The Results of Refusing to Receive Correction

Jeremiah 5:1–13
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Jerusalem was about to fall into the hands of the political enemy from without because of the spiritual enemies of God working from within. Jeremiah is commanded to search Jerusalem and Judah for a man. He searched among the common people in the city squares, but he found none (vv. 1-2). He reasoned this was because they did not know the judgments of God, having refused to receive correction, which  had made their hearts like rock (v. 3). Jeremiah then searched among the great men, and the leaders, but with the same results (vv. 4-5).

If just one righteous man could be found, perhaps the Lord would spare the city for the sake of this one. Because of their wickedness they had brought judgment upon themselves and they must bear the blame for it (vv. 6-9). God disowns them and dooms them to destruction (v. 10). There were, of course, a few who were still faithful to Jehovah, but the vast majority of the people were given wholly to idolatry and sexual impurity. Surely he could find some righteous people among those who had entered into a covenant with God and sworn to keep it. However, the preachers, and the prophets, were found to be just as guilty (v. 11). Representing both houses, Israel and Judah, the prophets had denied God and His judgment (v. 12).

They have defied the judgment of god (vv 12-13). They did not fear what God is when they said, “It is not He; neither shall evil come upon us” (v. 12). The people refused to believe that God would ever destroy Jerusalem. Instead, they said that He would do nothing and that the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others who were predicting doom were just “full of wind” (v. 13).

Application

My testimony is important. I may be the only witness that some people will come in contact with. Since I am the only Bible that many people may ever read I want to be a glaring headline for Him.