What is the meaning of Jeremiah 9:5? Each one betrays his friend Jeremiah paints a picture of a society so corrupted that even the closest human ties are fractured. Friendship, meant to mirror the loyalty we see in Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 20:17), has been devalued. Micah 7:5 echoes the same collapse: “Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion”. When betrayal becomes normal, the community loses one of its most basic reflections of God’s covenant faithfulness. The verse reminds us that: • Trust is a gift from God, but it can be squandered through sin. • Betrayal of a friend hints at betrayal of God Himself, just as Judas’s kiss of Jesus (Luke 22:48) exposed deeper spiritual treachery. • Real fellowship flourishes only when hearts are aligned with the Lord (Acts 2:42). no one tells the truth Truth is not merely an ethical ideal; it is anchored in the character of God, who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Yet Jeremiah sees a landscape devoid of honesty. Isaiah 59:4 laments the same: “No one calls for justice, nor does anyone plead for truth”. Paul later summarizes fallen humanity: “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). Consider: • When truth disappears, injustice thrives (Amos 5:12). • God’s people are called to be different: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). • A culture that rejects truth inevitably rejects the God who is Truth (John 14:6). They have taught their tongues to lie Lying here is not accidental—it’s practiced, rehearsed, and passed on. Psalm 52:2 describes this pattern: “Your tongue devises destruction; like a sharpened razor, you practice deceit”. James 3:6 warns that the tongue “sets the whole course of one’s life on fire.” Key takeaways: • A trained tongue reveals a trained heart—sinful behavior is learned and chosen (Romans 6:16). • Falsehood spreads generationally unless confronted (Exodus 34:7 contrasts God’s mercy with visited iniquity). • God calls for a re-training: “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech” (Psalm 34:13). they wear themselves out committing iniquity Sin is exhausting. Isaiah 5:18 pictures people “dragging iniquity with cords of falsehood.” Proverbs 4:16 adds, “They cannot sleep unless they do evil”. The irony: the effort poured into wrongdoing could have been spent pursuing righteousness and rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Notice: • Sin promises pleasure but delivers fatigue and bondage (Galatians 6:8). • The more one sins, the more energy it takes to maintain the facade (Psalm 32:3-4 shows David’s draining concealment). • Only repentance brings refreshment: “Repent… so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). summary Jeremiah 9:5 exposes a society where betrayal, dishonesty, practiced deceit, and tireless sin have become the norm. God’s Word holds a mirror to the human heart, revealing the devastation of rejecting His truth. Yet every warning implicitly invites return: trust can be restored, truth reclaimed, tongues retrained, and weary sinners revived—when they turn back to the God who is faithful, truthful, and ready to forgive. |
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