Jeremiah 16
THE first part of this chapter continues the subject brought out in chapter 15,—- the believer's position in the world in view of the failure of the responsible body before God. The state of his kinsmen according to the flesh – the people of Judah—had become such that Jeremiah could not go on with them, and God directed him to stand wholly apart, a witness for his Master 'Who had Himself rejected them, and had announced their coming judgment.
The principles of action put before Jeremiah for his behavior under these circumstances are exactly those that are stated for the guidance of Christians (2 Corinthians 6:14-1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18); 2 Timothy 2:19-2219Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22); Hebrews 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)), though few indeed give much heed to them in our day.
What would an earthly master have to say to his servants if they followed the easier part of his directions, and left the harder things undone, doing what pleased themselves rather than applying themselves with energy both to do and to be altogether according to their master's mind? God, we may be sure, is not indifferent to the trifling with His Word, though He hears with ignorance.
Jeremiah was forbidden an unequal yoke, i.e., he must not marry one who was under the judgment of God. (Has such a marriage of believer and unbeliever ever been attended with God's blessing?) He was not to comfort the ungodly in their grief, since God was dealing with them because of their sins; neither was he to have fellowship with them in their pleasures, but to be a testimony in staying away from their feasts (verses 1-9).
So self-satisfied, so blinded by Satan, were those among whom Jeremiah lived, that they viewed their sins as small and trifling (if indeed they acknowledged that they had ever sinned). They would ask the prophet what was the occasion of the promised woes, and it is plain that they did not believe that such an end was before them.
Thus is it today; God has long spoken in the clearest, most positive way of judgment to come, and the necessity for it, but the mass of mankind continue to reject His Word.
Yet such is the grace of God, and His unchangeable purpose to bless bankrupt, ruined, hell-deserving sinners that in the very announcement of the casting out of Judah from the land He had given them, He speaks of a day when He will bring hack the .children of Israel—all of the 12 tribes—to that very land. This promise (verses 14-18)—not without assurance of great tribulation in carrying it out—has not been fulfilled; it awaits the end of the present dispensation, now close at hand, when God will turn from extending special favor to the Gentiles, to extend it anew to Israel (Romans 11:1-321I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (Romans 11:1‑32)).
The time of Jacob's trouble, as Scripture terms it (Jeremiah. 307) occupies a considerable place in the Word of God. In our chapter the reference is brief; God will have the children of Israel "fished" for, and "hunted", wherever they are.
They cannot get out of His knowledge or His sight, nor is their iniquity hidden from Him. In all ages, since they ceased to be His people (Hosea 1:99Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. (Hosea 1:9)), the Jews have suffered. at the hands of the Gentiles, but the heaviest infliction is to come (verse 18) as many Scriptures foretell.
Faith, however, trusts God; it justifies Him in judgment, and counts upon Him for deliverance (verse 19); it looks forward to the day when not only Israel, but also the Gentiles from the ends of the earth shall acknowledge Him. This, we believe, does not refer to the present work of God's grace among the Gentiles, to which there is almost no reference in the Old Testament, but something to be carried out when Israel is restored to their land and blessed by Him as never before, in the Millennium.
The last two verses of our chapter return to the subject of the judgment about to fall on Judah, and its cause. Holiness and truth are the foundations of His throne, Who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life; he that believes not shall be judged. This is the truth of the gospel.
Messages of God’s Love 10/14/1934