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Jeremiah 6

30 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah forewarns Jerusalem of impending judgment and destruction, urging repentance before the wrath of God unleashes its full fury.

Summary

The chapter opens with a prophetic warning that Jerusalem faces a dire threat from the north, urging the people to prepare for impending destruction. Jeremiah describes the city’s perceived safety and the inevitability of war, depicting a scenario where the Lord’s judgment takes form through violence and exile. He calls out the city’s obstinacy and lack of heeding divine counsel, highlighting the people's failure to heed warnings and the resulting sorrow. The narrative emphasizes the Lord’s intent to bring ruin upon the nation, illustrating how even the righteous are not spared from judgment. Amidst this bleak outlook, Jeremiah encourages the people to return to the old paths and walk in the good way, hoping for rest and salvation if they repent. Yet the people dismiss his warnings, refusing to hearken to the trumpet’s call and to change their ways. The chapter concludes with a broader proclamation of judgment against all nations, a call to repentance, and a stark depiction of the calamities that will befall those who continue in sin.

Outline
  1. Prophetic warning of impending judgment and destruction of Jerusalem
  2. Description of the coming calamities and divine wrath
  3. Call to repentance and reminder of God’s sovereignty
Themes
Judgment and wrath of GodRepentance and obedienceDivine sovereignty and the fate of nations
Keywords
JerusalemJudgmentRepentanceLord of hostssackclothashesfirenorthcrown
People
BenjaminShebaLord
Places
JerusalemTekoaBethhacceremnorth country
Things
trumpetfiresign of firetowerfortresssackclothashesbowspearhorsesleadsilverbellows
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 6:7: Illustrates Jerusalem’s self-deception and the reality of her destruction.
  • Jeremiah 6:11: Depicts the Lord’s anger and the inevitable judgment on the people.
  • Jeremiah 6:19: Shows the universal nature of divine judgment extending beyond Israel.
Questions
  • What does Jeremiah’s depiction of judgment reveal about God’s view of the nation’s sin?
  • How does the call to return to the old paths serve as a remedy to the impending calamity?
  • In what ways does Jeremiah’s warning address both Israel and the surrounding nations?
  • Why is the image of the city’s destruction compared to a tree cut down or a mountain cast down?
  • How does the language of sackcloth and ashes convey the seriousness of repentance?
  • What role does the trumpet play in the prophetic narrative?
  • What does the text imply about the efficacy of offerings and sacrifices?
  • How can modern readers apply the message of Jeremiah 6 to contemporary faith practices?
Sentiment

negative
Lamentation over impending judgment and a bleak tone of divine wrath.