Jeremiah 15

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Jeremiah 15:1-21 (KJV) 

1 Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, [yet] my mind [could] not [be] toward this people: cast [them] out of my sight, and let them go forth.

Moses and Samuel were men who feared God.  God talk to them all the time.  But with the friendship God had with these two men, not even they could hold God back from the anger He was going to take out on the people he loved so much.  It angers God when we treat each other wrong.  He is a Father who really cares about the relationship he wants between His children.

 2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as [are] for death, to death; and such as [are] for the sword, to the sword; and such as [are] for the famine, to the famine; and such as [are] for the captivity, to the captivity.

God told Jeremiah if they ask what going on?  He said to answer them directly.  For example:  Are we going to die? Answer them Yes.

 3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. 

If they will not die by one, then they will die by the next.  God told us how he would lead His people by his standards.  Yet we do not believe.  Lord help me to believe your word.

4 And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for [that] which he did in Jerusalem. 

Manasseh was an evil king who did evil throughout his reign.  However, as evil, as he was, he repented when he was in exile.  He turned back to God, and God received him back.  When we lead our sons and daughters away from God it is a very serious move.  We must be careful when we sin, sin leaves a stain and the consequences of sin go into places you cannot imagine.  If Adam and Eve had known the deadly effect their choice had on our society thousands of years later maybe they would have done things differently.  The sin was and is, they did not trust God.  When God says to trust Him, do not worry about all the details of how things will work themselves out.  Know that God sees the good in our choices; the right decision we make will make a difference for generations to come.

5 For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest? 

God's people sinned and all of the people will suffer.  There will be no one to help anyone because all will be hurting.

6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

We have a right to repent.  But we are just like God.  If a husband or wife constantly commits adultery in a marriage, sooner or later the mate of the adulterer will get tired and leave.  Or if a manager trains an employee and the employee does nothing to show he or she is changing, then the manager in his own right and for the benefit of his company will remove that person from his or her company.  So it is with God.  When we don't want to change God has no need to tolerate our presence.

 7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave [them] of children, I will destroy my people, [since] they return not from their ways. 

God will remove anyone who insists on using His name but does not follow His Word.  Not a trace of that person will stand in His presence.  Many pastors teach people there is no consequence for doing wrong;  Jesus paid the price for all sins.  But in their own lives, they do as God is doing, they will fire anyone who comes against their agenda.  People have no excuse, Jesus gave us a personal handwritten copy of the Word of God.  We will have no excuse when we stand before the presence of God.

8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused [him] to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city. 

Many men will die.  Many husbands' and sons' lives will be taken. When this happens, the women who are left will live a life of misery. God said it will be a sudden attack.

9 She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while [it was] yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD. 

God will destroy the mother as well as the sons: the mother is embarrassed, hurt, and confused all at the same time.  This mother died from pain and those who did not die from what she died from will be killed.

10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; [yet] every one of them doth curse me. 

Jeremiah is scared and tired because of his message from God to the people.  He now expresses the hardship that has been placed on his life as a messenger of God.  He said he hasn't done anyone wrong but the people hate him.

11 The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee [well] in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. 

God knows who to allow the enemy to touch.  Jeremiah had no need to fear a mistake on God's behalf.  God hears Jeremiah and assures him that he is in good standing with Him.  If God is on our side we are protected.

12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel? 

13 Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and [that] for all thy sins, even in all thy borders. 

14 And I will make [thee] to pass with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, [which] shall burn upon you. 

God moves abruptly moves back into the fate of his disobedient children.  He answered Jeremiah's concern and move quickly to the wrath he had scheduled for the sins of his people.

15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 

16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 

17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. 

18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, [which] refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, [and as] waters [that] fail? 

Jerimiah is doubting God's protection.  He testifies of his faithfulness toward God, but wonders, why he has issues going on in his body and the evidence of healing, is not manifesting.

19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, [and] thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 

Jeremiah left the presence of God.  Perhaps he got quiet and was in pain.  God may not have answered him the same day he was telling God about his pain, but God did not leave him without comfort.  Jeremiah seems to feel really bad but God lets him know when you return to me and if you continue to separate right from wrong I will use you as a spokesman for me.  Do not go as you have gone after the people, if they want to hear you speak, let them come to you.

20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I [am] with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

God gave Jeremiah his Word.  I will protect you.  People will come against you, but I will sustain you and deliver you every time.

 21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

When the wicked confronts you, I will deliver you, I will save you during the time of my wrath.