Jeremiah 8:1-22

Judah had been involved in a long sequence of actions that systematically took them further and further from the Lord.  They would not learn from their mistakes and they would not learn from the Word of God.  The people refused to repent and did not even recognize the extent of their corruption or the danger they were facing.  All of these things were going to change very rapidly.  God was preparing to judge the nation in a very severe way because of all that was lacking in their relationship with God.

THE PEOPLE LACKED DECENCY: The people had spent generations ignoring the Word of God and running after idols.  Their immoral acts were grievous and repetitive.  Leaders who were supposed to call the people to repentance were contributing to the problem by keeping silent and in many cases were promoting the idolatry they were supposed to be stopping.  As a result of this blatant lack of decency, God has determined to judge the people and their leaders in the most severe way.  The bones of the former leaders who had no fear of God were going to be hauled out of their graves and left exposed to the elements.  All of creation does as it was created to do accept for the men who were actually created in His image.  Since our knowledge of God is so much greater than that of the rest of creation it is astounding to consider we are the most rebellious.

THE PEOPLE LACKED DISCERNMENT: As circumstances were obviously going downhill, it would seem only natural for the people and their leaders to take note of their plight and seek to make changes.  However, the leaders were only furthering the damage by making false prophecies.  They tried to assure the people that all was fine and would always continue to be fine.  They were being deceptive and the people lacked the discernment to recognize these false teachings.  They claimed the Law was with them but they were not even obeying the Law God had given them.  They lacked the discernment to see that it was not possession of the Law that brought God’s favor, but the keeping of the Law.  This lack of discernment would condemn them to judgment, shame and desolation.

THE PEOPLE LACKED DELIVERANCE: Jeremiah cries out to the Lord to learn the plight of His people just as the people would later cry out because of the anguish of their judgment.  The people and the nation have been doomed before the Lord.  God has called the army of Babylon to come out against them and the horses are neighing in the background waiting to attack.  Like a serpent preparing to strike; Babylon is coiled and ready to strike without mercy.  Once the people are taken captive they will finally cry out in anguish in hopes of finding deliverance from the Lord but there will be none forthcoming.  There is no balm to heal the wounds and no escape from the wrath of God’s deipleasure.