Jeremiah Chapter 12

 

Jeremiah Questioned Prosperity of Wicked  –  Verses 1-4  

 

1  Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

1. These verses should be connected to verses ending the previous chapter (Jer 11:18-23).
   1. God revealed to Jeremiah the men of Anathoth, his hometown, wanted to kill him.
   2. When Jeremiah called on God for His holy vengeance on them, God promised it.
   3. Note that Jeremiah began that appeal with God’s righteousness and restated it here.
   4. Thus, we understand Jeremiah’s pleading to be primarily of Anathoth, not general.
   5. Furthermore, his use of yet indicated he would move forward with another appeal.
2. Jeremiah had success with his first appeal (Jer 11:20), so he went further like Abraham.
3. Jeremiah’s confusion and question here pertained to the prosperity of the wicked Jews.
   1. The confusion and question are common among men (Ps 37:1; 73:3; 94:3; Mal 3:15).
   2. Another prophet, Habakkuk, also wondered of God’s judgment (Habakkuk 1:13).
   3. David explained the wicked have their heaven now, his later (Ps 17:14-15; 49:6-20).
4. Lesson: To reason with God, admit His righteousness like here and Abram (Gen 18:25).
5. Lesson: Admit God is righteous for understanding, rather than question (Rom 9:19-21).
6. Lesson: The wicked, while appearing well today, may not live tomorrow (Ps 37:34-38).
7. Lesson: Prosperity proves God’s patience and their future hell, so be thankful for both.

2  Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

1. Jeremiah continued his confusion caused by the prosperity of the wicked around him.
   1. Comparing the wicked to plants, God had planted them, and they had grown fruitful.
   2. The fruit here is not that of the Holy Spirit at all but rather prospering natural lives.
   3. Jeremiah knew their hypocrisy and described it to God, lots of talk but no heart love.
   4. Even in the Old Testament, the real important matter was the heart (Deut 10:12-16).
   5. In both testaments the talk of the mouth amounts to nothing (Is 29:13-14; Matt 15:8).
   6. In the next verse he compares his heart in God’s sight to that of these wicked men.
2. Reins = when plural, always and only kidneys, thus the internal place of feelings or affections; rein = when singular, it is a leather strap attached to bridle or bit of a horse.
3. Lesson: Do not envy the wicked, for you forget their horrible future (Pr 24:1-2,19-20).
4. Lesson: Make sure your religion is far beyond your mouth and owns your whole heart.

3  But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

1. Jeremiah appealed to God’s knowledge his heart was very different from their hearts.
2. Based on the previous chapter and earlier verses here, they were treacherous murderers.
   1. On that basis, that they have no heart for God (or him), God should quickly kill them.
   2. We understand his prayer consistent with God’s judgment of them (Jer 11:18-23).
   3. We understand his prayer for their rebellion against God and right (Ps 139:21-22).
   4. Would Jesus, apostles, or martyrs pray like this (Mat 22:1-7; Gal 5:12; Rev 6:9-11)?
3. Part of today’s effeminate compromise is to despise such imprecatory prayers or psalms.
4. Lesson: You can only appeal about your heart if you have an exceptional heart for him.
5. Lesson: Know the difference between God’s enemies and your enemies (Matt 5:43-48).

4  How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

1. Jeremiah ended this pleading to God by a broader appeal against wicked men yet living.
   1. He asked, Why were rebellious men allowed to live and cost the nation everything?
   2. The description is metaphorical of Judah’s demise and its future ruin by Chaldeans.
   3. The land was not yet reduced to such total desolation, but would be (Jer 4:20-28).
2. The wicked he described to God were confident they would outlive Jeremiah, in spite of his many dire prophecies in general and the most recent about the men of Anathoth.
   1. He had likely declared God’s promise to him about the death of his cruel enemies.
   2. Their arrogant confidence they would outlive him prompted Jeremiah to this plea.
   3. God’s man Jeremiah did see their last end! God’s man Jeremiah lived past the ruin.
3. We earlier read similar presumption of the Jews against Jeremiah’s words (Jer 5:11-13).
4. Lesson: It is acceptable, yea noble, for righteous men to pray against wicked evildoers.

