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"I will break this people and this city"

Text: Jeremiah 19:11

THE DRAMATIC BREAKING OF THE FLASK

This message was preached to the leaders of Judah. They were regarded as “elders of the people” and “elders of the priests” (Jeremiah 19:1). These were also the people who could have helped Judah to return to God. But they had been resistant to the Lord’s word.

“Then you shall break the flask
in the sight of the men who go with you, and say to them,
‘Thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘Even so I will break this people and this city,
as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot be made whole again;
and they shall bury them in Tophet till there is no place to bury.
Thus I will do to this place,’ says the LORD,
‘and to its inhabitants, and make this city like Tophet.
And the houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah
shall be defiled like the place of Tophet,
because of all the houses on whose roofs
they have burned incense to all the host of heaven,
and poured out drink offerings to other gods.””
Jeremiah 19:10-13

1. “Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with you”

a) This was a dramatic moment.

b) The breaking of the flask was meant to communicate a powerful visual impact.

2. “And say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Even so I will break this people
and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot be made whole again;
and they shall bury them in Tophet till there is no place to bury””

a) The accompanying message was to be delivered effectively.

b) God will break

i) The people of Judah.

ii) The city of Jerusalem.

c) A broken vessel

i) It cannot be made whole again.

ii) The people will be thrown into Tophet (The Valley of Slaughter).

iii) Till there is no more place to throw another corpse there.

3. “‘Thus I will do to this place,’ says the LORD, ‘and to its inhabitants, and make this city like Tophet'”

a) Jerusalem itself would become like Tophet.

b) This was a very grim message indeed!

4. “And the houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah shall be defiled like the place of Tophet, because of all the houses on whose roofs they have burned incense to all the host of heaven, and poured out drink offerings to other gods”

a) Who would be affected?

i) The houses of Jerusalem

ii) The houses of the kings of Judah

b) Why was this judgment made?

i) The flat rooftops of all these significant houses were used to burn incense to all the host of heaven.

ii) Offerings to “other gods” were made. There was rank idolatry practised throughout the land of Judah!