What is the meaning of Jeremiah 35:13? This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: - The title “LORD of Hosts” highlights God’s supreme command over every power, earthly or heavenly (1 Samuel 17:45; Isaiah 6:3). - Calling Him “the God of Israel” reminds the people of the covenant He established with their forefathers (Exodus 3:15; Deuteronomy 7:9). - Because His words carry absolute authority, they can never be set aside (Numbers 23:19; Matthew 24:35). - By opening the verse this way, the Lord underscores that what follows is not Jeremiah’s opinion but divine, unchangeable truth (Jeremiah 1:9; 2 Peter 1:21). Go and tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem: - God sends Jeremiah to the entire covenant community—leaders and common citizens alike—showing that accountability is universal (Jeremiah 11:6; 25:2). - The command “go and tell” echoes earlier prophetic missions, stressing that God never leaves His people without clear warning (2 Chronicles 24:19; Amos 3:7). - Judah and Jerusalem had experienced repeated calls to repentance, yet persisted in rebellion (Jeremiah 7:23–26; 29:19). This fresh directive demonstrates both God’s patience (2 Peter 3:9) and His resolve to confront sin (Nahum 1:3). - By addressing the capital city, the Lord targets the nation’s spiritual heart; if Jerusalem rejects the message, judgment will fall (Jeremiah 9:11; Lamentations 1:8). ‘Will you not accept discipline and obey My words?’ declares the LORD. - The question is rhetorical, exposing their stubborn refusal to heed correction (Jeremiah 6:16–17; Zephaniah 3:2). - “Accept discipline” points to God’s loving training of His children, meant to steer them back to life and blessing (Deuteronomy 8:5; Hebrews 12:5–6). - “Obey My words” anchors true worship in practical submission, not ritual alone (1 Samuel 15:22; James 1:22). - The wider chapter contrasts Judah’s disobedience with the Rechabites’ loyalty to their ancestor’s command (Jeremiah 35:5–10). If human tradition can be honored, how much more should divine instruction be obeyed (Luke 6:46)? - Refusing discipline invites judgment; accepting it leads to restoration (Proverbs 3:11–12; Jeremiah 24:5–7). summary Jeremiah 35:13 presents God’s authoritative challenge to His covenant people. The Lord, supreme over all hosts and faithful to Israel, commissions Jeremiah to confront Judah and Jerusalem with a simple yet piercing question: Why will you not yield to My loving correction and obey My clear words? Their resistance, contrasted with the obedience of the Rechabites, exposes hearts hardened against the very One who longs to bless them. The verse calls every reader to recognize God’s right to rule, to listen when He speaks, and to embrace His discipline as the path to life. |
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