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Jeremiah, Chapter 9

Jeremiah Shares God's Heartbreak; His Sorrowful Lament for Fallen Israel

The theme of this whole chapter is given here in Jeremiah 9:1, which in the Hebrew Bible concludes Jeremiah 8.
The pitifully wicked and immoral behavior of God's once Chosen People had at last reached its fatal extent. The horrible punishment which their apostasy so richly deserved was soon to be executed upon the immoral, wicked nation. The lament expressed here not only applied to the fallen condition of ancient Israel; but the words are just as fitting today for the millions of people who have forsaken their first love (Rev.2:4) and have chosen to wallow in the sensuous pleasures of sin rather than to live by the TRUE standards of God's Holy Word.
Jeremiah was a man of sorrows, in the midst of a people abandoned to everything vile (Jer.9:2-9). He wept day and night at the thought of looming retribution, as he moved around among them, begging, urging, warning, desperately pleading that they turn from their wickedness. But it was all in vain.

Chapter 9 begins with an expression of Jeremiah's personal heartbreak as he sees his people spurn the tender and loving concern of God.

Jeremiah’s Grief for the Miseries of Judah and Jerusalem, His Hatred of Their Sins (Jer. 9:1-8)

Jer. 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! (KJV)

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears . . .  in this chapter, Jeremiah mainly grieves over his poor countrymen's calamity. He expresses his sorrows, with tears from his eyes running like a fountain (Isa. 22:4; Lam.2:11; 3:48; Lk.19:41).
That I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! . . . the slain,  or that are to be slain, by the Babylonians; meaning they were as sure to be slain as if they were already slain.

*****How did Jeremiah bring his message from God to these people? Did he criticize and scorn them? No! He felt their pain, standing there, giving his message with tears running down his face. The message that he gave broke his heart. Centuries later, people of Israel saw Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem when He had a severe message to deliver to that city (Lk.19:41) and were reminded of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, and some of them even thought that Jesus was Jeremiah who had returned to them.

The effect the message had on Jeremiah was not what preachers experience in our days. How many pastors today bring a sermon with even one tear in their eyes? How many of them would even consider to bring a sermon like that which Jeremiah brought? That would be extremely rare! The vast majority bring only “good” messages because they want to stay on the good side of the people, so they will keep filling the collection plate! It is sad indeed, but it is extremely rare that a preacher ever brings a message of “Repent, turn from your sin” or one of “God’s Holy wrath” or “Judgment Day” or “Hell”. They bring only ‘good’ messages of Heaven and everyone will go there (Isa,30:10) . . . which is a LIE! NOT everyone will go to Heaven, the Truth is that most will indeed go to Hell! (Mat.7:13-14).

Jer. 9:2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. (KJV)

Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men . . . he was wishing for some modest place, sorry shed or night cottage (Isa.24:20); some far off place in the wilderness, as David (Ps.55:6-7), where he might not be an eye-witness of their miseries to grieve him so in his heart (Ps.119:136, 158; 2 Pet.2:7-8).
That I might leave my people, and go from them! . . . and where he might hope to find better shelter from the savage beasts than from his own countrymen.
For they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men . . . for the most part, they all were adulterers (Jer.5:8), both correctly and symbolically, being they were full of idolatrous practices . . . there is no truth or honesty found among them. An assembly of treacherous men . . . that deal deceitfully with God and man in all the concerns they are familiar with (Isa.1:4).

*****Jeremiah yearned to get away into a wilderness place where he would not have to see the sin of his people which was bringing his nation to ruin. In the eastern countries there were no inns or houses of entertainment as those in Europe. There were in different places public buildings called caravanserais, where travelers could lodge: but they are without furniture and without food. Actually they were often without a roof being only walls for protection against the wild animals of the desert. Jeremiah wished to hide himself anywhere, in the most uncomfortable circumstances, so that he would no longer be a witness to the wickedness of this people who will shortly be visited with the most severe punishments. Some interpreters think this to be spoken by God. I disagree. I think       this was spoken by the prophet.

