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Jeremiah 17

27 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah 17 warns Judah of the consequences of idolatry and misplaced trust, contrasting the fate of those who rely on humans with those who trust in God, and it concludes with a call to observe the Sabbath and the dangers of ignoring divine instruction.

Summary

Jeremiah 17 begins by condemning Judah’s sin, describing it as inscribed with iron and diamond upon their hearts and altars. The prophet contrasts the reliability of trusting in God with the unreliability of trusting in men, using imagery of a tree by water versus a parched desert. He warns that those who turn away from God will be made enemies of strangers and that the heart is deceitful. The passage calls for repentance, highlighting that God rewards those who keep His covenant and punishes those who disregard it. The latter half of the chapter contains a prophetic summons to stand at the gates of Jerusalem, instructing the people and kings to honor the Sabbath and refrain from burdens or work, lest God will bring destruction upon the city.

Outline
  1. Judah’s sin and the danger of trusting in man
  2. Contrast between trusting in God and trusting in man, moral exhortation
  3. Judicial instruction at Jerusalem’s gates and Sabbath law
Themes
trust in God vs. manfaithfulness and repentancedivine judgment and mercy
Keywords
sintrustheartfaithGodJerusalemSabbathburdenjudgmentmercy
People
LORDJeremiahJudahkings of Judahinhabitants of JerusalemDavid
Places
JudahJerusalemgates of Jerusalemhigh hillsthe fieldmountainsplainsouthBenjamin
Things
iron pendiamond pointaltarshearttreewaterrootspartridgeeggsrichesthronesanctuaryfountain of living watersburdenSabbath
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 17:5: states that trusting in humans leads to curse
  • Jeremiah 17:7: declares blessing for those who trust in the LORD
  • Jeremiah 17:9: highlights deceitful nature of the heart
  • Jeremiah 17:10: shows God’s examination of each person
  • Jeremiah 17:21: commands not to bring burdens on the Sabbath
  • Jeremiah 17:25: promises eternal stability for those who observe the law
  • Jeremiah 17:27: warns of fire and destruction if the law is ignored
Questions
  • Why does Jeremiah emphasize the heart’s deceitfulness in the context of national sin?
  • In what ways does the passage link the observance of the Sabbath to the wellbeing of the nation?
  • How do the contrasting images of the tree and the desert function to convey God’s promises and warnings?
  • What is the significance of the gates of Jerusalem as a setting for prophetic instruction?
  • How does Jeremiah’s portrayal of judgment align with or differ from other prophetic literature?
Sentiment

neutral