Jeremiah 5: Unveiling the Depths of Judah's Corruption
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely.
O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.
I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the Lord’s.
For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the Lord.
They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.
Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.
And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.
Nevertheless in those days, saith the Lord, I will not make a full end with you.
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.
Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,
Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Jeremiah 5 shines a harsh light on the pervasive corruption that had consumed Judah, leading to the inevitable judgment from God. This chapter reveals the depth of their sin and the reasons behind the impending destruction of Jerusalem. It’s a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and embracing wickedness.
The Search for Righteousness (Jeremiah 5:1-9)
The Lord challenges Jeremiah with a seemingly simple task: find just one person in Jerusalem who acts justly and seeks faithfulness, and He will forgive the city (Jeremiah 5:1). This is an incredible offer, even more gracious than the promise given to Abraham regarding Sodom (Genesis 18:32). Yet, Jeremiah's search proves fruitless. He cannot find even a single individual consistently living righteously in the entire city. This stark reality underscores the profound moral decay that had gripped Jerusalem, making it, in some ways, worse than Sodom.
Initially, Jeremiah is taken aback. He wonders if he's been looking in the wrong places. He first turns to the poor, those "on the other side of the tracks" (Jeremiah 5:4), hoping to find some semblance of faithfulness. When that search fails, he decides to approach the powerful and the leaders, reasoning, "Surely they know the way of the LORD" (Jeremiah 5:5). Sadly, his hopes are dashed again. The leaders of Judah are no better; they too have rejected God. Despite God's provision and blessings, they have turned to pagan rituals, even gashing themselves in worship (similar to 1 Kings 18:28), and committed spiritual adultery by prostituting themselves with idols (Jeremiah 5:7). This widespread corruption leaves Jeremiah deeply disturbed and underscores the comprehensive nature of Judah's apostasy.
Impending Judgment and a Glimmer of Hope (Jeremiah 5:10-19)
The house of Israel and the house of Judah were meant to be God’s fruitful vineyard (see Isaiah 5:1-7), but their unfaithfulness has reached a point where God decrees that the branches must be pruned. God commands the destruction of the vines (Jeremiah 5:10), but even in this severe judgment, a seed of hope is planted: "Do not make a complete end" (Jeremiah 5:10). This hints that the nation will survive the coming Babylonian exile and eventually be restored to their land, though the path to that restoration will be long and arduous.
The people are lulled into a false sense of security by false prophets who proclaim, "Harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine" (Jeremiah 5:12-13). This is a dangerous lie. The Babylonian army will bring devastation and destruction upon Judah (Jeremiah 5:14-17). The coming destruction will be so complete that God has to reassure them again that He will not completely annihilate His people (Jeremiah 5:18).
The judgment is a direct consequence of their sin: "For just as you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours" (Jeremiah 5:19). This is a powerful principle: choosing to serve idols, or anything other than God, ultimately leads to bondage. If you choose to serve the devil, God will let you do it. But it won’t provide the pleasure and freedom you’re expecting.
The Root of the Problem: Rebellious Hearts (Jeremiah 5:20-31)
God, as the Creator of land and sea (Jeremiah 5:22), faithfully provides for His people, sending seasonal rains to ensure bountiful harvests (Jeremiah 5:24). Yet, the people possess "stubborn and rebellious hearts" (Jeremiah 5:23). They lack the fear of the Lord (Jeremiah 5:22), meaning they don't take Him seriously. The powerful and wealthy exploit the vulnerable, growing richer at the expense of the poor and neglecting the needs of the fatherless and the needy (Jeremiah 5:26-28).
The spiritual leaders are equally culpable. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority (Jeremiah 5:31). This is a shocking indictment of the entire leadership structure of Judah. But the most alarming revelation is this: "My people love it this way" (Jeremiah 5:31). This reveals a deep-seated moral sickness within the nation. A culture cannot long endure when worship is corrupted and the worshipers embrace that corruption. The people have become so accustomed to injustice and falsehood that they actively prefer it over truth and righteousness. This is the tragic culmination of their rebellion against God, sealing their fate and paving the way for the impending judgment. This chapter serves as a warning to us: spiritual apathy and a love for corruption can lead to devastating consequences, both individually and collectively.
