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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 37

"So is the house of Israel ashamed"

Text: Jeremiah 2:26

THE SHAME OF ANCIENT ISRAEL

One of the most natural things to feel is “shame”. It is a very human trait. Israel’s shame was its utter failure in being a successful nation. Things became worse when the nation rejected God and turned to idolatry instead.

“As the thief is ashamed when he is found out,
So is the house of Israel ashamed;
They and their kings and their princes,
and their priests and their prophets.”
Jeremiah 2:26

1. “As the thief is ashamed when he is found out”

a) The work of a thief is stealing.
i) It may be a break in.
ii) It may be pick-pocketing.
b) But when he is caught
i) He would be in trouble with the law.
ii) More than that, he would bring shame to his family and himself.

2. “So is the house of Israel ashamed”

a) Sometimes, the “house of Israel” may refer to the nation of Judah.
b) Israel, the northern kingdom was destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC.
c) Judah remained, and sometimes, the phrase “house of Israel” was used to describe the nation as in this verse.

3. “They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets”

a) In a kingdom, there would be the royal family.
i) The kings ruled the land.
ii) The princes were supposed to serve alongside.
iii) In part, they were “trained” to become heirs of the throne.
b) The priests and the prophets
i) They were supposed to provide good counsel and wisdom to the rulers.
ii) But largely, they failed miserably.
iii) They could not discern the word of God.
iv) Neither did they receive revelations from the Lord.

4. Collectively, they failed to care for the country effectively

a) Their inadequacies stood out.
b) Their sinfulness made things worse.
c) There was only “shame” to speak of. If indeed, they felt shame at all!