JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 6 - "HEAR O EARTH"

JEREMIAH – Chapter - 6

Taught by:  Carolyn Sissom

February 9, 2021; September 30, 2008

“Hear O Earth’

This chapter "establishes the reality that God punishes nations by using conquering “other” nations. The “other nation” does not have to be moral or godly, but will face consequences for its aggression. This chapter also establishes a principle: God does not rescue a nation just because that nation has had his favor in the past or presents itself as being religious." (C. R. Oliver).

A few weeks ago, I saw in the spirit U.S. merchant ships were embargoed in our ports. Recently Robin Bullock gave the same warning. He charged the church to pray this does not happen. The Biden administration is weakening our national defenses so that this could happen as they continue to empower China and Iran.

Joe Biden announced yesterday that the United States will return to the anti-Israel UN Human Rights Council.  Donald J. Trump took us out of it.

The judgments and punishments meted out against Jerusalem are happening again in the same pattern as was meted out against Jerusalem.  It would appear that anyone should be able to recognize the persecution of the Church.  The closing down of churches, home groups, and small gatherings in 2020 accelerated.  The scrutiny of freedom of assembly and free speech signals the harbingers of accelerated persecution.

The new world order of the antichrist wants to obliterate not only the people, but their symbols and national standards (all of which are Israelitish).  While the world looks to the geographic state of Israel, attention is diverted from the truth that the Israel of God (Church) is under assault around the world.

Jer. 6: 1-5:  Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!  Flee from Jerusalem!  Sound the trumpet in Tekoa!  Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!  For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction.  I will destroy the Daughter of Zion, so beautiful and delicate.  Shepherds with their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around her, each of them tending his own portion. Prepare for battle against her! Arise, let us attack at noon!  But, alas, the daylight is fading, and the shadows of evening grow long.  So, arise, let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses!

The trumpet is sounded is a strategic call to battle.  The Benjamites are Jeremiah’s own people.  They are to flee to Tekoa which is approximately ten miles south of Jerusalem.  From Tekoa they could watch for the fire-signal from Beth Hakkerem, the highest hill between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

It is unusual for shepherds tending their flocks to be associated with destructive imagery, but the meaning is clear, leaders of shepherds will encamp around Jerusalem and exert their power against her.  The voices of these advancing shepherds are now heard calling for holy war.  This war against Jerusalem is sacred business.

The Benjamites ignored the warning. 

History reveals to us that Jeremiah carried the two daughters of King Zedekiah to Europe after the Judean King was blinded and his two sons were murdered by the Babylonians.  Zedekiah’s daughters escaped and eventually were married to Kings of two very different countries: Scota to Heber, soon to be the King of Spain and Tamar Tephi to the King of Ireland, thereby birthing true Israel into the bloodlines of European royalty.  (https://kingdomhereamerica.blogspot.com/2014/08/royal-house-of-judah-tea-tephi-in.html)  Both sisters are part of the blood line of Queen Elizabeth, II. 

Jer. 6: 6-9:  This is what the Lord Almighty says:  Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem.  This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression.  As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness.  Violence and destruction resound in her; her sickness and wounds are ever before me.  Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make your land desolate so no one can live in it. This is what the Lord Almighty says:  Let them glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine; pass your hand over the branches again, like one gathering grapes.

The Lord gives the directive for battle.  The armies from the north are only carrying out his bidding.  Even the mighty and murderous Nebuchadnezzar functions as his servant. 

Wickedness flows out like water.  The city could be almost any city in the United States or in the world. 

It is God who is calling for a careful gleaning for a sifting and judging of the Israelite survivors.  Even the remnant is deaf to the prophetic warning.  The word of the LORD was offensive to them.  We are now in a time, when many in the church are deaf to the prophetic warnings. 

6: 10-15: To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear?  Behold their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.  But I am full of the wrath of the LORD, and I cannot hold it in.  Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years.  Their houses will be turned over to others, together with their fields and their wives, when I stretch out my hand against those who live in the land, says the LORD.  From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.  Were they ashamed when they had committed abominations? Nay, they were not all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore, they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, says the Lord.”