Section Lessons

1. Lesson: To reason with God, admit His righteousness like here and Abram (Gen 18:25).
2. Lesson: Admit God is righteous for understanding, rather than question (Rom 9:19-21).
3. Lesson: The wicked, while appearing well today, may not see tomorrow (Ps 37:34-38).
4. Lesson: Prosperity proves God’s patience and their future hell, so be thankful for both.
5. Lesson: Do not envy the wicked, for you forget their horrible future (Pr 24:1-2,19-20).
6. Lesson: Make sure your religion is far beyond your mouth and has your whole heart.
7. Lesson: You can only appeal about your heart if you have an exceptional heart for him.
8. Lesson: Know the difference between God’s enemies and your enemies (Matt 5:43-48).
9. Lesson: It is acceptable, yea noble, for righteous men to pray against wicked evildoers.

 

  God Responded with Balance for Jeremiah  –  Verses 5-6  

 

5  If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

1. We understand this verse and the next as God’s gentle rebuke and warning to Jeremiah.
   1. My prophet, recall my promise at your ordination, I will protect you (Jer 1:17-19).
   2. If this first skirmish with enemies causes such confusion, there is worse yet to come.
   3. These Anathoth men that speak of killing you are far inferior to Jerusalem’s rulers.
   4. So far your experience with adversaries are only footmen; the cavalry will be worse.
   5. If you are now weary running with infantry, how will you do racing against horses?
   6. If in your quiet country life at Anathoth thou art defeated, what of the king’s court?
   7. The gentle place where Jeremiah lived did not have an overflowing Jordan (Jer 3:15).
2. We choose so by previous context, the next words to Jeremiah, and singular pronouns.
3. There are other Bible examples of God admonishing His prophets (Is 8:11; Jonah 4:9).
4. Lesson: Solomon taught that if we faint in the adversity, we are weak (Proverbs 24:10).
5. Lesson: Always remember, God is faithful and will not tempt us too hard (I Cor 10:13).

6  For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

1. This verse’s intent, not contradicting the previous, was to warn him of worse to come.
   1. If his family had conspired treacherously, Jerusalem’s strangers would be crueler.
   2. If his cousins and friends had provoked a crowd against him, it would occur again.
   3. The adverb even used twice in this verse is to point out that others would be worse.
   4. Due to experiencing deceitful treachery, he must learn to disbelieve lying fair words.
   5. He must not trust family and friends of Anathoth, so Jerusalem’s politics much less.
2. Lesson: The greatest enemies of Christianity – Jews and the RCC – were the religious.
3. Lesson: Jesus confirmed to us our foes will be those of our families (Matt 10:34-37).

Section Lessons

1. Lesson: Solomon taught that if we faint in the adversity, we are weak (Proverbs 24:10).
2. Lesson: Always remember, God is faithful and will not tempt us too hard (I Cor 10:13).
3. Lesson: The greatest enemies of Christianity – Jews and the RCC – were the religious.
4. Lesson: Jesus confirmed to us our foes will be those of our families (Matt 10:34-37).

 

  God Lamented the Sorry Condition of Judah  –  Verses 7-9  

 

7  I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.

1. God declared a proverbial lamentation against His own beloved people in three verses.
2. Consider the many different angles and approaches that God took to convict His people.
3. These verses reveal both sides of God’s perfect character, justifying Jeremiah’s swings.
   1. He had forsaken His place of worship on earth – His temple house at Jerusalem.
   2. He had deserted His heritage – His own people and land He promised and prepared.
   3. He had been forced to give those He chose to love to enemies to destroy and kill.
4. God had not turned against His people due to a change in Him but rather evil in them.
5. Lesson: Our glorious God and loving Father Jehovah has a tender spirit that can lament.
6. Lesson: Never think you are too sinful or too insignificant to get His sincere affection.
7. Lesson: Shame and repentance can restore fellowship with a kind God (Jer 31:18-20).

