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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 139

"I will scatter them also among the Gentiles"

Text: Jeremiah 9:16

DISCIPLINE FROM THE LORD

The Lord repeated His word of warning again and again. These words were given in the hope that some might yet repent from their sinful ways!

“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
‘Behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood,
and give them water of gall to drink.
I will scatter them also among the Gentiles,
whom neither they nor their fathers have known.
And I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them.'”
Jeremiah 9:15-16

1. “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel”

a) Two titles were affixed to this word given.
b) Reasons:
i) For emphasis
ii) For authority
iii) For impact

2. “Behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink”

a) Food and drink
i) The Southern kingdom had enjoyed much wealth.
ii) And with wealth they could afford to feast on all that they desired.
b) Wormwood and gall
i) Both were symbols for that which is bitter.
ii) Judah would lose its wealth.
iii) They would suffer impoverishment and experience bitterness in life.

3. “I will scatter them also among the Gentiles, whom neither they nor their fathers have known”

a) Scattering
i) Judah will be exiled from their homeland.
ii) They would be sent as slaves to foreign countries (among Gentiles).
b) Unknown hardship
This would be a hardship that neither they nor their fathers had experienced before.
i) Great difficulty to be experienced.
ii) No past experience to fall back upon.

4. “And I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them”

a) The sword represented:
i) War
ii) Carnage
iii) Death
b) The children of Judah would be pursued and hunted by their enemies.
i) There would be much suffering and even death.
ii) This would be the consequence of their pursuit of wickedness.