Jer. 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. (KJV)

And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies . . . bend, as bows are usually kneeled or trod upon when they are bent (Jer.50:14; 51:3). Like their bow . . . their tongues are here compared to a bow, and their lies to arrows, for as a bow shoots arrows, so does the tongue words (Ps.64:3). For lies . . . all dangerous, false and poisonous words, that damage one another; and preparing and planning mischief which they vent with their tongues (Ps.52:2-4; 64:3), as bending prepares the bow to perform with the arrow, so does the tongue perform with lies!
But they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth . . . they are not brave for truth, equity and justice . . . they are as eager only in the ways of falsehood as men engaged in war, but show no bravery in maintaining the truth. Upon the earth . . . no truth in them,  they have no courage for what is good.
For they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD . . . they go from one evil to another evil . . . they go on from bad to worse (2 Tim.3:13), which reveals little hope of their repentance. Their not knowing God (Jdg.2:10-11; 1 Sam.2:12). The heart cannot work for God when there are cruel doubts about Him.

Jer. 9:4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. (KJV)

Take ye heed every one of his neighbor . . . beware of friend or companion (2 Sam.16:17), showing that general corruption will be so wicked, that one friend will betray another.
And trust ye not in any brother . . . brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents (Mal.2:10; Mat.10:21; Mk.13:12).
For every brother will utterly supplant . . . will utterly unseat, or tread down, trampling them under their feet, stating their oppression, which they use in all manner of ways, by fraud and force, like what Esau did to Jacob (Gen.27:36). Not only those that are near in neighborhoods and friendships; but near in relation, for even a brother will turn against brother, there was no respect to blood, stating them to be monstrous in nature. The word is here in allusion to Jacob, who had his name from supplanting; a symbol taken from the sole of the foot (Gen.25:26).
And every neighbour will walk with slanders . . . carry tales and reports, whether true or false, to disturb the peace of neighborhood (Jer.6:28), and against the law of God (Lev.19:16).

Jer. 9:5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. (KJV)

And they will deceive every one his neighbour . . . they will deceive, mock or ridicule; they are scoffers.
And will not speak the truth . . . they spoke lies so long, that they no longer know how to speak the truth.
They have taught their tongue to speak lies . . . their tongues have become so accustomed to falsehoods, that lying is so at home with it, that they cannot leave it. The same word is applied to the wild ass, used or taught in the wilderness (Jer.2:24; 13:23).
And weary themselves to commit iniquity . . . they go to a lot of work and persistence in it (Ps.7:14; Isa.5:18). They spare no labor and feel never feel tired, and so have become experts in sin. Dear one, there are many experts in sin in our world today! BEWARE!!! Do not become one of them.

Jer. 9:6 Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. (KJV)

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit . . . God speaks to the prophet, to inform him that there is no hope of this people's restoration (Jer.8:5). He states they are a deceitful people, and there is nothing among them but deceit one to another, and hypocrisy towards God (Ps.109:2), and vanity for vain men (Job 35:13). God cautions and advises him how to behave among such a people, so that he be very wary that he not be ensnared by them (Jer.12:6).
Through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD . . . these people refuse to know God, like so many in our world today! They are not concerned about turning to God (Jer.8:5); for they listen to their false prophets who have continually deceived them. They stubbornly reject God’s ways and His counsels (Ps.36:1-4; 82:5) . . . just as today!

Jer. 9:7 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? (KJV)

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them . . . God shall try them, the same symbol used Jer.6:29. God will always see what lesser afflictions will do before He utterly destroy them. He will bring judgment upon them, the fire and fury of the Chaldeans, that shall clear away their dross from among them, and purge away the deceits in which they trust, that the fire remnant may be purified (Dan.11:35); as when the dross is separated from metals, the rest remains pure (Isa.1:25).
For how shall I do for the daughter of my people? . . . there is no remedy, He had tried all other ways, and they all were unsuccessful. They had grown to such a height of impiety, that I can do no less, as though they are any people (Hos.6:4). God disagrees with them, how can they expect that He would treat them otherwise, for they had so provoked Him. Their impieties had brought so much dishonor to God.

Jer. 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. (KJV)

Their tongue is as an arrow shot out . . . in Jer.9:3, it was compared to a bow, ready, and here to an arrow shot out, actually executing what they have planned (Ps.11:2). Some translate it a murdering arrow.
One speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth . . . speaking deceit; never speaking what they really mean, so they may easier deceive the trusting; a double tongue, speaking fairly when they mean to destroy (Ps.55:21) . . . intending to do the worst damage when they speak as though caring and honest.
But in heart he layeth his wait . . . their mouths speak exactly opposite of what is in their hearts. All their hearts plot wickedness!

Jeremiah Justifies God in the Destruction (Jer. 9:9-16)

Jer. 9:9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? (KJV)

My comment on this: Jer.5:9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? (KJV) . . . also Jer. 5:29, which repeats the same.

