Jeremiah 14-16

Jeremiah 14

Severe drought described: 

• Land cracked.
• Wells dry.
• Farmers ashamed.
• Deer abandon newborns.
• Wild donkeys pant for air.

The drought reflects covenant curse (see Deut 28).

Spiritualness is dry as well 

Jeremiah prays: “Though our iniquities testify against us…”

He appeals to:

• God’s name
• God’s covenant identity
• God as “hope of Israel”

God responds saying:

• They love to wander.
• He will not accept them.
• Sword, famine, pestilence are coming.
• Do not pray for them 

Jeremiah protests and says the prophets are saying, “You shall not see sword or famine.”

God responds that they are lying. They will die by the very sword they deny.

Jeremiah weeps again. “Is there no one to heal her?”

• He confesses the peoples’ sin.
• “Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain?”
  • No Only the LORD controls the skies.

Jeremiah 15

God says: Even if Moses or Samuel stood before me, I would not relent.

• Men of intercession (Psalm 99:6)

Four forms of destruction:

1. Death 
2. Sword
3. Famine
4. Captivity 

Four Instruments of aftermath (Because of Manasseh’s rebellion):

1. Sword  to kill
2. Dogs to drag
3. Birds to devour
4. Beasts to destroy

About Manasseh: 2 Kings 21:16  Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.

God says Jerusalem has gone backwards and will stretch out His hand against them. 

He also says there will be a promise of a remnant 

Jeremiah laments his birth. “Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me…”  He accuses God of being like: “a deceitful brook.”

God replies: If you return,I will restore you. They will fight you but not prevail 

Jeremiah 16

God commands Jeremiah:

• Do not marry.
• Do not have children.
• Why? Children would face slaughter and exile.

Jeremiah’s celibacy becomes a living sign of the disaster.

God also commands:

• Do not attend funerals.
• Do not attend celebrations.
• Joy is about to cease in the land.

People will ask:  “Why has the LORD pronounced this evil?”

Jeremiah to answer:

• You followed other gods.
• You did not listen.
• You acted worse than your fathers.

Again God promises hope of restoration- a new Exodus greater than Egypt.

God will send “fishers” and “hunters.” Possibly meaning Babylonians

• Interesting:
  •  In Jeremiah: Fishing = gathering for judgment.
  • In the Gospels: Fishing = gathering for salvation.

Nations will confess: “Our fathers inherited lies.”God’s name will be known.

Application

Jeremiah 14-16 shows that when people keep ignoring God, even crisis and prayer cannot stop the consequences. Jeremiah struggles deeply in these chapters, but God calls him to stay faithful even when obedience is lonely and painful. The message for us is to take God seriously early, stay steady when it’s hard, and remember that judgment is not the end of God’s story. There will be a remnant!