Why Judgment Has to Come From God

Jeremiah 9:12–16
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These verses pose the question and give the answer as to why judgment has come to Judah (vv. 12-14). They have “forsaken” the law of God and refused to hear His voice. They follow the “dictates” of their hearts and go “after Baal.” The utter despair of Jeremiah is understandable in view of the fact that even though he must and would preach repentance to his people, he knew that they had reached a point of no return as far as their salvation was concerned. Jeremiah asked the wise men of Judah to explain why the land was ruined and laid waste. Before anyone could answer, God stated the obvious. The judgment was for forsaking His law, disobedience, stubbornness, and idolatry, or Baal worship (vv. 13-14).

As a result of their disobedience the God of Israel, promises them three things (vv. 15-16):

1. Poison food to eat and drink.
2. To scatter them in foreign countries they and their ancestors have never even heard of.
3. To send enemy soldiers to kill every last one of them.

Application

Even though I may feel conflicting emotions about how people may disobey God and His laws, like Jeremiah did, I must leave the judgment up to Him.