C. R. Oliver writes, “Just where would one go to deliver Jeremiah’s message today” What arena would tolerate such indictments?”

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you have chosen these precious saints who are gathered here today to be that arena.  We do not deliver this word lightly, nor do we gather around your word without knowing we are accountable for that word.

"Rather than God's people delighting in His WORD, through His prophet, it has become an 'object of scorn' to them. Jeremiah says, ' "the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long “(Jer. 28b). Church, many prophets are walking in this place of being mocked and scorned. The first drop of blood that fell from the Cross of Jesus fell on the spirit of scorn and mocking.

Jeremiah desperately wants to shut down the message of judgment and no longer deliver such a distressing and disturbing word, but he cannot hold it in.  He declares, “I am full of the wrath of the Lord.”

Ultimately, it is the prophets and priests who are primarily to blame for the sinful condition of the people, they did not expose their sin to ward off their captivity.  They are saying, peace, peace, when there is no peace.  “All is well, all is well when nothing is well.” 

The people do not know how to be ashamed.  When confronted with their sin, they do not even know how to blush. 

Jer. 6: 16-23: This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.  But you said, “We will not walk in it. I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.  But they said, we will not hearken.” HEAR O EARTH; behold I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.  What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land?  Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.  Therefore, this is what the Lord says; I will put obstacles before this people.  Fathers and sons alike will stumble over them; neighbors and friends will perish.  This is what the Lord says: Look an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is being stirred up from the ends of the earth.  They are armed with bow and spear; they are cruel and show no mercy.  They sound like the roaring sea as they ride on their horses; they come like men in battle formation to attack you, O’ Daughter of Zion.

It is the pride and vanity of man to make their worship and offerings to be seen my men when the Lord looks on the heart and desires the purity of love and obedience.  The incense and offerings of godless people are unacceptable to God.

The description of the Babylonian army (the Destroyer under Nebuchadnezzar) is so terrible that it is described as terror on every side.  Jeremiah was well aware of his role as a “fire” to the nation.  Regardless of how many warnings have been scorned by the people, it remains the prophet’s job to warn yet again and to plead with them to cry aloud in the light of the coming disaster.

Jer. 6:24-26:  We have heard reports about them, and our hands hang limp.  Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.  Do not go out to the fields or walk on the roads, for the enemy has a sword, and there is terror on every side.  O’ my people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes; mourn with bitter wailing as for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.

Weeping and wailing is the only response a people can have to this level of death and destruction.  Ginny Bell blessed me Sunday night.  She was reading a section of a book about judgment of our nation, and she said a deep, silent, intercession rose up in her of travail for our nation. 

6:27:  I have set you for a tower and a fortress among my people that you may know and try their way.  They are all grievous revolters; walking with slanders; they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

On translation read:  I have made you a tester of metals and my people the ore, that you may observe and test their ways. They are hardened rebels, going about to slander.  They are bronze and iron; they all act corruptly.  The bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining goes on in vain; the wicked are not purged out.  They are called rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them.

In response to the prophet’s intercession, God created an additional order to his job description---that of assayer.  God told Jeremiah to be an assayer to evaluate the people.  Let those determinations be applied to the church and one will hear the sobbing of the assayer!  Who will fill this job today?  Who will testify of his findings?  We need government leaders and ministers of the gospel to be assayers.

Their refusal, however means that the process is not completed and the people are rejected silver, and as such, are rejected by the great Assayer.

(30) Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord has rejected them”.

“The prophetic message and messenger will always reveal what is in the hearts of God’s people, purifying and refining them, testing their loyalty and obedience.  How will they respond to prophetic rebuke?  How will they answer the call to repentance? The fire of God’s word will bring the impurities to the surface, separating the humble from the haughty” (Michael L. Brown).   

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.

I entered into the labors of Dr. C. R. Oliver, The Road to Captivity; Jeremiah, Michael L. Brown; F. F. Bruce Bible Commentary; Kelly Varner, Principles of Present Truth, Jeremiah; Carolyn Sissom Bible Study notes from 2008.  Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I have entered into their labors.