But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.'" But if you do not obey these wordsThis phrase sets a conditional statement, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commands. The Hebrew root for "obey" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which means to hear, listen, or give heed. In the biblical context, hearing is not merely auditory but involves a response of action and compliance. The phrase underscores the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where blessings are contingent upon obedience. Historically, Israel's failure to heed God's words often led to dire consequences, as seen in their repeated cycles of disobedience and repentance. I swear by Myself
This is a profound declaration of God's sovereignty and the seriousness of His promise. In the ancient Near Eastern context, oaths were often sworn by something greater than oneself. However, God, being the ultimate authority, swears by Himself, indicating the absolute certainty and unchangeable nature of His word. This self-referential oath highlights God's integrity and the weight of His declarations. It is a reminder of His unchanging nature and the assurance that His words are true and reliable. declares the LORD
The phrase "declares the LORD" is a common prophetic formula that authenticates the message as coming directly from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The Hebrew term "נְאֻם" (ne'um) is often used to convey a divine utterance, emphasizing that the message is not of human origin but divinely inspired. This serves to remind the audience of the authority and divine origin of the prophecy, calling for reverence and attention to the words spoken. that this house will become a ruin
The term "house" in this context refers to the royal palace or the temple, symbolizing the center of Judah's political and religious life. The Hebrew word "חָרְבָּה" (chorbah) for "ruin" conveys desolation and destruction. This warning is a direct consequence of disobedience, reflecting the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy. Archaeologically, the ruins of ancient Jerusalem stand as a testament to the fulfillment of such prophecies, where disobedience led to the Babylonian exile and the destruction of the temple. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commands and the importance of faithfulness to His covenant. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings, and he is known for his boldness and faithfulness in delivering God's word. 2. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is speaking through Jeremiah. He is portrayed as a just and righteous God who demands obedience from His people. 3. The HouseRefers to the royal palace of the king of Judah, and by extension, the kingdom itself. It symbolizes the leadership and the nation that is under threat of judgment due to disobedience. 4. JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, which is facing impending judgment due to its persistent disobedience and idolatry. 5. DesolationA state of utter ruin and abandonment, which is the consequence of the people's failure to heed God's warnings. Teaching Points The Seriousness of God's OathsGod swears by Himself, indicating the utmost seriousness and certainty of His declarations. This underscores the gravity of disobedience and the surety of its consequences. The Call to ObedienceObedience to God's word is non-negotiable. It is a central theme throughout Scripture and is directly linked to the well-being of individuals and nations. Consequences of DisobedienceThe warning of desolation serves as a stark reminder that turning away from God leads to ruin. This is a call to examine our lives and align them with God's commands. God's Desire for RelationshipDespite the warnings, God's ultimate desire is for His people to return to Him. His warnings are acts of grace, inviting repentance and restoration. The Role of ProphetsProphets like Jeremiah play a crucial role in communicating God's will. Their messages, though often challenging, are vital for guiding God's people back to Him. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of God swearing by Himself in Jeremiah 22:5 emphasize the seriousness of His message? 2. In what ways can we see the principles of obedience and disobedience from Jeremiah 22:5 reflected in our own lives today? 3. How do the consequences of disobedience outlined in Jeremiah 22:5 compare to those found in Deuteronomy 28? 4. What role do modern-day "prophets" or spiritual leaders play in guiding us toward obedience to God's word? 5. How can we ensure that our lives are built on the solid foundation of obedience to God's commands, as illustrated in Matthew 7:24-27? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 28This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, providing a backdrop for understanding the consequences mentioned in Jeremiah 22:5. 1 Samuel 15:22-23Highlights the importance of obedience over sacrifice, reinforcing the message that God values adherence to His commands above ritualistic practices. Isaiah 1:19-20Offers a similar choice between obedience leading to blessing and disobedience leading to destruction, echoing the themes found in Jeremiah. Matthew 7:24-27Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders underscores the importance of acting on God's words, paralleling the call to obedience in Jeremiah. People Babylonians, Coniah, David, Jehoiachin, Jehoiakim, Jeremiah, Josiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar, ShallumPlaces Abarim, Babylon, Bashan, Gilead, Jerusalem, LebanonTopics Affirmation, Commands, Declares, Desolation, Ear, Heed, Myself, Oath, Obey, Palace, Ruin, Says, Swear, Sworn, WasteDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 22:5 5508 ruins Jeremiah 22:1-6 5437 palaces Jeremiah 22:3-5 5743 widows
8791 oppression, nature of Jeremiah 22:4-5 8404 commands, in OT Jeremiah 22:4-9 1351 covenant, with David Jeremiah 22:5-7 8833 threats Library The Life of Mr. James Mitchel.