Jer. 9:10 For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone. (KJV)

For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing . . . I will weep for the mountains, that were once cultivated and fruitful, and the hillsides that were once cultivated, for they are now desolate and empty of life.
And for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation . . . habitations means pleasant pastures, Jeremiah would wail for the wilderness pastures, for the lowing of cattle is heard no more; the birds and wild animals have all fled. Wilderness here means not a barren desert, but an untilled plain, fit for pasture.
Because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them . . . burned up because no one waters them, the inhabitants being all gone.
none can pass through them—much less inhabit them.
Neither can men hear the voice of the cattle . . . the lowing of the cattle is not heard, for they all are gone.
Both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone . . . all the birds of the sky and the beasts of the fields have fled; they are gone (Jer.4:25).

*****The prophet having, taken up a lamentation for the slaughter of the people (Jer.9:1), now takes it up for the desolation of the whole land, for every part of it shall be laid waste (Jer.4:23, 26). It sets forth the greatness of his grief, which seems to reach to the very mountains. The cause of this mourning, was for the birds and beasts of the wilderness. The country of Judea is mountainous, the plains and valleys were their main places for pasture, which greatly suffered the devastation. These shall be burnt up, the pastures so burnt that it shall be left utterly barren. The mountains will not be able to protect them, nor the valleys to feed them. None can pass through them because of the desolation; being so parched and wasted that none can pass through (Jer.2:6). Neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; there, where once all kinds of cattle and birds in great numbers were used to feed and graze. Now, there is not so much as the chirping of a bird, the bleating of a sheep or lowing of an ox to be heard (Jer.23:10-12; 50:3). They are said to have fled. The enemy had swept them all away, or they have abandoned the land because there was no food (Jer.12:4). A symbolic expression of universal desolation.

Jer. 9:11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. (KJV)

And I will make Jerusalem heaps . . . heaps of stones and rubbish.
And a den of dragons . . . stating a desolate place, no longer fit for the habitation of man, but a place for dreadful beasts; as they had made use of the Temple for a den of thieves (Jer.7:11).
And I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant . . . the LORD also threatens the same on Babylon herself later (Jer.51:37).

Jer. 9:12 Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through? (KJV)

Who is the wise man, that may understand this? . . . the basis of all these evils? Is there not a wise man among you, that will concern himself and search for the cause of all these threatened judgments, which has provoked God to such great displeasure? (Hos.14:9). It is a question that indicates there is none, or very few, that ever consider common calamities and in the causes of them; but instead say of judgments, it is a chance (1 Sam.6:9).
And who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it . . . it is to His prophet alone that God has revealed these things, and the speedy fulfillment of the predictions will show that the prophet has not spoken of himself.
For what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through? . . . the land is ruined, laid waste like a desert, so no one dares pass through.

Jer. 9:13 And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; (KJV)

This and the next verse refer to verse 12, because none can give the reason why the land will perish, therefore God will give the reason! Jer. 5:19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours. (KJV)
They had forsaken God’s Law; charging them with their apostasy, and refusing to obey His rules, which He had set before them. So none could plead they did not understand, so He tells them He had made it quite plain to them . . . they could not be ignorant of it, except out of willfulness and stubbornness (Deut.11:32).

Jer. 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: (KJV)

But have walked after the imagination of their own heart . . . thoughts of stubbornness and inflexibility (Jer.7:24).
And after Baalim, which their fathers taught them . . . Baalim (Jer.2:23). The prophet does not charge them with new crimes, but with their persistent stand on their idolatry.
Which their fathers taught them . . . (Jer.7:18). It seems they might partly thank their schooling for it, in addition to their own natural perverseness.

Jer. 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. (KJV)

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel . . . when God speaks, we should listen! Do you let God speak to you through His Holy Word?
Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink . . . this ‘food’ shows that it is spoken forcefully, even though they were a people that believe to be God’s  peculiar people (Ex.19:5; Deut.14:2; 26:18). Wormwood is some sort of poisonous plant, which could be any other destructive herb as well as wormwood (Deut.29:18).

Jer. 9:16 I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them. (KJV)

I will scatter them also among the heathen . . . you shall wander up and down among strangers, you shall have no friend but be sold as slaves from person to person.
Whom neither they nor their fathers have known . . . part of the curse threatened (Deut. 28:64).
And I will send a sword after them . . . God will follow them with the sword until they are destroyed; probably means that those that might escape out of Jerusalem, and flee into Egypt, the Chaldeans would pursue them there, and either take or kill them there.  
Till I have consumed them . . . those who were appointed for destruction; a full end was not to be made, as is promised (Jer.5:10).

