What parallels exist between Jeremiah 5:30 and current societal moral failures? The verse “ ‘A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land.’ ” (Jeremiah 5:30) The scene in Jeremiah’s day • The nation had God’s law yet chose idolatry, injustice, and immorality. • Prophets and priests traded truth for popularity (v. 31). • The people applauded the deception because it let them sin without guilt. Language to notice • “Horrible” (Hebrew shammah) – something ruinous, desolating, appalling. • “Shocking” (Hebrew sha‛arurrah) – utterly astounding, out-of-bounds evil. Jeremiah is saying, “This isn’t a minor slip; it is a moral earthquake.” Parallels in today’s culture Moral inversion • Right is labeled wrong, and wrong is celebrated as liberation (Isaiah 5:20). • Entertainment normalizes violence, greed, and sexual sin (Ephesians 5:12). Discarding God’s design for life • The unborn are treated as expendable (Proverbs 6:16-17). • Marriage is redefined or abandoned (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4). Religious corruption • Teachers adjust the gospel to fit cultural tastes (2 Timothy 4:3-4). • Some pulpits avoid repentance, preferring self-help slogans (Jeremiah 6:14). Authority without accountability • Leaders govern “by their own authority” (v. 31), ignoring Scripture’s limits (Psalm 2:3). • Courts, schools, and corporations pass rules that contradict God’s law (Acts 4:18-19). People loving the lie • Social media echo chambers reward whatever pleases the crowd (John 12:43). • Many prefer comfortable myths to convicting truth (Romans 1:25). Why these parallels matter Consequences are inevitable • “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.” (Galatians 6:7) • National sin invites national judgment (Jeremiah 18:7-10). The remnant must stay distinct • “Come out from among them and be separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) • “Be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked generation.” (Philippians 2:15) There is still hope in Christ • God’s call to repent remains open (2 Chronicles 7:14). • His truth sets free when believed and obeyed (John 8:31-32). Jeremiah’s cry exposes a recurring pattern: when truth is silenced, society unravels. Our generation stands at the same crossroads, and the remedy is unchanged—return to the Lord, honor His Word, and live it out. |
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