Jeremiah 13:21
What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail? What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?
The question is the voice of the Chief Shepherd demanding an account of the flock entrusted to each person, asking what will be said when visited with punishment for failing that trust. Every soul has been given a beautiful flock, and each one will be called to answer for that stewardship in judgment. That flock is the perishing souls around each person, including millions bound in ignorance and sin who have never heard of Christ's love. Toward them there is a solemn obligation to do what one would desire in his place if he were in their place.
To teach them to be captains and chief is to teach the people to follow corrupt rulers who then rule over them, leading them away from truth and right. Those who should lead and care for others instead help place others in authority over them, with the result that the flock is carried away captive and scattered. The sorrows that seize like a woman in travail are sudden, overwhelming anguish and grief overtaking those punished.
The failure bringing that punishment is caring only for self and drifting along thinking of self instead of working for Christ. It is forbearing to deliver souls, failing to seek them and bring them to Jesus. When punishment comes the plea of ignorance will be no excuse. In the great judgment day those who neglected their stewardship will be placed with those who did evil and receive the same condemnation.
The punishment falls also on those who let leaders take authority over them and lead them away, including those who recognize the truth yet follow leaders for fear of losing their position. The same warning holds a nation, its people, and its lawmakers accountable for tolerating the liquor traffic and failing to rescue those being destroyed by intemperance. Accountability requires arousing the people to the evil of drink, making the danger plain, working to stop the sale of drugged liquors that make men mad, creating public sentiment demanding prohibition, giving drink-enslaved and drink-maddened men opportunity to escape bondage, and demanding that lawmakers put a stop to the infamous, destructive traffic that enslaves and endangers others.