< Jeremiah 16 >

The statement: “The word of the LORD came unto me” v.1Jeremiah 16:1XWaiting for response occurs repeatedly throughout this book, showing that the message was not Jeremiah’s but God’s. The prophets sometimes had, not only to speak the word of God, but also to act in ways, often distressing, to depict in action what God would do. Jeremiah was commanded not to marry and have children v.2,Jeremiah 16:2XWaiting for response to emphasise his dire warning as to what would happen to women and children when the Babylonians destroyed their kingdom and Jerusalem.vs.4-9Jeremiah 16:4-9XWaiting for response Naturally, upon hearing his message, they would ask why such calamities were coming upon them,v.10Jeremiah 16:10XWaiting for response and he told them the reason. It was because of their long history of continual wickedness v.11Jeremiah 16:11XWaiting for response and because they themselves were worse than their ancestors. v.12Jeremiah 16:12XWaiting for response They made the common mistake of acting according to the imagination of their own hearts v.12Jeremiah 16:12XWaiting for response instead of listening to the word of God, and the consequence was that they were expelled from the promised land.v.13Jeremiah 16:13XWaiting for response

The ultimate purpose of God is that the people of Israel, his people, will live in his land under the righteous government of Christ, his Son. Therefore, the LORD spoke of that future time when Israel would be gathered out of all nations. The ten tribes had been removed from the land by the Assyrians, and the two tribes were about to be taken away by the Babylonians. A few would later return, but God declared that one day he would gather all Israel out of all nations and bring them back to his land. vs.14-15Jeremiah 16:14-15XWaiting for response

The return of the Jews to the promised land is a first principle of the true faith of Christians, but few today believe it or are looking forward to the return of Jesus to sit on his throne of glory in Jerusalem and to reign over Israel. Millions have been led away from the truth by false doctrines and the denial of God’s word, but the time will come when they will acknowledge they have believed lies.v.19Jeremiah 16:19XWaiting for response It is much wiser not to wait for this before learning the truth from God’s word for, by belief and obedience, we can secure for ourselves places with Christ in his kingdom when God will prove his existence by demonstrations of great power: “Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD”. v.21Jeremiah 16:21XWaiting for response