What is the meaning of Jeremiah 17:5? This is what the LORD says • The opening reminds us that the words come directly from the covenant-keeping God, not human opinion (Isaiah 1:2; Amos 3:8). • Because the LORD speaks, the statement carries absolute authority. Scripture repeatedly affirms, “The word of the LORD endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25). • When God declares something, it is settled reality—not suggestion. His pronouncements bless or judge with unerring certainty (Numbers 23:19). Cursed is the man • “Cursed” is the opposite of blessed (Deuteronomy 30:19). God Himself pronounces a negative verdict on the person described. • This is not mere misfortune; it is divine judgment—life lived under God’s disfavor (Malachi 2:2). • The contrast will appear two verses later: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:7). who trusts in mankind • Trust is where the heart leans. To lean on people first, rather than on God, invites trouble (Psalm 146:3; Isaiah 2:22). • Scripture shows repeated examples of leaders relying on alliances instead of the LORD—King Asa with Syria (2 Chronicles 16:1-9) or Judah with Egypt (Isaiah 31:1). Each time, disappointment followed. • Human wisdom and power are limited, fractured by sin, and ultimately unable to save (1 Corinthians 1:25). who makes mere flesh his strength • “Flesh” highlights frailty (Psalm 103:14). Depending on muscles, money, armies, or intellect can look impressive yet fails the moment God withdraws His favor (Psalm 20:7-8). • Gideon’s reduced army (Judges 7) and David’s victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-47) both illustrate how divine strength, not human prowess, wins the battle. • The apostle Paul echoes the lesson: “When I am weak, then I am strong” because Christ’s power rests on him (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). and turns his heart from the LORD • Trusting people over God is ultimately a heart issue—spiritual adultery (Jeremiah 2:13). • The heart that shifts away from God soon drifts into disobedience, as seen in King Solomon’s later years (1 Kings 11:4). • Jesus warns, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24); every rival trust pushes the heart off its true center. • A turned heart grows callous, making repentance harder (Hebrews 3:12-13). summary Jeremiah 17:5 draws a sharp dividing line: leaning on human resources brings a divine curse because it signals a heart that has shifted away from God. The LORD alone deserves absolute trust, and any confidence placed first in people, systems, or self invites His judgment. Blessedness lies in wholehearted reliance on the LORD, who never fails. |
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