8  Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.

1. Continuing His proverbial lamentation about Judah, He compared her to a preying lion.
   1. Hearing a lion roaring to kill and eat, your response is either to run and/or to kill it.
   2. Think how Israel/Judah had been His sheep to whom He had sent special shepherds.
   3. Now they despised Him, His worship, and killed and conspired to kill His prophets.
2. This change from doting on His heritage of people and place was entirely their fault.
3. When viewed nationally as here, His love or hatred is natural and providential treatment.
4. Lesson: Avoid anything in your life that might provoke (even disappoint) this God.
5. Lesson: The angry providence of God ignored today is perfectly holy, just, and right.

9  Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

1. What a metaphorical statement! God compared Judah to a weird bird to be devoured.
2. Many guesses about speckles – a hyena, paganism with Moses, blood of prophets, etc.
3. But compare the previous verse about a lion to gather the general warning of desolation.
   1. God had loved His favorite nation, but now gave her as prey to neighboring nations.
   2. Rather than the joy of all nations, Israel was a weird bird that provoked other birds.
   3. Men like Hiram of Tyre and others had loved David, but now they all hated Judah.
   4. God called all the beasts of the field (nations) to the slaughter to devour His nation.
   5. Instead of defending His heritage from birds and beasts, He directs them to devour.
4. Lesson: God controls all devouring entities and forces in the world; do not offend Him.
5. Lesson: We do not know God’s secret things, but He directs all international politics.

Section Lessons

1. Lesson: Our glorious God and loving Father Jehovah has a tender spirit that can lament.
2. Lesson: Never think you are too sinful or too insignificant to get His sincere affection.
3. Lesson: Shame and repentance can restore fellowship with a kind God (Jer 31:18-20).
4. Lesson: Avoid anything in your life that might provoke (even disappoint) this God.
5. Lesson: The angry providence of God ignored today is perfectly holy, just, and right.
6. Lesson: God controls all devouring entities and forces in the world; do not offend Him.
7. Lesson: We do not know God’s secret things, but He directs all international politics.

 

  God’s Pastor-Spoilers Would Desolate Judah  –  Verses 10-13  

 

10  Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

1. Under the metaphor of His vineyard, God described the desolation of His pleasant place.
   1. We have a previous context – the many enemies, birds, and beasts are the destroyers.
   2. We have a following context – desolators are spoilers and the sword of the LORD.
   3. We have a following context – the thing destroyed is the land, not doctrine or people.
   4. The context of the verse – is destruction, to trod His land under foot, to desolate land.
   5. Therefore, we understand the pastors here to be the Chaldean army to desolate Judah.
   6. Pastor = A herdsman or shepherd. A feeder or giver of pasture, to give pasture to.
   7. We learned this earlier, for Chaldeans were called shepherds against Judah (Jer 6:3).
   8. What does a shepherd have? A flock of sheep. What do they do? Trod and devour.
   9. What did the invaders do? They spoiled the land and trod it down to total desolation.
2. Keep thinking; learn to think critically. A shepherd brings sheep that eat and devour all.
   1. A flock of sheep, like an army, or an army, like a flock of sheep, devours everything.
   2. The metaphor is a vineyard. What will a flock of sheep do to a vineyard? You got it!
   3. It does not say, the preachers have destroyed my congregation. The topic is the land.
   4. Do conservative commentators follow this application? Yes, but without the proof.
3. That bad pastors contributed to Judah’s ruin, we cannot deny (Jer 2:8; 10:21; 23:1-2).
4. However, the context and descriptions here for continuity are rather ravaging invaders, and they may be applied to generals with army divisions (Jeremiah 6:3; 25:9; 39:3).
5. Remember that prophets used similitudes, so we can accept those we find (Hos 12:10).
6. Lesson: God must and will destroy His own when they sin sufficiently against Him.
7. Lesson: Yet, when God is done using others to chasten, He will turn and destroy them.

