Jerusalem was once a city of great wealth and beauty. God's temple was covered with gold and was a place for people from all over the world to come and worship. The royal palace was a wonder to behold. Even more importantly, the people in the city were upright and holy, models of service to God. Now, Jeremiah laments because all this has changed. The gold of the temple was lost among the rubble. Those who had plenty to eat now go hungry. They do not even have any food to give their starving babies. Even the holy men of God are gaunt from lack of food. Thus many of the people died a slow torturous death of hunger. Jeremiah laments that they were not given a speedy merciful death as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. That would have been easier to endure. But, God is just and He brought upon Jerusalem a much worse judgment because they had sinned willfully despite all the warnings He had given them.
In the last half of the chapter, he explains why all this evil had come upon Jerusalem. The priests and prophets, who should have instructing the people in the ways of God, were instead persecuting the righteous people. They were shedding the blood of innocent children to sacrifice to Moloch and the blood of the righteous because they condemned their evil lives. They thought that they had hope of another nation helping them, but they were disappointed. Those who put there trust in man instead of God will certainly be disappointed many times.
Finally, in the last two verses, we have some comfort. He tells Edom to continue rejoicing that they have been spared because their destruction in coming. He also promises the Jews that there punishment will be accomplished and they will return to their home country. What a merciful God we have!
No comments:
Post a Comment