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Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 251

"Why has the LORD done so to this great city?"

Text: Jeremiah 22:8

FROM GLORY TO IGNOMINY

There was a time when Israel attained great glory. King David established Israel as a mighty nation. Solomon was able to make the nation famous and wealthy. But that glory did not last beyond the third generation! Israel fell from grace and never fully recovered!

“And many nations will pass by this city;
and everyone will say to his neighbour,
‘Why has the LORD done so to this great city?’
Then they will answer,
‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God,
and worshiped other gods and served them.’
Weep not for the dead, nor bemoan him;
Weep bitterly for him who goes away,
For he shall return no more,
Nor see his native country.”
Jeremiah 22:8-10

1. “And many nations will pass by this city; and everyone will say to his neighbour,
‘Why has the LORD done so to this great city?'”

a) “Many nations”

i) They could be neighbouring nations.

ii) They could be trading partners.

b) Israel a conversation piece.

i) Many would have noticed that Israel had no more glory.

ii) They wondered why God had allowed this state of affairs to occur
to “this great city”.

2. “Then they will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God,
and worshiped other gods and served them.'”

a) The answer was well-known to all.

b) Two reasons were foremost in mind.

i) The people of Judah had forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God.

ii) They had also become idolatrous, serving foreign deities.

3. “Weep not for the dead, nor bemoan him; weep bitterly for him who goes away, for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.”

a) Death

i) Many would die because of the war with the Babylonians.

ii) Yet, the word out, was not to weep nor bemoan the dead.

iii) Reason: They would not have to suffer a graver fate.

b) Deportation

i) Bitter tears ought to be shed for those who would be exiled.

ii) They would live and die in a foreign country (exiled).

iii) They would never be able to return home (Jerusalem and Judah).

This reality would bring copious tears to the eyes of many.