Mr. James Mitchel[152] was educated at the university of Edinburgh, and was, with some other of his fellow-students, made master of arts anno 1656. Mr. Robert Leighton (afterwards bishop Leighton), being then principal of that college, before the degree was conferred upon them, tendered to them the national and solemn league and covenant; which covenants, upon mature deliberation, he took, finding nothing in them but a short compend of the moral law, binding to our duty towards God and towards …
John Howie—Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies)Columban.
THE wild districts of Ireland were occupied with convents, after the example of Patrick, and cultivated by the hard labour of the monks. The Irish convents were distinguished by their strict Christian discipline, their diligence and their zeal in the study of the Scriptures, and of science in general, as far as they had the means of acquiring it. Irish monks brought learning from Britain and Gaul, they treasured up this learning and elaborated it in the solitude of the convent, and they are said …
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places "Hear the Word of the Lord, Ye Rulers of Sodom, Give Ear unto the Law of Our God, Ye People of Gomorrah,"
Isaiah i. 10, 11, &c.--"Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah," &c. It is strange to think what mercy is mixed with the most wrath like strokes and threatenings. There is no prophet whose office and commission is only for judgment, nay, to speak the truth, it is mercy that premises threatenings. The entering of the law, both in the commands and curses, is to make sin abound, that grace may superabound, so that both rods and threatenings …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning "If we Say that we have Fellowship with Him, and Walk in Darkness, we Lie,"
1 John i. 6.--"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie," &c. That which is the sum of religion, sincerity, and a correspondency between profession and practice, is confirmed by reason, and much strengthened by nature itself, so that religion, reason, and nature, conspire in one, to hold out the beauty and comeliness of sincerity, and to put a note and character of infamy and deformity upon all hypocrisy and deceit, especially in the matters of religion. There is …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Joy
'The fruit of the Spirit is joy.' Gal 5:52. The third fruit of justification, adoption, and sanctification, is joy in the Holy Ghost. Joy is setting the soul upon the top of a pinnacle - it is the cream of the sincere milk of the word. Spiritual joy is a sweet and delightful passion, arising from the apprehension and feeling of some good, whereby the soul is supported under present troubles, and fenced against future fear. I. It is a delightful passion. It is contrary to sorrow, which is a perturbation …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Two Classes.
"Two men went up into the temple to pray."--Luke xvii. 10. I now want to speak of two classes: First, those who do not feel their need of a Saviour who have not been convinced of sin by the Spirit; and Second, those who are convinced of sin and cry, "What must I do to be saved?" All inquirers can be ranged under two heads: they have either the spirit of the Pharisee, or the spirit of the publican. If a man having the spirit of the Pharisee comes into an after-meeting, I know of no better portion …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 "To what Purpose is the Multitude of Your Sacrifices unto Me? Saith the Lord,"
Isaiah i. 11.--"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord," &c. This is the word he calls them to hear and a strange word. Isaiah asks, What mean your sacrifices? God will not have them. I think the people would say in their own hearts, What means the prophet? What would the Lord be at? Do we anything but what he commanded us? Is he angry at us for obeying him? What means this word? Is he not repealing the statute and ordinance he had made in Israel? If he had reproved …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Jewish Homes
It may be safely asserted, that the grand distinction, which divided all mankind into Jews and Gentiles, was not only religious, but also social. However near the cities of the heathen to those of Israel, however frequent and close the intercourse between the two parties, no one could have entered a Jewish town or village without feeling, so to speak, in quite another world. The aspect of the streets, the building and arrangement of the houses, the municipal and religious rule, the manners and customs …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Jeremiah 22:5 NIVJeremiah 22:5 NLTJeremiah 22:5 ESVJeremiah 22:5 NASBJeremiah 22:5 KJV
Jeremiah 22:5 Commentaries
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