He Calls Upon Others to Bewail the Woeful Case of Judah and Jerusalem (Jer. 9:17-22)

Jer. 9:17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come: (KJV)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts . . . when the LORD speaks, we had better listen!
Consider ye, and call for the mourning women . . . how sad a condition they are in and what conditions they are under; so he puts them upon mourning and bewailing their condition. The mourning, mainly women, as more suitable for passions in this kind (2 Chron.35:25); whose work it was, either to compose funeral songs in praise of the dead, and to act in some mournful way, such as tearing their hair, and beating their breasts, and to sing in some sad tone, to incite and excite both passions and expressions of grief in the friends of the deceased
And send for cunning women, that they may come . . . women that are most skillful in it (Am.5:16). Wisdom is taken for skill in many ways (Ex.31:3; 35:31).

Jer. 9:18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. (KJV)

And let them make haste . . . in calling for their artificial mourners he indicated the greatness of the misery that was coming upon them.
And take up a wailing for us . . . assume some form of mourning that is suitable to our condition.
That our eyes may run down with tears . . . that our eyes flow with waters, and yet it is too little to grieve over the immensity of the judgment (Jer.9:1).
And our eyelids gush out with waters . . .  Jeremiah here indicates that they were so stupid as to hear the prophets condemning their judgments with dry eyes, although he wished that they had instead, fountains of tears.

Jer. 9:19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out. (KJV)

For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion . . . is heard out of Zion, Jerusalem . . . spoken in the present tense, as was the prophetic style, being a common way of the prophet's expressing the certainty of a thing.
How are we spoiled! . . . how great is our misery! Why is it that we are in such a desolate condition? This may be the real sense of the artificial mourners, now that it is too late.
We are greatly confounded . . . this could be the complaint of the country people forced to flee from their habitation to Jerusalem for shelter, and of Jerusalem itself.
Because we have forsaken the land . . . for they could expect no less. , it filled them with great consternation, that they who thought their houses should have continued for ever, because of God's promise, Ps 132:10, &c., must now forsake them,
Because our dwellings have cast us out . . . either they were carried out into captivity, or they were utterly ruined by the enemy (Lev.18:25; 20:22).

Jer. 9:20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation. (KJV)

Yet hear the word of the LORD . . . yet, calls for attention to what follows . . . hear the Word of the LORD, do not think I speak words out of my own mind, but what I speak is from the LORD.
O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth . . . either the hired women mentioned before, or the women of the land. The LORD wanted a real mourning; and He mentions women, (1). to rebuke the men of their stupidity, (2). as being more apt to grieve, and (3). because of the lack there would be of men. ,
And teach your daughters wailing . . . teach your daughters to wail, because there will be so many deaths that there will be a lack of mourning women to grieve for them.
And every one her neighbour lamentation . . . teach her neighbor, so that the grief might spread further, and become deeper; for affections and passions, of whatever kind, are increased by company. This states just how large and universal the mourning shall be (Am.5:16; Mic.1:8; 2:4).

Jer. 9:21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. (KJV)

For death is come up into our windows . . . death is come up; the unavoidable ruin is expressed symbolically (Eze.21:14; Jer.6:5), and most likely referring to the violent and universal storming of a city (Jer.5:10), where there is no respect to age, sex or youth.
And is entered into our palaces . . . the Chaldeans here is symbolized by death, as bringing death wherever they come.
To cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets . . . To cut off the children from without; no anywhere! The enemy shall cut off all, not only those at home, but even those that are at play in the streets, which most commonly where young men and children are (Jer.6:11, 13).

Jer. 9:22 Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them. (KJV)

Speak, Thus saith the Lord . . . in case they should think these things would never be, Jeremiah was supposed to keep telling them what God had told him to say. Tell them that what God promised, would absolutely come to pass.
Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field . . . the dead bodies shall fall as dung upon the open field as Jezebel was (2 Ki.9:37), exposed to all disrespect and humiliation, strewed upon the face of the Earth, and be very unpleasant by their stink to all that pass by (Jer.44:12).
And as the handful after the harvestman . . . either laid in heaps by death, as the harvestman does his hay or sheaves of corn; which either lie on the ground, and are eaten by birds, or trod to dirt by beasts. For that reason God would pour contempt upon them, which must be grievous to such a proud people as the Jews were.
And none shall gather them . . . there shall be no compassion or respect shown to them, as to deserve burial (Jer.8:2; 16:4; 22:19).