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely.
O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.
I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the Lord’s.
For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the Lord.
They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.
Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.
And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.
Nevertheless in those days, saith the Lord, I will not make a full end with you.
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.
Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,
Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Jeremiah 5 shines a harsh light on the pervasive corruption that had consumed Judah, leading to the inevitable judgment from God. This chapter reveals the depth of their sin and the reasons behind the impending destruction of Jerusalem. It’s a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and embracing wickedness.
The Search for Righteousness (Jeremiah 5:1-9)
The Lord challenges Jeremiah with a seemingly simple task: find just one person in Jerusalem who acts justly and seeks faithfulness, and He will forgive the city (Jeremiah 5:1). This is an incredible offer, even more gracious than the promise given to Abraham regarding Sodom (Genesis 18:32). Yet, Jeremiah's search proves fruitless. He cannot find even a single individual consistently living righteously in the entire city. This stark reality underscores the profound moral decay that had gripped Jerusalem, making it, in some ways, worse than Sodom.
Initially, Jeremiah is taken aback. He wonders if he's been looking in the wrong places. He first turns to the poor, those "on the other side of the tracks" (Jeremiah 5:4), hoping to find some semblance of faithfulness. When that search fails, he decides to approach the powerful and the leaders, reasoning, "Surely they know the way of the LORD" (Jeremiah 5:5). Sadly, his hopes are dashed again. The leaders of Judah are no better; they too have rejected God. Despite God's provision and blessings, they have turned to pagan rituals, even gashing themselves in worship (similar to 1 Kings 18:28), and committed spiritual adultery by prostituting themselves with idols (Jeremiah 5:7). This widespread corruption leaves Jeremiah deeply disturbed and underscores the comprehensive nature of Judah's apostasy.
Impending Judgment and a Glimmer of Hope (Jeremiah 5:10-19)
The house of Israel and the house of Judah were meant to be God’s fruitful vineyard (see Isaiah 5:1-7), but their unfaithfulness has reached a point where God decrees that the branches must be pruned. God commands the destruction of the vines (Jeremiah 5:10), but even in this severe judgment, a seed of hope is planted: "Do not make a complete end" (Jeremiah 5:10). This hints that the nation will survive the coming Babylonian exile and eventually be restored to their land, though the path to that restoration will be long and arduous.
The people are lulled into a false sense of security by false prophets who proclaim, "Harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine" (Jeremiah 5:12-13). This is a dangerous lie. The Babylonian army will bring devastation and destruction upon Judah (Jeremiah 5:14-17). The coming destruction will be so complete that God has to reassure them again that He will not completely annihilate His people (Jeremiah 5:18).
The judgment is a direct consequence of their sin: "For just as you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours" (Jeremiah 5:19). This is a powerful principle: choosing to serve idols, or anything other than God, ultimately leads to bondage. If you choose to serve the devil, God will let you do it. But it won’t provide the pleasure and freedom you’re expecting.
The Root of the Problem: Rebellious Hearts (Jeremiah 5:20-31)
God, as the Creator of land and sea (Jeremiah 5:22), faithfully provides for His people, sending seasonal rains to ensure bountiful harvests (Jeremiah 5:24). Yet, the people possess "stubborn and rebellious hearts" (Jeremiah 5:23). They lack the fear of the Lord (Jeremiah 5:22), meaning they don't take Him seriously. The powerful and wealthy exploit the vulnerable, growing richer at the expense of the poor and neglecting the needs of the fatherless and the needy (Jeremiah 5:26-28).
The spiritual leaders are equally culpable. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority (Jeremiah 5:31). This is a shocking indictment of the entire leadership structure of Judah. But the most alarming revelation is this: "My people love it this way" (Jeremiah 5:31). This reveals a deep-seated moral sickness within the nation. A culture cannot long endure when worship is corrupted and the worshipers embrace that corruption. The people have become so accustomed to injustice and falsehood that they actively prefer it over truth and righteousness. This is the tragic culmination of their rebellion against God, sealing their fate and paving the way for the impending judgment. This chapter serves as a warning to us: spiritual apathy and a love for corruption can lead to devastating consequences, both individually and collectively.