11  They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.

1. The Chaldean invaders made the whole land of Judah, God’s pleasant portion, desolate.
   1. It is land that is desolate, not a congregation. All of Judah was ruined (Jer 4:23-29).
   2. Another metaphor is land mourning to God, like Abel’s blood earlier, to His justice.
2. Why had desolation come? Because the Jews did not heed the warnings (Ezekiel 9:4).
3. Observe again that which has been repeated, the heart of the Jews was hard (Jer 12:2).
4. Lesson: Do not be a hearer of the word only; and to rightly do it, lay truth to your heart.
5. Lesson: You will not profit from His warnings or instruction without heart preparation.

12  The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.

1. The spoilers here are clearly the Chaldean invaders to destroy all with little resistance.
   1. High places, usually more secure than low places, would not hinder the army at all.
   2. Judah was a large tribal territory, but no one would escape by distance or isolation.
   3. The sword of the LORD throughout this book is Nebuchadnezzar, God’s servant.
2. The sword of the LORD helped Gideon; now it destroyed Gideon’s land (Judges 7:20).
3. Remember the extent of this ravaging army and no one escaping for later (Jer 13:19).
4. Lesson: God’s sword can be with you for success or against you by sin for your defeat.
5. Lesson: The Holy Spirit can be thy great Friend or He can be thy great enemy (Is 63:10).

13  They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

1. Here are more metaphors of Judah being desolated and none finding peace or security.
2. Do not fall for literal meanings from prophets (Hos 12:10). This is not seed confusion.
3. The context is total desolation of Judah without any finding safety or peace (Jer 12:12).
   1. Therefore, the wheat and thorns are their plans of protection turning against them.
   2. Therefore, their hard labor to prepare and fortify against invaders would not work.
   3. Therefore, the nation will be ashamed at the pitiful produce/revenue of their efforts.
   4. The transition from third person to second in the last clause is concluding emphasis.
   5. To maintain the parallelism of the verse, it is not invaders shamed by Jewish wealth, but Jews ashamed of their little wealth, unless we let the change in person override.
4. What would render all their efforts in vain? His fierce anger against them for their sins.
5. Lesson: There is no wisdom, understanding, nor counsel against the LORD (Pr 21:30).
6. Lesson: When nothing works right, consider it, and lay it to heart (Jer 12:11; Eccl 7:14).

Section Lessons

1. Lesson: God must and will destroy His own when they sin sufficiently against Him.
2. Lesson: Yet, when God is done using others to chasten, He will turn and destroy them.
3. Lesson: Do not be a hearer of the word only; and to rightly do it, lay truth to your heart.
4. Lesson: You will not profit from His warnings or instruction without heart preparation.
5. Lesson: God’s sword can be with you for success or against you by sin for your defeat.
6. Lesson: The Holy Spirit can be thy great Friend or He can be thy great enemy (Is 63:10).
7. Lesson: There is no wisdom, understanding, nor counsel against the LORD (Pr 21:30).
8. Lesson: When nothing works right, consider it, and lay it to heart (Jer 12:11; Eccl 7:14).

