Jeremiah 4
January 11, 2024 4:44 PM
Solitary Man
solitaryman.substack.com
20240111
(Please refer to the Preface and Introduction sections found in the Jeremiah Chapter 1 commentary for some general information about this chapter by chapter study of Jeremiah).
Chapter 4
Jer 4:1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away (turn off) thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove (waver, wander).
If you are going to amend your ways, ensure its not just to get your freedoms back, but your primary concern must be to return to God, or else you can have no confidence that God will help you. Our motivation must always be him, not our comfort. I found it interesting that ‘put away’ can be translated as ‘turn off’. I wonder how many of us have heard the quiet, insistent voice of the Holy Spirit telling us to turn off our personal devices in order to hear him!
God is saying if you are going to repent and change your ways, make sure you’re returning to the living God, and not your church or to follow some man. If you then really choose to put away that which preoccupied your time in the past, then when you turn back to God, you won’t be tempted to pull back. Conversely, if you still want to play around with that which bound you, chances are you will eventually waver and wander away once again.
Jer 4:2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
The exhortation continues with God demanding that you pledge total allegiance to him via an oath. Jesus told us not to swear by heaven or by earth, but your once and for all commitment to the lord of heaven and earth is the one oath that is exempt from that command.
Almost every time you see the word judgment in the OT, the Hebrew word is mishpat. This word means a verdict, a sentence, a decision, a formal decree of the penalty for a crime, a determination or disposition. It is like a judge ruling on a case and passing sentence. If you had to use one word to describe what the prophet’s messages centred around, it would be this word mishpat. God’s mishpat is always perfect – that means his verdict or decision of our or our nation’s behaviour is always the perfectly correct one. He continually exhorts us to practice mishpat. And how would be know how to apply judgment properly? Only by studying God’s mishpat, his rulings and decisions, until his ways start to become our ways. Of course, there are some areas that are exclusively his, such as vengeance, but if we want to be known as someone who makes righteous rulings, we must learn God’s ways and not man’s.
Nations – goy – Gentiles. God began by calling Israel back to him, but here he promises that anyone from any nation can find blessing and fulfillment in him.
Jer 4:3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
Now God switches specifically to Judah, or those in his immediate audience. It is up to us to let God soften our heart, and not to let thorns grow within, once we commit to the truth in all things (v2). In other words, don’t put the word of God into a heart filled with other desires.
Another meaning that may be gleaned is a warning not to support false teachers (sow not among thorns).
Jer 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
We see here how God is already revealing the true meaning of physical circumcision, presaging the fuller revelation that was given to the apostle Paul in the book of Romans. Circumcision was an outward sign of a submitted heart, even as baptism is supposed to represent the same thing for a new believer in Christ.
If we don’t truly repent, God’s fury will be unleashed not only on the pagans but on his own people. For too long we have been taught that certain judgments of God are never applicable for the Christian, because Jesus took all that wrath upon himself. In my opinion, one possible way to reconcile these great truths is that Jesus did experience the wrath of God on behalf of whosoever will, and your sin and the penalty for your sin is washed away when you come to him. If you do sin after you’re saved, sincere confession and repentance ensures even more forgiveness. However, if you use your free will to wilfully sin and persist in it, then why would God treat you any different than any other sinner? In fact, I believe that the scripture teaches that you would be in even worse trouble, because to whom much is given, much is required. There are many passages and parables that speak of greater accountability to those who have been given more knowledge, talents, etc. Let us not deceive ourselves anymore into thinking that we somehow have gotten a free pass just because we have begun our journey with Christ. Rather, let us fear all the more.
Jer 4:5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry (call), gather together (consecrate), and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
Here is a clear call to intercession when the final judgment on a land is imminent. Have we already waited far too long as a body to heed this call? I fear we have.
Where is the defenced city for the remnant? I believe its in our secret place, our private prayer closet.
Jer 4:6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire (be strong), stay (cease) not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction (ruin, affliction).
North – tsawfone – this direction also has the connotation of dark, hidden, gloomy and unknown.
