Jeremiah Pleads For The People

Jeremiah 14:13–22
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Jeremiah pleads for the people and excuses their actions on the basis of the false prophets who cried for peace (v.13). God answers that the prophets will be judged, but that still does not excuse the people (v. 14). He says that by sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed (v. 15), and the people to whom they prophesy will be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with no one to bury them (v. 16).

Jeremiah became very sorrowful over the thought of Jerusalem’s judgment and he cried continually day and night for them (v. 17). In the countryside surrounding Jerusalem lay the corpses of those who had been slain by the sword. Those who escaped fled to the city and were slowly dying by the ravages of famine. Prophets and priests who should have set the people aright were deported to Babylon (v. 18).

The people again addressed God and pleaded for His intervention (v. 19). They acknowledged their wickedness, and the iniquity of their fathers, and said, “we have sinned against you” (v. 20). They begged Him not spurn them, or break His covenant with them (v. 21). They ask if there are any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain (v. 22)? They finally admitted that the idols they had worshiped could not bring rain to quench the drought. Then they state, “We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.” Of course, God was the only one who could all of this.

Application

Sometimes God permits disasters to occur to bring nations, churches, and individuals to their knees in repentance. Lord help this to never happen in my life because I have failed to listen and obey.