How does Jeremiah 5:28 describe the moral state of the people? “They have grown fat and sleek. They surpass the deeds of the wicked; they do not plead the cause of the fatherless, and they do not defend the rights of the poor.” What the Verse Reveals • Self-indulgence – “grown fat and sleek” pictures a people pampered and comfortable, feeding every appetite while ignoring God’s standards (cf. Deuteronomy 32:15). • Advanced in evil – “surpass the deeds of the wicked” shows moral decline that is not accidental but perfected. Sin has become an art form. • Neglect of justice – no care for “the fatherless” or “the poor,” the very ones God repeatedly commands His people to protect (Exodus 22:22-24; Isaiah 1:17). • Callous prosperity – they “surpass” and still “prosper,” revealing hearts hardened by success and wealth (Psalm 73:7-8). A Closer Look at Their Failures 1. Social selfishness – Refuse to plead the cause of the orphan – Ignore the rights of the poor 2. Spiritual apathy – Comfort has replaced covenant faithfulness – Sin no longer shocks; it is normalized 3. Ethical corruption – Justice is silenced when personal gain is at stake (Isaiah 10:1-2) Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 23:20-21 – warns how indulgence dulls discernment. • Micah 6:8 – contrasts God’s requirement “to do justice” with Judah’s neglect. • James 1:27 – true religion still demands care for the orphan and widow. The Moral Portrait Summarized – Glutted with self-interest – Expert in wrongdoing – Unmoved by the vulnerable – Materially thriving yet spiritually bankrupt Why It Still Matters When abundance and comfort numb a community, the slide into practiced evil and disregard for justice is swift. God’s Word remains literal and true: the measure of righteousness includes defending the helpless (Psalm 82:3-4). Where these marks are absent, the moral state is as Jeremiah described—fat, sleek, and far from God. |
    |