Perhaps the subtle meaning for us today is that Russia represents the north and China represents the great destruction. While we know the time and season we are in, there is much in the future details that are still hidden from us.
Jer 4:7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer (corrupter) of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
How many ways is this verse being fulfilled in our time? From the chemtrails destroying our crops and poisoning our land, to the death jab depopulating us, and the worst of the heathen invading our lands because of open borders, the spirit of antichrist is alive and well in 2020 and beyond. Note that depopulation is always the final phase of total judgment on a nation and its unrepentant inhabitants.
Jer 4:8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament (beat the breast) and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.
There is no shout of victory, but only cries of grief and sadness. We see there is fierce anger on Christian lands from God. This heresy that God is only love must be destroyed or the church in the west will not survive. When will we stop listening to those voices who claim revival is just around the corner? Why can’t they discern the proper biblical pattern? We are not in the season of repentance, renewal, revival and rejoicing. We are in the apostasy, the great falling away, the great deception, the great tribulation. There is a reason God gave us such books as Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel. I believe that these are the books that define our spiritual season, and much wisdom may be found within to help us navigate these perilous times.
Jer 4:9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish (lose oneself, wander away), and the heart of the princes (a head person of any rank); and the priests shall be astonished (stunned, stupefied), and the prophets shall wonder (be in consternation).
All those in positions of authority in our society, at least those that are not wilfully corrupt (unfortunately most are), are said to be in total confusion. In other words, they have no idea what’s going on. Doesn’t that describe all those outside the remnant who still have very little clue about what is really going on in the world today.
Jer 4:10 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword (drought) reacheth unto the soul (nehfesh).
This sums up the state of the charismatic church today. No matter how much destruction God sends our way, they’re still talking about revival and harvest and are not preparing the saints for the tribulation to come.
Whether Jeremiah meant sword or drought, drought is an interesting application, as these single minded believers, who cannot see past their man made doctrines because that’s the way they wish it to be, can be said to be experiencing a drought in their souls. The true word of God is sadly missing in these camps. May God give them eyes to see and ears to hear, lest they be swept away when the real storm hits.
Jer 4:11 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind (ruach) of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan (winnow), nor to cleanse,
Jer 4:12 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence (mishpat) against them.
Jer 4:13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled (ravaged, laid to waste).
This refers to Babylon sweeping into Judah. Note that this wind (ruach) is not to separate the wheat from the chaff, nor is it to refine, but to depopulate. In verse 12 it says that God has pronounced sentence (mishpat – judgment, verdict) against them – against his people. No revival here, just a sentence carried out for crimes committed against him.
Jer 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain (evil, wicked, empty) thoughts lodge within thee?
How long shall we keep thinking about some end time revival without true repentance. These thoughts of blessing and blessing only are empty thoughts. God is pleading with us to put those away and concentrate on departing from all wickedness, so at least the individual may be saved, as its too late for the nation as a whole.
Jer 4:15 For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.
These were the northernmost and southernmost borders of the old northern kingdom that Babylon conquered before turning their attention to Jerusalem. If God were really to stop the cabal and restore America and Canada back to peace and prosperity, would he not of given us some victories in the natural of some significance? Yet all we see is our rights disappearing, losing almost every court case, people’s lives being destroyed, many arrested and no one upholding the law of the land. I think we have many voices declaring affliction, even as Judah had warnings by what was happening in the surrounding nations.
Jer 4:16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.
Jer 4:17 As keepers (guardians, those who hedge) of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.
Jer 4:18 Thy way (course of life, your road that you’re on) and thy doings (acts, works) have procured (caused) these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth (touches) unto thine heart.
Very ominous hidden meaning in verse 16 in that the watchers (fallen ones) have now been allowed access to the Christian stronghold of the English speaking west. Verse 17 says they have encompassed (surrounded us). Verse 18 says that we have brought these creatures to our shores ourselves because our wickedness is from our innermost being.
