Jeremiah 4:1-18
Blessing or Curse
1 If you return,[fn] Israel —
this is the LORD’s declaration —
you will return to me,
if you remove your abhorrent idols
from my presence
and do not waver,
2 then you can swear, “As the LORD lives,”
in truth, justice, and righteousness,
and then the nations will be blessed[fn] by him
and will boast in him.
3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:
Break up the unplowed ground;
do not sow among the thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD;
remove the foreskin of your hearts,
men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem.
Otherwise, my wrath will break out like fire
and burn with no one to extinguish it
because of your evil deeds.
Judgment from the North
5 Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,
Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land.
Cry out loudly and say,
“Assemble yourselves,
and let’s flee to the fortified cities.”
6 Lift up a signal flag toward Zion.
Run for cover! Don’t stand still!
For I am bringing disaster from the north —
a crushing blow.
7 A lion has gone up from his thicket;
a destroyer of nations has set out.
He has left his lair
to make your land a waste.
Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.
8 Because of this, put on sackcloth;
mourn and wail,
for the LORD’s burning anger
has not turned away from us.
9 “On that day” — this is the LORD’s declaration — “the king and the officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be scared speechless.”
10 I said, “Oh no, Lord GOD, you have certainly deceived this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at[fn] our throats.”
11 “At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A searing wind blows from the barren heights in the wilderness on the way to my dear[fn] people. It comes not to winnow or to sift; 12 a wind too strong for this comes at my call.[fn] Now I will also pronounce judgments against them.’ ”
13 Look, he advances like clouds;
his chariots are like a storm.
His horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us, for we are ruined!
14 Wash the evil from your heart, Jerusalem,
so that you will be delivered.
How long will you harbor
malicious thoughts?
15 For a voice announces from Dan,
proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.
16 Warn the nations: Look!
Proclaim to Jerusalem:
Those who besiege are coming
from a distant land;
they raise their voices
against the cities of Judah.
17 They have her surrounded
like those who guard a field,
because she has rebelled against me.
This is the LORD’s declaration.
18 Your way and your actions
have brought this on you.
This is your punishment. It is very bitter,
because it has reached your heart!
For deeper study: David Guzik Commentary
