Jeremiah 14: A Lament in the Face of Drought and Deception
The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.
Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.
O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.
Thus saith the Lord unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.
Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.
Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!
We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.
Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.
Jeremiah 14 plunges us into a stark and painful reality: Judah is suffering a devastating drought, a tangible consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness. This chapter serves as a powerful exploration of repentance, divine judgment, and the deceptive nature of false prophecy, offering timeless lessons for believers today. The keywords Jeremiah 14 are central to understanding this pivotal moment in Judah's history and its enduring relevance.
A Land Parched and Groaning (Jeremiah 14:1-9)
The chapter opens with a vivid depiction of the drought's severity. The land is parched, the ground cracked, and both humans and animals are suffering intensely (Jeremiah 14:2-6). Cisterns are empty, symbolizing the spiritual emptiness of the nation. This drought is not merely a natural disaster; it's a covenant curse, a direct consequence of Judah's rebellion against God (Jeremiah 14:1; see Deuteronomy 28:22-24). The people, in their distress, begin to cry out to God, expressing what appears to be genuine repentance (Jeremiah 14:7-9). They acknowledge their sinfulness and rebellion, calling God "the Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress" (Jeremiah 14:8). They remind God that they bear His name (Jeremiah 14:9) and plead for deliverance on that basis. This initial plea highlights the tension between outward confession and inward reality, a theme that will be further developed.
The Illusion of Repentance (Jeremiah 14:10-12)
Despite the people's seemingly contrite words, God sees through their superficial repentance. He knows their hearts are not truly turned toward Him. He declares that they are "surely loving to wander" (Jeremiah 14:10, NASB), their feet carrying them further away from Him even as their lips utter words of repentance. God's response is a firm declaration of judgment: "I will no longer accept them. I will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins" (Jeremiah 14:10). He is determined to judge them with sword, famine, and plague (Jeremiah 14:12), foreshadowing the devastating consequences of their continued disobedience. Those who survive these horrors will face exile (see Jeremiah 15:2), a complete uprooting from their land and their identity.
The Deception of False Prophets (Jeremiah 14:13-16)
Jeremiah, deeply burdened by the impending judgment, expresses his distress over the false prophets who are misleading the people (Jeremiah 14:13). These prophets are prophesying peace and relief, lulling the people into a false sense of security instead of calling them to genuine repentance (Jeremiah 14:13, 15). God vehemently denies that these prophets speak on His behalf. They are proclaiming "prophecies to you, visions of deception, divinations, and the delusions of their own minds" (Jeremiah 14:14). The fate of these false prophets is sealed: they will perish by the very calamities they deny – sword and famine (Jeremiah 14:15). This serves as a stark warning: refusing to align with God's agenda ultimately leads to destruction.
Lament and a Plea for Covenant Remembrance (Jeremiah 14:17-22)
Jeremiah's anguish intensifies as he witnesses the devastation brought about by war and famine (Jeremiah 14:17-18). The people of Judah, in response, offer another confession, pleading with God for forgiveness and restoration (Jeremiah 14:19-22). Ironically, they now appeal to God's covenant with Israel, reminding Him to keep His promises (Jeremiah 14:21). They acknowledge the worthlessness of the foreign gods they have worshipped, admitting that these idols have no power to save (Jeremiah 14:22). While their words echo genuine remorse, they are "too little, too late." This confession appears to be a desperate attempt to strike a "foxhole deal" with God, seeking deliverance from the consequences of their actions without a true change of heart.
Jeremiah 14 serves as a powerful reminder that true repentance involves more than just words; it requires a genuine turning away from sin and a wholehearted commitment to God. It also cautions against the dangers of listening to voices that offer false comfort and deny the reality of God's judgment. Ultimately, the chapter highlights the importance of aligning ourselves with God's truth and seeking His will above all else.
The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.
Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.
O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.
Thus saith the Lord unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.
Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.
And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.
Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!
We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.
Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.
Jeremiah 14 plunges us into a stark and painful reality: Judah is suffering a devastating drought, a tangible consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness. This chapter serves as a powerful exploration of repentance, divine judgment, and the deceptive nature of false prophecy, offering timeless lessons for believers today. The keywords Jeremiah 14 are central to understanding this pivotal moment in Judah's history and its enduring relevance.
A Land Parched and Groaning (Jeremiah 14:1-9)
The chapter opens with a vivid depiction of the drought's severity. The land is parched, the ground cracked, and both humans and animals are suffering intensely (Jeremiah 14:2-6). Cisterns are empty, symbolizing the spiritual emptiness of the nation. This drought is not merely a natural disaster; it's a covenant curse, a direct consequence of Judah's rebellion against God (Jeremiah 14:1; see Deuteronomy 28:22-24). The people, in their distress, begin to cry out to God, expressing what appears to be genuine repentance (Jeremiah 14:7-9). They acknowledge their sinfulness and rebellion, calling God "the Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress" (Jeremiah 14:8). They remind God that they bear His name (Jeremiah 14:9) and plead for deliverance on that basis. This initial plea highlights the tension between outward confession and inward reality, a theme that will be further developed.
The Illusion of Repentance (Jeremiah 14:10-12)
Despite the people's seemingly contrite words, God sees through their superficial repentance. He knows their hearts are not truly turned toward Him. He declares that they are "surely loving to wander" (Jeremiah 14:10, NASB), their feet carrying them further away from Him even as their lips utter words of repentance. God's response is a firm declaration of judgment: "I will no longer accept them. I will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins" (Jeremiah 14:10). He is determined to judge them with sword, famine, and plague (Jeremiah 14:12), foreshadowing the devastating consequences of their continued disobedience. Those who survive these horrors will face exile (see Jeremiah 15:2), a complete uprooting from their land and their identity.
The Deception of False Prophets (Jeremiah 14:13-16)
Jeremiah, deeply burdened by the impending judgment, expresses his distress over the false prophets who are misleading the people (Jeremiah 14:13). These prophets are prophesying peace and relief, lulling the people into a false sense of security instead of calling them to genuine repentance (Jeremiah 14:13, 15). God vehemently denies that these prophets speak on His behalf. They are proclaiming "prophecies to you, visions of deception, divinations, and the delusions of their own minds" (Jeremiah 14:14). The fate of these false prophets is sealed: they will perish by the very calamities they deny – sword and famine (Jeremiah 14:15). This serves as a stark warning: refusing to align with God's agenda ultimately leads to destruction.
Lament and a Plea for Covenant Remembrance (Jeremiah 14:17-22)
Jeremiah's anguish intensifies as he witnesses the devastation brought about by war and famine (Jeremiah 14:17-18). The people of Judah, in response, offer another confession, pleading with God for forgiveness and restoration (Jeremiah 14:19-22). Ironically, they now appeal to God's covenant with Israel, reminding Him to keep His promises (Jeremiah 14:21). They acknowledge the worthlessness of the foreign gods they have worshipped, admitting that these idols have no power to save (Jeremiah 14:22). While their words echo genuine remorse, they are "too little, too late." This confession appears to be a desperate attempt to strike a "foxhole deal" with God, seeking deliverance from the consequences of their actions without a true change of heart.
Jeremiah 14 serves as a powerful reminder that true repentance involves more than just words; it requires a genuine turning away from sin and a wholehearted commitment to God. It also cautions against the dangers of listening to voices that offer false comfort and deny the reality of God's judgment. Ultimately, the chapter highlights the importance of aligning ourselves with God's truth and seeking His will above all else.