God is saying let the whole world know that his people are about to be destroyed, and it is entirely their fault. God is not capricious, he doesn’t destroy us for no good reason. There is always a cause. God calls the heathen from afar off when we refuse to repent and change our ways. He wants us to know its out doings, our way of life that has caused this calamity to come. Note its not just surface sin, but our inner man, our hearts are tainted with evil. Why are our borders suddenly being overrun at this time? Because of God’s mishpat – his decree, his verdict upon our deeds.
Jer 4:19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
Jeremiah may of been the only one in the land who accurately heard the sound of destruction approaching, just as so few can hear it today.
Jer 4:20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
Its been terrifying to see the speed at which our once impregnable nations have fallen. The cabal is not letting up, its one manufactured crisis after another
Jer 4:21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
Jer 4:22 For my people is foolish (eviyl – silly), they have not known me; they are sottish (silly, foolish) children (bane – sons), and they have none understanding (bene – discernment): they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
God is speaking to his people, not the pagans around us. This verse instantly reminds me of some of the ridiculous antics of the past 30 years. Rolling around on the floor laughing hysterically with no self control, seeing crackers and fake gemstones suddenly appear in one’s bible, fake gold plastic flakes suddenly appearing on our clothing – what do any of these nonsensical things have to do with the kingdom of God? Did any of this spur us on to deeper holiness or a greater burden for the lost? Did it lead to serious repentance, or a humble and contrite heart? Did anyone after rolling around on the floor all night get up the next day and become a missionary to a dangerous land? Why did we so lack what seems to me simple and obvious discernment? I suppose the same way the Laodicean generation could so deeply be blinded to what seems so obvious, so God is now blinding the majority of mankind over the bioweapons and the genocidal agenda that now seems so obvious to us. May God still have mercy on our silly souls.
Jer 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form (tohu – desolation), and void (bohu – empty); and the heavens, and they had no light.
Jer 4:24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
Jer 4:25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
Jer 4:26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
Jer 4:27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
The destruction was so complete that God reverted to using the terminology of initial creation found in Gen 1:2. it depicts the success of the depopulation agenda. Could there be some lands in the west where this will essentially come to pass? Note that Jeremiah saw the entire earth as formless and ruined, not just Judah. Not only was man gone, but so were the birds. The produce of the land had disappeared. The cities were destroyed. Why? Because of the cabal? China or Russia? The devil or the fallen ones? No, God’s presence came down, and no corrupt thing could survive. His presence and his anger caused this to occur.
Some try to make this passage point to a pre- Adamic civilization that was on the earth that satan ruled over. Although it says there were no men, the birds were described as having fled, so they would of already been created, and that occurred during creation week. Cities were there, so who would of lived in them? I don’t agree with any such notion, as it does injury to the text of Genesis one, and usually involves some variation of the gap theory, where long periods of time are inserted into the creation week, which clearly contradicts the literal days spoken of therein.
The only positive aspect of this passage is that God promises not to completely annihilate the earth, though he is well within his right to do so.
Jer 4:28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken (appointed) it, I have purposed (planned, plotted) it, and will not repent (not be sorry), neither will I turn back from it.
I don’t know how God could of stated it clearer. Certain decrees of judgment cannot be reversed, no matter how much prayer is offered up.
Jer 4:29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.
Perhaps an allusion to the end times enforcers and those who administer the jab. Maybe this is also a sign that their 15 minute cities are doomed, as people begin to catch on that this is simply the same device that the Nazis used on the Jews when they first forced them to move from the countryside to the ghetto, so that they were all in one place.
Jer 4:30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
Who can stand against the punishments of the Almighty?
Jer 4:31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.
Are we not all weary to death of all the lying murderers, who still propagandize to the masses about how the jab is safe and effective, and that every word of truth spoken is simply hate speech, or misinformation? I don’t know about you, but if I never hear the voice of Babylon again, I will be well pleased. Let Babylon spew their lies, let them continue to kill, I choose to separate myself fully from those that are doomed to destruction and wilfully refuse to hear.
Let us soberly reflect on the reality of the times that we live in, and renew a spirit of thanksgiving within us that Jesus has opened our eyes and spared us a life of delusion and destruction that so many now face.
Solitary Man
https://solitaryman.substack.com/
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