Jeremiah 10:17-22 – Living responsibly for God

Judah would not be spared. Too much-invited damage had been done. They had provoked God by going after the false gods of the land. They had broken the covenant with the  LORD their God and had wandered far from Him. The Babylonian siege was inevitable, and their captivity and exile would follow soon. So Jeremiah 10:17 told them to pick up their bundle from the ground they would not be remaining long in their promised land. God was sending them a distressing time.

Being a member of the community, Jeremiah had to suffer with his people. So he described three things that he was going through in Jeremiah 10:19-21. Firstly, in verse 19, he said had a serious affliction. He was injured. We are not told how he was injured and according to him, the wound was incurable. So he had to accept his portion and would bear with it. Secondly, in verse 20. He was affected domestically as well. His dwelling place and his tent was destroyed, and his family gone from him. There was no indication that he was married. Perhaps he was talking vicariously about what the people of Judah would have to go through.  Since the people would be carried away and there would no longer be people available to put up his tent. Thirdly, he and the nation had to suffer because of poor leadership. In referring to the shepherds, Jeremiah was referencing the leadership. Many of them had turned stupid. Prophets, priests, and kings alike, all did not seek the LORD and had to suffer lack. Hence the sheep were all scattered. In the Babylonian invasion, verse 22 indicates that this enemy from the north would come with great commotion to empty the land. The cities in Judah would be left desolate and become a haunt for jackals.

 

What lessons can we learn from what the people of Judah had gone through? Our safety is in walking with the LORD faithfully. We must take our commitment to Him seriously. Do not be provocative like the people of Judah. Hence, we must seek to conduct our lives in line with all that He had stipulated. As a community, we may have to share the suffering of the people. It behooves that everyone in the community from leaders to members should be circumspect and live responsibly. Let us do our part!