Vanity of Trusting in Any Thing but God Alone (Jer. 9:23-26)

Jer. 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: (KJV)

Thus saith the LORD . . . found in 150 verses in Jeremiah.
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom . . . the Jews did glory in the counsel of their wise men,
Neither let the mighty man glory in his might . . . and they gloried in the strength of their soldiers (Ps.33:16-17; Ec.9:11).
Let not the rich man glory in his riches . . . nor their wealth or riches (Pro. 11:4; Eze. 7:19), no amount of riches would be able to deliver them from being either destroyed or carried captive by the Chaldeans. Riches cause some of these to put their confidence and trust there, and neglect God Who is their only support in troubled times.

Jer. 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (KJV)

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me . . . when we understand God, we correctly see His nature, and when we know God, we know and understand God as to trust in Him and depend on Him alone in all conditions.
That I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth . . . the LORD always exercises loving-kindness, judgment and righteousness in the Earth. Kindness relates to God’s own people (Ps.5:12); judgment refers God’s punishing the wicked; righteousness means that God always deals honestly and uprightly with both (Ps.92:15). I think the meaning here is to show God's orderly governing of things in the world, seeing that all things are right and equal.
For in these things I delight, saith the LORD . . . in these things God does delight. Psalm 11:7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. (KJV)

*****Jer. 9:23-24 are two wonderful verses of Scripture. They can stand alone and are often quoted alone, but must remember that they were spoken to a people who had rejected the Word of God.
As a nation today, what are the things that we glory in? Clearly, the vast majority trusts more in human wisdom, in riches and in power. We need to remember that our strength is NOT in the wisdom in Washington, which seems to be waning more with each passing day.
Our strength does not come from the shrewdness of politicians. Our strength is not found in nuclear weapons. Any strength that we have must come from our spiritual values, our moral values and our character. These things are NOT taught in our schools today. This new generation is rude, immoral and vulgar. People seem to forget that there is a God! They have lost their way . . . as Jeremiah told his people. America is simply coasting, and when you coasting, you are going downhill. BEWARE!!!
I know it is not at all popular to say these things, but it is truth. I know I will not make any friends, and I am sure that I will not influence people . . . but neither did Jeremiah. I will take my stand with him, because I, like him, must bring the Truth.
Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me . . . the great need in this country today is a return to God. We need to set aside our hypocrisy and our delusion that we are so smart. What we really need is to walk in a way that will glorify God.

Jer. 9:25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; (KJV)

That I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised . . . I will punish all which are circumcised (Jews), by the uncircumcised Babylonians.

Do not think to insist upon your external privilege of circumcision, that you are Abraham's natural seed, and thereby distinguished from other nations, as you sometimes were wont to do of the temple, that you had God in the midst of you. Do not think that shall privilege you: for you shall see it shall not be long ere I bring the Chaldeans upon those other nations, which either are circumcised in the flesh as well as you, and upon you also, who are uncircumcised in heart as well as they: or whether circumcision was lost, as being cast off by them, and so they were indeed uncircumcised; God tells them they shall fare alike: hence in the next verse he ranks Judah next to Egypt among the other uncircumcised nations; for he looks to the circumcision of the heart, not of the body; to inward worship, not outward only; therefore some read it the circumcised in uncirumcision.

Jer. 9:26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart. (KJV)

Chapter 10 will conclude Jeremiah's message in the gate of the LORD'S House, and it begins a division (chapters 10-12) of reform and revival after finding the Book of the Law.
When the Book of Law was found, it had a remarkable effect on King Josiah. He realized just how far the people had fallen away from what God had intended for them. It so moved the king, making a tremendous change in him. He brought his people into a covenant with God that they would serve Him.

SPECIAL COMMENTS

What the Bible says about “knowing God”:

Jer. 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (KJV)

Jer. 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (KJV)

Jer. 31:33-34 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (KJV)

Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. (KJV)

Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (KJV)  

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV)

Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (KJV)  

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (KJV)  

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (KJV)  

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV)  

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)  

Romans 8:38-39  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (KJV)

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)  

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (KJV)  

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (KJV)

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (KJV)  

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (KJV)  

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (KJV)  

1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (KJV)  

1 John 4:6-7  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (KJV)

Book of Jeremiah

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