Jeremiah 44:1-30
God had awfully hard things to say but… he is still talking to his people. Didn’t slam door in their face, tell them “talk to the hand”. Why?? Ex 34.6-7
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”
This word to Jeremiah didn’t come at beginning of his time in Egypt –
“This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in Lower Egypt–in Migdol, Tahpanhes and Memphis–and in Upper Egypt” NIV
Direction based on Nile flow – Upper, incl. Lake Nasser and Aswan High Dam; Lower, incl. Nile Delta and Goshen. Gives some indication of how widely Jewish refugees had dispersed seemingly with little intention to return to Judah. Whatever their motivation, had already decided no enticement strong enough to overcome intense pain from what they saw / experienced at home. Side note: Old Testament first translated from Hebrew to Greek in Alexandria, center of learning and seaport further west from Goshen. Perhaps done by descendants of these refugees. Would be large group that had need of such a translation that would later be of use to 1st century Christians.
What follows this chapter is recapitulation of what had been said 10-20 years prior followed by appendix ch. 52. Chronologically, these are last recorded words of Jeremiah, completely consistent with all had said before. Surprising evidence of Jeremiah’s faithfulness… didn’t turn off his “thus says the Lord” voice and chew them out in own voice… how many times / reminders before they listened. Baruch may have heard Jeremiah say so but no one else.
A. history lesson v.1-10
the costs of wickedness
had seen calamity / disaster brought by Chaldeans on Jewish people – starvation of men, women, children, disease, death
no question whose “fault” it was, God himself repeatedly declaring he the one responsible for everything they tried to escape
ties directly wicked behavior of everyone… for generations – did so willfully, worshiping gods they didn’t know rather than God they did know
fair warning
could not rightly plead ignorance, lack of opportunity to understand true reasons for experiencing God’s judgment
God by Word and prophets warning, pleading for 800 years, continues with intensity right up to present with Jeremiah
to add to culpability, had clear examples of precisely what God meant, most recently among countrymen north in Israel
no change
warnings, small disasters had no substantial effect, caused no movement of repentance / turning away from sinful idol worship
God turned up heat, harshness of conditions/treatment, eventually for entire nation / people group in both Israel and Judah
result was God’s Word and actions only hardened people in rebellion in spite of God’s pleading with them to humble themselves
B. current events v.11-14
God isn’t done
continues to warn them – they ran from one catastrophe into another, both result of God’s intentional action to judge
will be some of same actors, primarily Chaldeans God will use to punish rebellious Jews and also humiliate Egyptian gods
take good look: what happened to Jerusalem… when God was “holding back”, using human agents – only minuscule taste of hell
judgment will continue
this not bad karma, simply stuff happening in messed up world – is nothing other than God acting to judge sinful rebellion
geography doesn’t matter to God, punishment will be same, no more or less… b/c God is perfectly just in all he does
hard reminder to Jews their God not a national / tribal deity like some they worshiped, not limited to being a god here, not there
but not without mercy
would be some fugitives from refugees, decided to return to Judah – maybe ones who didn’t want to go to Egypt in first place
God would allow them to return perhaps b/c they had attitude of repentance – details such God’s character not compromised
even when judgment has begin, is proceeding in this life, God always open to sincere repentance and ready to show mercy
C. tell someone who cares v.15-19
plugged ears
how to find words to properly characterize these rebels – God speaking, had fingers in ears, came right out said “will not listen”
not entirely a surprise, ancestors doing same for centuries – really is common behavior of every lost person whether openly stated or not, determined not to hear what God is saying
a law to themselves
followed up with brazen declaration, would continue doing own thing – their lawlessness would lead to more of the same
that kind of behavior not new either, seen in first chapters of Genesis starting w/Eve, continued with Cain and Lamech and more
excuses
sin-clouded minds turned reality on its head: reason for hardship… they stopped worshiping “queen of heaven” – really b/c were doing it to begin with
women followed Eve’s example, blame game, just doing it b/c husbands gave permission… iow expected them to do it
D. here it is anyway v.20-30
choosing the queen
Jeremiah not buying it, straightens out their reasoning – probably convinced no one but… on the record for hearing truth
God’s position: they made choice of queen over king, determined to persist in worshiping idol of their own choosing
go your way
God declares those who have made evil choice will surely follow their desire path – even if thought might change their mind, would not be permitted to, hardness of heart confirmed
once again the promise of a few, a small number who would survive and return to Judah, serve as witnesses of outcome
God still rules
geographic boundaries don’t define God’s rule, nor do political boundaries – God just as sovereign over Pharaoh as Nebuchadnezzar
certainly not God’s purpose to destroy a people simply b/c he could – gracious and merciful and holy and just
Sure Jeremiah wished had good things to tell his people but… no choice but to communicate what God told him to say. If Jeremiah were walking streets of our cities, what kinds of words would he have for those he meets? Expect would sound much like words he had for Jewish people. Would include both words of warning and of promised mercy. God’s word has been around for more than 3000 years and as relevant today as when first spoken b/c God is.
Is a warning here should encourage unsaved friends / loved ones to heed: one who is determined to do own thing for now, maybe think about God later may not be able to do that. Can reach point like Pharaoh where God says “ok, have your own way… for always” (v.25-26) Turn to him in faith now, don’t count on later. They may be ancient words but are still true.
Reformanda 