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"Take refuge! Do not delay!"

Text: Jeremiah 4:6

URGENT WORD OF WARNING GIVEN

Jeremiah was instructed to give a strong and urgent word of warning to Judah and Jerusalem. The people had to be warned about an imminent invasion from the North. This was one of the first visions that God had given to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:13-16).

“Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:
‘Blow the trumpet in the land;
Cry, ‘Gather together,’
And say, ‘Assemble yourselves,
And let us go into the fortified cities.’
Set up the standard toward Zion.
Take refuge! Do not delay!
For I will bring disaster from the north,
And great destruction.'”
Jeremiah 4:5-6

1. “Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: ‘Blow the trumpet in the land'”

a) “Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem”

i) Once again, Judah and Jerusalem were named specifically.

ii) The two verbs (“declare” and “proclaim” are synonyms).

b) “Blow the trumpet in the land”

i) The “trumpet” could be used in worship. It was to express great joy.

ii) The “trumpet” could have another use.

It was used to signal a grave warning about a peril that was forthcoming.

iii) The latter sense was applicable here.

2. “Cry, ‘Gather together,’ and say, ‘Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities.'”

a) This was essentially:

i) Evacuation of zones that were under threat.

ii) Relocation to “fortified cities”.

b) The people were to be gathered and organized to leave for safer regions.

(This procedure is still practised in times of war.)

3. “Set up the standard toward Zion. Take refuge! Do not delay!”

a) The “standard” was like a rallying flag.

i) It was lifted up so that it was visible to all.

ii) The standard was to point toward Zion (Jerusalem).

b) The message was urgent.

i) “Take refuge”

The place was “Zion”.

ii) Physically it was a reference to Jerusalem.

iii) Figuratively, it was the Lord’s Presence. Therein was true refuge.

c) “Do not delay”

i) Much depended on how the people regarded this word of warning.

ii) If they believed this word from the Lord, they would not delay!

4. “For I will bring disaster from the north, and great destruction”

a) A great disaster was coming from the north (Jeremiah 1:14-15).

b) This was a referenced to the invasion of the Babylonians.

c) The invaders would bring about great destruction indeed!

d) The reasons were already stated:

i) Wickedness

ii) Forsaking of the Lord

iii) Idolatry (Jeremiah 1:16)