For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.
The verse belongs to the prophecies in Jeremiah 2-11, which some hold to have been written by Baruch after Jehoiakim burned the first scroll. It declares that both the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against the Lord. Their treachery lay in denying that the Lord would bring judgment and in rejecting the prophets and their message. It was refusal of His warnings and reproof through Jeremiah and persistence in pride instead of turning to Him. In answer God declares that judgment will come through the words He has spoken.
Jerusalem could have stood forever if the people had turned to God, regarded His law, and kept His Sabbath. Their refusal made its overthrow necessary. The Lord therefore appointed Nebuchadnezzar to come against them and destroy their city. He was to take them into captivity to serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.
The same principle holds now, that failure to obey instruction and warning brings God's judgment as public calamity. Those who fear God must openly acknowledge that judgment. They must repent and turn to Him.
The verse belongs to the prophecies in Jeremiah 2-11, which some hold to have been written by Baruch after Jehoiakim burned the first scroll. It declares that both the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against the Lord. Their treachery lay in denying that the Lord would bring judgment and in rejecting the prophets and their message. It was refusal of His warnings and reproof through Jeremiah and persistence in pride instead of turning to Him. In answer God declares that judgment will come through the words He has spoken.
Jerusalem could have stood forever if the people had turned to God, regarded His law, and kept His Sabbath. Their refusal made its overthrow necessary. The Lord therefore appointed Nebuchadnezzar to come against them and destroy their city. He was to take them into captivity to serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.
The same principle holds now, that failure to obey instruction and warning brings God's judgment as public calamity. Those who fear God must openly acknowledge that judgment. They must repent and turn to Him.