One of the horrors of war is the devastation of the land. This is an almost inescapable reality that had to be considered squarely.
“Is Israel a servant?
Is he a homeborn slave?
Why is he plundered?
The young lions roared at him, and growled;
They made his land waste;
His cities are burned, without inhabitant.” Jeremiah 2:14-15
1. Uncomfortable questions
a) Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave?
b) The short answer was simply “No!”
c) Israel as his name suggests was meant to be “a prince!”
d) Why then was he “plundered”?
i) A slave has no entitlements.
ii) He has no rights at all.
iii) He owns nothing.
iv) Whatever he may consider his “possessions” can be snatched away.
2. “The young lions roared at him, and growled”
a) The enemies were coming.
b) They were compared to hungry and powerful young lions.
c) They growled fiercely and hungrily at their prey… Judah!
3. The young lions were the powerful Babylonians
a) They were on the prowl.
b) They were ready to war against any country.
c) They travelled from the North to the South (Judah).
4. They warred against Judah; Three consequences were noted