 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
2 “Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up. 3 Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns; they find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are ashamed and confounded and cover their heads. 4 Because of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. 5 Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass. 6 The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation. 7 “Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. 8 O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? 9 Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.” 10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.” 11 The Lord said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12 Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.” Lying Prophets13 Then I said: “Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” 14 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them. 17 “You shall say to them this word: ‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound, with a very grievous blow. 18 If I go out into the field, behold, those pierced by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land and have no knowledge.’” 19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? Does your soul loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror. 20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against you. 21 Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things. Meditation Days of drought are difficult. The Lord wants to fill your cisterns with the Living Water of His grace and love. Jesus alone transforms drought into delight. “Concerning the drought” (1) the prophet describes “no water… no rain… no grass… no food” (3-6). The wealthy still have servants to fetch water but they only find empty cisterns, cracked earth, and starving animals. The descriptions of drought are devastating. More devastating is the people’s exchange with the Lord. They plea for mercy, using beautiful language from the Psalms (7-8)! But they also accuse God of being absent, a stranger and wanderer (9). Ironically, it was the people who wandered and vainly trusted false prophets, worldly power, and prosperity to solve their problems (10-18). God refuses to reply to their manipulative and halfhearted plea for mercy. The dialog ends with a poetic plea for mercy that leaves the reader wondering what God will do: “We set our hope on You…” (22). God is always worthy of wholehearted hope. He especially gives hope during devastating days of drought. Jesus meets us where we look for water to offer us Living Water, true satisfaction for our devastated soul (John 4). Jesus cried out, “I thirst!” when He was on the cross (John 19:28) so that we can access the covenant blessings of His everlasting love through faith alone, trusting Jesus to transform our drought into delight. God provides abundantly more than we can ask or imagine, Living Water who eternally satisfies and restores our devastated souls. Richly Dwelling -What stand out to you about this passage? The descriptions of drought? The dialog with God? -Why is it significant to see the Lord NOT ANSWER the people’s plea in the passage but eventually answer through the person and work of Jesus? -Where do you need the Living Water of Jesus to satisfy the drought of your soul? How can He work in you to transform your drought into delight? Be specific in asking Him to do so- Jesus hears your plea for mercy! Key Verse 14 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Comments are closed.
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