Jeremiah
Chapter 4
New Call To Repentance
“If you return to me, O Israel —says the Lord— if you turn back to me and remove your filthy idols from my sight, you need not hide from me;
if you sincerely, justly, and honestly swear by the Lord’s life, then you will be a blessing to all nations, and they will be your glory.”
For this is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Tear up your fallow ground and do not plant among the thorns.
O people of Judah and Jerusalem, circumcise yourselves for the Lord and cleanse your hearts, or my wrath will spread like an unstoppable fire because of your evil deeds!”
THE INVATION FROM THE NORTH
Look, He Is Coming Up
Announce this in Judah, proclaim it in Jerusalem. Sound the trumpet throughout the land; shout aloud and say: “Assemble and go to the fortified cities!
Raise a banner toward Zion! Run for your lives, do not delay, for I will bring evil and great destruction from the north.”
The lion has emerged from his den; the destroyer of nations has begun to devastate your country and turn your cities into ruins with no inhabitants!
Because of this, wrap yourselves in sackcloth, mourn, and groan, for the fury of the Lord’s anger has not turned away from us.
On that day —says the Lord— the king and the leaders will be discouraged, the priests will be terrified, and the prophets will be stunned.
People will say: “Ah! Lord God, you have truly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying: ‘You will have peace’ even as the sword is at our throats.”
When the time comes, it will be announced to the people of Jerusalem: “Wearing wind from the desert heights is coming to the daughter of my people, neither to winnow nor to cleanse!”
A strong wind blows from that direction. Now I will declare my judgments against them.”
See! Someone approaches like the clouds, his chariots resemble a whirlwind, and his horses are faster than eagles! Woe to us, for we are ruined!
Cleanse your heart of every evil, Jerusalem, so that you may be saved! How long will you harbor evil plans inside you?
A voice from Dan announces an upcoming disaster from Mount Ephraim! “Warn the nations.
Let everyone in Jerusalem and Judah know that enemies are coming from a distant land.”
They surround Jerusalem like guards watching over a field because she has rebelled against me —it is the Lord who speaks.
“Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. How bitter is your punishment, and how deeply it wounds your heart because you have rebelled against me!”
The Cry of War
My anguish! My anguish! I tremble deep within; my heart races wildly. I cannot remain silent, for I hear the sound of the trumpet and the chaos of war!
Disaster after disaster; the entire land is ruined; my tents are suddenly destroyed, and all that shelters me is wiped out instantly.
How long must I see the banner raised and hear the trumpet sounding?
“This happens because my people are foolish and do not know me. They are senseless and lack understanding; wise in doing evil but foolish in doing good!”
I looked at the earth and saw it was formless and empty; I looked at the sky, but darkness covered it.
I looked at the mountains; they were shaking, and all the hills swayed back and forth.
I looked and saw that there was no one at all; even the birds had abandoned the skies.
I looked and saw that the fertile land had become a desert, and all the cities were in ruins because of the Lord’s fierce anger.
The Cry of Zion
The Lord says: “The whole land may be desolate, but I will not completely destroy it!
Because of this, the earth will mourn, and the skies will darken: I have declared my purpose and will not back down; I have made up my mind and will not change it.”
When the sound of horsemen and archers is heard, every town flees; some hide in the thickets and climb among the rocks. All the towns are empty, and no one is left.
And you, desolate one, what will you do? Even if you are dressed in scarlet and wear jewelry of gold and put makeup on your eyes, you are vainly beautifying yourself, for your lovers despise you and are ready to take your life.
I hear a cry like that of a woman in labor, anguish like that of one giving birth for the first time. It is the cry of the daughter of Zion, gasping for breath with outstretched hands: “Woe is me! I am fainting among a band of murderers!”
Commentaries
New Call To Repentance.
God expresses His willingness to welcome His people back only if their actions align with His will. Circumcision has become just an external ritual, so the Lord stresses the importance of having an inward attitude that reflects the covenant He made with His people. It is futile to be circumcised if His commands are ignored in daily life.
Look, He Is Coming Up.
Through Jeremiah, God warns the inhabitants of Judah to seek safety. The Lord uses Babylon, “a murderer of peoples” (v. 7), to punish Judah. Jerusalem must prepare for invasion and siege. The punishment results from Israel’s conduct, which has corrupted its heart by rebelling against its God (18).
The Cry of War.
The prophet describes a scene of death and desolation through two lamentations, and God responds by condemning the people’s guilt. The fire of His wrath consumes everything in its path, for Israel is foolish, skilled in evil, and unaware of good (22).
The Cry of Zion.
God responds to the prophet’s chaotic vision. An unavoidable punishment will come, but it will not be catastrophic. The narrative unfolds in three stages: first, the inhabitants’ flight (v. 29); second, the illusion of a deceptive seduction (v. 30); and finally, Zion’s cries are likened to those of a woman in labor; ultimately, pain gives way to hope (v. 31).