Approaching studies within Jeremiah, instead of trying to follow chronologically, which is difficult with this book, for roughly the first half of the book, the first 29 chapters, we will instead only produce studies within their appropriate chapters, theming them as follows:

• Jeremiah’s Calling                     Ch.1
• Jeremiah’s Main Message        Ch.2,3,5,7,21,22
• Jeremiah’s Action Parables      Ch.13,18,19,27
• Jeremiah’s Opposition              Ch.11,12, 14,18,20,26,28
• Jeremiah’s Message of Hope   Ch.3,23,24,25,29

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

Jeremiah’s Main Message: 3. Jerusalem Condemned

Jer 5:1,2, 6:1-8, 6:13-15

1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,
    look around and consider,
    search through her squares.
If you can find but one person
    who deals honestly and seeks the truth,
    I will forgive this city.
² Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’
    still they are swearing falsely.”

1 “Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
    Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet in Tekoa!
    Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!
For disaster looms out of the north,
    even terrible destruction.
² I will destroy Daughter Zion,
    so beautiful and delicate.
³ Shepherds with their flocks will come against her;
    they will pitch their tents around her,
    each tending his own portion.”

⁴ “Prepare for battle against her!
    Arise, let us attack at noon!
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
    and the shadows of evening grow long.
⁵ So arise, let us attack at night
    and destroy her fortresses!”

⁶ This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Cut down the trees
    and build siege ramps against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
    it is filled with oppression.
⁷ As a well pours out its water,
    so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence and destruction resound in her;
    her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
⁸ Take warning, Jerusalem,
    or I will turn away from you
and make your land desolate
    so no one can live in it.”

¹³ “From the least to the greatest,
    all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.
¹⁴ They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
    when there is no peace.
¹⁵ Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when I punish them,”
says the Lord.

A. Find Out

1. Who did the Lord look for in Jerusalem? 5:1
2. Where would the judgement come from? 6:1
3. What would actually happen? v.6
4. What was the present state of Jerusalem? v.7
5. What do they rely upon? v.14
6. What didn’t they know how to do? v.15

B. Think:

1. What was the state of the PEOPLE of Jerusalem?
2. What was the state of the leaders?
3. How does the Lord say He will deal with them if no repentance?

C. Comment:

Again and again within these early prophecies in Jeremiah comes a warning against Jerusalem, the “capital” of Judah. It is here that kings and leaders sit. Here is the central focus of the nation and it is here that the greatest responsibility lies.

As the Lord looks on Jerusalem He says there is NO-one in the city who is honest, and wickedness, violence and oppression abound, and greed and deceit are rife. As the Lord looks on His people, He sees hardness of heart and there is no shame in them for the things they do. No one knows how to blush any more, their consciences have been seared so that they accept as normal all the wrong things they are doing.  The Lord warns this people that they have a false sense of security, believing that peace will continue. He warns them, if they do not repent He will bring a people from the north who will lay siege to Jerusalem and overcome it.  This was to happen shortly (see 2 Kings 24:10) because they would not repent, but there is still yet time for them to repent and avert this disaster.

D. Application:

1. Ask the Lord to help our eyes to be open  to the true state of our own land – so we may act and pray for it.
2. Ask the Lord to help you be an intercessor and a righteous witness for your own land when godlessness is over so much of the earth.