Study Desk

The people in the towns of Judah and in the city of Jerusalem will go and pray to their idols for help. They burn incense to those idols. But their idols will not be able to help the people of Judah when that terrible disaster comes.

"As for you, Jeremiah, don't pray for these people of Judah. Don't beg for them. Don't say prayers for them. I will not listen. They will suffer and then call to me for help, but I will not listen.

"Judah is the one I love, but why is she in my temple? She has done too many evil things. Judah, do you think vows and sacrifices will keep you from being destroyed? Will I then allow you to enjoy your evil ways?"

The Lord gave you a name. He called you, "A green olive tree, beautiful to look at." But with a powerful storm, he will set that tree on fire, and its branches will be burned up.

Lord , if I argue with you, you are always right. But I want to ask you about some things that don't seem right. Why are wicked people successful? Why do people you cannot trust have such easy lives?

You have put these wicked people here like plants with strong roots. They grow and produce fruit. With their mouths they say that you are near and dear to them, but in their hearts they are really far away from you.

But you know my heart, Lord . You see me and test my mind. Drag the evil people away like sheep to be killed. Choose them for the day of slaughter.

How much longer will the land be dry? How long will the grass be dry and dead? The birds and the animals of this land have all died, and it is the fault of the wicked. But they are saying, "Jeremiah will not live long enough to see what happens to us."

The people will plant wheat, but they will harvest only thorns. They will work hard until they are very tired, but they will get nothing for all their work. They will be ashamed of their crop. The Lord 's anger caused this."

But after I pull them up out of their land, I will feel sorry for them. I will bring each family back to its own property and to its own land.

But if a nation does not listen to my message, I will completely destroy it. I will pull it up like a dead plant." This message is from the Lord .

So I went to Perath and dug the loincloth out of the crack in the rocks where I had hidden it. But now I could not wear the loincloth, because it was ruined. It was not good for anything.

A loincloth is wrapped tightly around a man's waist. In the same way, I wrapped the family of Israel and the family of Judah around me." This message is from the Lord . "I did that so that they would be my people and bring me fame, praise, and honor. But my people did not listen to me."

Honor the Lord your God. Praise him or he will bring darkness. Praise him before you fall on the dark hills. You people of Judah are hoping for light, but the Lord will turn the light into thick darkness. He will change it into the deepest gloom.

The leaders of the people send their servants to get water. The servants go to the water storage places, but they don't find any water. The servants come back with empty jars, so they are ashamed and embarrassed. They cover their heads from shame.

Wild donkeys stand on the bare hills. They sniff the wind like jackals. But their eyes cannot find any food, because there are no plants to eat.

God, you are the hope of Israel! You save Israel in times of trouble. But now it seems like you are a stranger in the land, like a traveler who only stays one night.

You seem like a man who has been attacked by surprise, like a soldier who does not have the power to save anyone. But, Lord , you are with us. We are called by your name, so don't leave us without help!"

They might begin to fast and pray to me, but I will not listen to their prayers. Even if they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings to me, I will not accept them. I will destroy the people of Judah with war. I will take away their food, and they will starve. And I will destroy them with terrible diseases."

But I said, "Lord God , the prophets were telling the people something different. They were telling the people of Judah, ‘You will not suffer from war or from hunger. The Lord will give you peace in this land.'"