Impending Disaster - Jeremiah 6

Jeremiah 6 addresses an impending disaster for Jerusalem for her disobedience and rebellion against God. Before we turn to Chapter 6, ask the Holy Spirit now to reveal God’s word and speak to you. After you’ve prepared your heart, read Jeremiah 6.

Vv 1-8: The Prophet Jeremiah sounds an alarm that a disastrous invasion will fall upon Jerusalem and Judah. At this time there was actually peace and security in the city and country; the people had no apprehension of danger. So why was Jeremiah warning them to flee? Because after hundreds of years of disobedience to the Lord, God was bringing judgment on His people through an attack from the Babylonians. And God was gracious enough to forewarn them through Jeremiah! The people of Judah brought upon themselves the judgment of God by their own wickedness, for they were violent, oppressive, evil, and destructive (vv. 6&7). Our God is slow to anger and quick to forgive, but He is a just God and He must punish sin (Exodus 34: 6-7).

Vv. 9-15: Sin is serious and the wrath of God is real. Do we live in such a way that reveres God or do we fall deaf to His instructions like the people of Judah? They despised the word of the Lord as “an object of scorn” and took “no pleasure in it” (v. 10). They saw no need for the word of the Lord in their lives. Is that true of us?

This section of Chapter 6 also sheds light on people who deal falsely with sin, including leaders and popular personalities of the day. We see that in our times too—spiritual gurus who tell us that we can find peace within ourselves or authority figures who say that there is no absolute Truth and that everything is relative and that “sin” is too offensive of a term. The Lord promises that these individuals will be punished and they will fall (v. 15).

Vv. 16-26: It is interesting to note that this very people of Judah found to be disobedient and offensive by the Lord Himself were people who brought Him burnt offerings and sacrifices. That is equivalent to us attending church, serving in ministry settings, or being religious in our various behaviors. The Lord takes no delight in outward appearances (v. 20). He cares about our hearts. We may be great performing Christians on the outside yet still be incurring the judgment of God with our prideful, violent, self-sufficient hearts.

How do we escape the wrath of God? It is really no use to physically remove ourselves from one city under attack to another hoping to avoid destruction. The only right way to respond is with a repentant heart: to mourn over sin with such sorrow and grief that it is like losing “an only son” (v. 26). What does that look like for you? Ask God to lead you into a period of repentance for your sins.

Vv. 27-30: God is gracious and merciful and gives us many second chances. He refines us of our impurities through His word and Holy Spirit. But to blatantly keep on sinning is to risk turning God’s refining fire of His mercy into a consuming fire of His wrath (v.29).