Jeremiah 17 -21

No Deliverance

These chapters of Jeremiah continue the ominous prophecies of destruction and exile and Israel and Judah.  In chapter 18, the Lord has Jacob observe a potter with clay.  When the clay does not conform to the potter's wishes, the figure being created is smashed and the potter starts over.  Thus, if the Lord is not happy with a people or nation, he destroys it and starts over.

In chapter 19, the Lord again users clay - this time a clay pot - and has Jeremiah take a clay potter to the valley of Bin-Hinnom, to a place where broken pots are discarded.  The Lord has Jeremiah destroy the pot and then has him prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah stating, "I will shatter the people of Judah and Jerusalem beyond all hope or repair. They will bury the bodies here in Topheth, the garbage dump, until there is no more room for them." (19:11).

In chapter 20, a temple priest hears Jeremiah's prophecy and has him arrested and beaten.  This seals the fate of Pashur and death is prophesied for him and his family. In chapter 21, King Zedekiah sent Pashur to speak with Jeremiah and ask the prophet to intercede on behalf of Judah since King Nebuchadnezzar is laying siege to the city of Jerusalem. The Lord's reply through Jeremiah is harsh. "I will make your weapons useless against the king of Babylon [...]  I myself will fight against you with a strong hand..." (21:4-5). All of this because the people wickedly served other Gods and did not repent.