What is the meaning of Jeremiah 25:4? And the LORD has sent The verse opens by stressing God’s initiative. He did not wait for Judah to grope after Him; He reached out first, just as He did earlier in 2 Chronicles 36:15, “The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had compassion on His people.” • God’s sending underscores His covenant faithfulness. • It reminds us that every prophetic word is a gracious act, much like Hebrews 1:1, where God “spoke to our fathers by the prophets.” all His servants the prophets “Servants” highlights their obedience; “prophets” identifies their God-given office (Amos 3:7). • From Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10) through Jeremiah, the Lord employed many voices, yet one message: turn back to Him. • Jesus later recognizes this prophetic chain in Luke 11:49, showing continuity between the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament proclamation. to you The message was personal and corporate—aimed at Judah, not distant nations. Jeremiah 7:25 makes the same point: “Day after day, again and again, I sent you My servants the prophets.” • Revelation 3:20 pictures a similar personal address when Christ knocks on the door, calling individuals and communities alike. • God’s Word still comes “to you” today, confronting and inviting. again and again The Hebrew construction (literally “rising early and sending”) paints God as the eager teacher arriving before dawn (2 Chronicles 36:15). • It shows His patience (2 Peter 3:9). • It exposes Judah’s mounting guilt, because each new prophetic visit increased their accountability (Matthew 11:20-24). but you have not listened This tragic refrain echoes throughout Jeremiah (e.g., 26:5). • Refusal to listen is not a passive slip; it is active rebellion (Isaiah 6:9-10; Acts 28:26-27). • Unbelief always has moral roots; hearts close long before ears do (Hebrews 3:7-8). or inclined your ear to hear “Inclining the ear” pictures deliberate attentiveness (Proverbs 2:2). • Judah kept the prophets at arm’s length, unlike the Bereans who “received the message with great eagerness” (Acts 17:11). • True hearing means obedience (James 1:22) and is repeatedly urged by Jesus: “He who has an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 2:7). summary Jeremiah 25:4 reveals both God’s persistent mercy and Judah’s obstinate refusal. The Lord tirelessly dispatched His prophets—His loyal servants—with clear, personal appeals. Yet the people would not bend an ear or a knee. The verse therefore stands as a sober reminder: God speaks faithfully and repeatedly, but He will not force anyone to heed. Blessing or judgment hinges on one simple response—will we listen? |
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