y sus puertas se despoblaron; oscureciéronse en tierra, y subió el clamor de Jerusalén

3 Y los principales de ellos enviaron sus criados al agua; vinieron a las lagunas, y no hallaron agua; volvieron con sus vasos vacíos; se avergonzaron, se confundieron, y cubrieron sus cabezas

4 Porque se resquebrajó la tierra a causa de no llover en el país; los labradores se avergonzaron, cubrieron sus cabezas

5 Y aun las ciervas en los campos parían, y dejaban la cría, porque no había hierba

6 Y los asnos monteses se ponían en los altos, aspiraban el viento como los dragones; sus ojos se cegaron, porque no había hierba

7 Si nuestras iniquidades testifican contra nosotros, oh SEÑOR, actúa por amor de tu Nombre; porque nuestras rebeliones se han multiplicado, contra ti pecamos

8 Oh esperanza de Israel, Guardador suyo en el tiempo de la aflicción, ¿por qué has de ser como peregrino en la tierra, y como caminante que se aparta para tener la noche

9 ¿Por qué has de ser como hombre atónito, y como valiente que no puede librar? Pero, tú estás entre nosotros, oh SEÑOR, y sobre nosotros es llamado tu nombre; no nos desampares

Jeremías 14:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 14

This chapter contains prophecy of a drought, which produced a famine, Jer 14:1, and is described by the dismal effects of it; and general distress in the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, Jer 14:2, even the nobles were affected with it, whose servants returned without water ashamed, when sent for it, Jer 14:3, the ploughmen could not use their plough, their ground was so hard, Jer 14:4 and the very beasts of the field suffered much, because there was no grass, Jer 14:5,6, upon this follows a prayer of the prophet to the Lord, that he would give rain for his name's sake; he confesses the sins of the people, that they were many, and against the Lord; and testified against them, that they deserved to be used as they were; and he addresses the Lord as the hope and Saviour of his people in time past, when it was a time of trouble with them; and expostulates with him, why he should be as a stranger and traveller, and like a mighty man astonished, that either had no regard to their land any more than a foreigner and a traveller; or no heart to help them, or exert his power, than a man at his wits' end, though he was among them, and they were called by his name; and therefore he begs he would not leave them, Jer 14:7-9, but he is told that it was for the sins of the people that all this was, which the Lord was determined to remember and visit; and therefore he is bid not to pray for them; if he did, it would not be regarded, nor the people's fasting and prayers also; for they should be consumed by the sword, famine, and pestilence, Jer 14:10-12, and though the prophet pleads, in excuse of the people, that the false prophets had deceived them; yet not only the vanity and falsehood of their prophecies are exposed, and they are threatened with destruction, but the people also, for hearkening unto them, Jer 14:13-16, wherefore the prophet, instead of putting up a prayer for them, has a lamentation dictated to him by the Lord, which he is ordered to express, Jer 14:17,18, and yet, notwithstanding this, he goes on to pray for them in a very pathetic manner; he expostulates with God, and pleads for help and healing; confesses the iniquities of the people; entreats the Lord, for the sake of his name, glory, and covenant, that he would not reject them and his petition; and observes, that the thing asked for (rain) was what none of the gods of the Heathens could give, or even the heavens themselves, only the Lord; and therefore determines to wait upon him for it, who made the heavens, the earth, and rain, Jer 14:19-22.