Jeremiah 1 - 6

Proclamations of Judgment Against Judah

The opening chapters of Jeremiah are frightening and disturbing in their near lack of mercy.  Both Israel and Judah have forsaken God and have turned to idols.  The snub their nose at the Lord and ignore and kill the prophets.  God's continual judgment against them is not heeded and the people redouble their efforts to sin even more.

The tone of all of these prophecies are dire.  Both kingdoms have totally and utterly turned themselves to idol worship. The Lord calls them prostitutes and states in 2:33 "Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!"  This pathetic condition of Judah and Israel cause Jeremiah to prophecy awful, unmerciful judgment on them.

The disaster is one of annihilation.  "I looked at the earth, and it was empty and formless. I looked at the heavens, and there was no light. I looked at the mountains and hills, and they trembled and shook.  I looked, and all the people were gone.  All the birds of the sky had flown away. I looked and the fertile fields had become a wilderness. The towns lay in ruins, crushed by the Lord's fierce anger." (4:23-26).  Sadly, in the face of such destruction, the people continued to rebel and not hearken unto the voice of the prophet.