 

God Mercifully Offered Peace to the Nations  –  Verses 14-17  

 

14  Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

1. This is an unusual but yet encouraging look into the character and conduct of Jehovah.
2. In scattering Judah His people, He would also scatter His enemies, and recover Judah.
   1. See three actions on His part, which combined together are international sovereignty.
   2. First, by the context of the whole book and implied here, He would scatter the Jews.
   3. Second, if any neighbor nation partook in Judah’s chastening, they would be judged.
   4. Third, if they had taken any Jews captive, God would yet rescue the Jews from them.
3. Do not miss the comfort that is provided the Jews in the midst of the terrible prophecies.
   1. The LORD Jehovah called the neighbor nations touching Judah His own enemies.
   2. He promised revenge on the neighbor nations, though He used them for chastening.
   3. He would not lose track of His people Judah; He would rescue them from captors.
4. The initial fulfillment was God turning Nebuchadnezzar against the neighbor nations as soon as He was done chastening the Jews, which we will read about in coming chapters.
5. The ultimate fulfillment was Cyrus overthrowing Babylon and releasing captive Jews, though many other nations involved will be identified in Jeremiah’s chapters to come.
6. Lesson: God was faithful to His covenant people then, and He will be to Christians now.
7. Lesson: If you are faithful to God your Father, He counts your enemies as His enemies.

15  And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

1. Here is mercy, both covenant and general, to return all nations to their original lands.
   1. God had plucked His enemies out and Judah out from among them – both to return.
   2. Along with His mercy to Judah after 70 years, He would also recover their neighbors.
2. God is loving to the wicked every day, if this gives you trouble (Matt 5:45; Acts 14:17).
3. Yet the greatest blessing to the neighbors was conditional on the great offer following.
4. Lesson: God is incredibly merciful to nations, even His enemies, if they lay it to heart.
5. Lesson: To be true Christians, we must love enemies as God does His (Matt 5:43-48).

16  And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

1. Here is a further event in this precious prophecy of Gentile inclusion among His people.
   1. The first step in mercy to the nations was a return to their original lands (verse 15).
   2. The second step in mercy to the nations was the offer to be accepted among the Jews.
   3. Even lip service to Jehovah saved Assyrian migrants from lions (II Kgs 17:24-41).
2. As was always true with Israel, there was national favor and to a few also spiritual favor.
   1. If enemy nations reversed their religious treachery, then Jehovah would accept them.
   2. Here is a Messianic prophecy of Messiah’s people – Gentiles grafted in (Rom 11:17).
   3. As elect were a tenth in Israel (Is 6:13), so among accepted nations would be elect.
   4. Consider the incredible conversion here, just like God said never happens (Jer 2:11).
   5. These converts would reject their religion (Baal) to take up a new religion (Jehovah).
3. We keep an emphasis here on national mercy due to the context before and after, but as typical with prophets (remember Isaiah), the prophets see far into the future to Messiah.
4. See prophecies of Gentile nations converting (Is 11:10-16; 19:23-25; 56:5-8; Zec 2:11).
5. Lesson: We are first blessed to be part of a nation that used to honor His Son’s religion.
6. Lesson: We can and must far surpass America in our personal and church zeal to Christ.

17  But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.

1. God has national favor and personal spiritual favor; the favor here is primarily national.
2. This is the true wealth of nations, overlooking the pitiful work of Adam Smith in 1776.
3. Can anyone today find these nations: Edom, Ammon, Moab, Philistia? No, not at all.
4. For more about prosperity of nations depending on Jehovah’s religion … here, here,
5. Lesson: The prosperity of nations depends on their relation to Jehovah and His religion.
6. Lesson: International politics is always and entirely under the ruling hand of our God.

Section Lessons

1. Lesson: God was faithful to His covenant people then, and He will be to Christians now.
2. Lesson: If you are faithful to God your Father, He counts your enemies as His enemies.
3. Lesson: God is incredibly merciful to nations, even His enemies, if they lay it to heart.
4. Lesson: To be true Christians, we must love enemies as God does His (Matt 5:43-48).
5. Lesson: We are first blessed to be part of a nation that used to honor His Son’s religion.
6. Lesson: We can and must far surpass America in our personal and church zeal to Christ.
7. Lesson: The prosperity of nations depends on their relation to Jehovah and His religion.
8. Lesson: International politics is always and entirely under the ruling hand of our God.