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"Circumcise yourselves to the LORD"

Text: Jeremiah 4:4

THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION

It was God Himself who spoke to Abraham about Circumcision (Genesis 17:10-14). This would be a sign of the Covenant God was giving to Abraham (Genesis 17:11). The significance of Circumcision was not lost to Abraham. He sought to walk faithfully with God. He had come from an idolatrous background to a firm faith in God. He never worshipped idols. The subject of Circumcision had to be addressed once again, but from a different perspective!

“Circumcise yourselves to the LORD,
And take away the foreskins of your hearts,
You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Lest My fury come forth like fire,
And burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of your doings.”
Jeremiah 4:4

1. “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts”

a) The reference to Circumcision.

i) It was not a reference to the rite of circumcision.

ii) All Jewish boys were circumcised at eight days old (Genesis 17:12).

b) This reference is “the circumcision of the heart”.

i) This was a doctrine Moses taught (Deuteronomy 10:16).

ii) This was a spiritual circumcision that many had not practised.

c) Significance of the Circumcision of the heart.

i) This was the true meaning that underlay the rite of circumcision.

ii) The heart should be rid of that which is wicked and sinful.

iii) It should be devoted to the Lord in faithful worship.

2. “You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem”

a) Judah and Jerusalem were addressed directly.

b) This was repeated (Jeremiah 4:4, 5). The focus was Jerusalem (Jeremiah 4:10, 14, 16).

c) Many were under the false impression that nothing evil could befall Jerusalem because of what God had said to Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:12-16).

i) That God had chosen the place for Himself.

ii) That God had chosen and sanctified the temple.

iii) That God’s name would be there forever.

3. “Lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings”

a) This was a warning concerning God’s fury.

b) He Himself will burn the city with an unquenchable fire.

c) The reason was because of the evil doings of the people in Jerusalem and Judah.

4. This word of warning was originally given by God to Solomon

a) The first part of God’s message was that He had chosen Jerusalem and the Temple (2 Chronicles 7:12-16).

b) The second part of the message was a warning that if ever the people were to forsake the Lord and turn to idolatry, He would uproot the people from the land(2 Chronicles 7:19-22).

c) The second part of the God’s message was repeated here (Jeremiah 4:4).