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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 178

"Why have these things come upon me?"

Text: Jeremiah 13:22

THE INCREDULITY OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH

The children of Judah could not accept the prophecies of Jeremiah. They could not understand the calamities that would come upon the nation!

“And if you say in your heart,
‘Why have these things come upon me?’
For the greatness of your iniquity
Your skirts have been uncovered,
Your heels made bare.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
‘Therefore I will scatter them like stubble
That passes away by the wind of the wilderness.'”
Jeremiah 13:22-24

1. “And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?'”

a) The musing of many in their heart.
b) They could not comprehend nor accept the judgment that would befall them.

2. “For the greatness of your iniquity your skirts have been uncovered, your heels made bare”

a) The reason was obvious!
i) Their iniquity was great.
ii) Refusing to accept the fact of iniquity does dim the weight and gravity of their sins and transgressions!
b) The use of euphemism.
i) “Skirts… uncovered” and “heels made bare”
ii) These euphemisms point to the problem of immorality.

3. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?”

a) The Ethiopians were naturally dark and cannot change the colour of their skin.
b) The leopards cannot but have spots on their body.

4. “Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil”

a) In the same way, the people had become so steeped in their iniquity. Sin was their way of life.
b) They were so accustomed to do evil, they cannot do good!

5. “Therefore I will scatter them like stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness”

a) The judgment of God was correct and just.
b) The children of Judah would be scattered like stubble.
c) As the wind blows away dust, so the children of Judah would be driven by the fierce wind of the wilderness.