Jeremiah 4 “Seeing the Coming Disaster”

Jeremiah 4 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Chris Tomlin – Give Us Clean Hands
• Hosanna – Hillsong Worship
• “REFINER’S FIRE” FT. BRIAN DOERKSEN & TWP BAND

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• What Does the Bible Say About Our Heart? | Kids Lesson
• Create in me a clean heart – The Psalm 51:10 song (Joshua Kids Club with Polly) – Song for Kids
• Your Power Will Pull Us Through | Rocky Railway VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• I OBEY RIGHT AWAY LYRIC & DANCE VIDEO | Kids on the Move – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

The Lord calls the people of Judah to repentance. The Hebrew word translated as “repent” literally means “to turn back.” Repentance, therefore, means turning away from the idols they have been serving and making a solemn oath to live in holiness, swearing by the living Lord. This is what it means to receive circumcision of the heart (vv. 1–4).

The Lord commands Jeremiah to proclaim to the people of Judah that disaster is coming from the north. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon will come like a roaring lion, destroying nations, and no one will be able to stand against him (vv. 5–7). When this disaster strikes, the people of Israel will be shocked to realize that the Lord’s anger has not yet subsided (vv. 8–9).

At that time, people claimed to have received messages from the Lord, deceiving the people by saying, “Jerusalem is safe” (v. 10). It was not the Lord who deceived them; it was the false prophets who did so. The Lord tells Jeremiah that the day of judgment is near, and when it comes, Judah will be laid waste like land swept clean by a storm (vv. 11–12).

Then the Lord shows Jeremiah a vision of the Babylonian army advancing (v. 13). The only way to escape this disaster is through repentance, yet the people of Judah have no intention of turning back to God (v. 14). The Lord declares that it is their own wickedness that has brought this calamity upon them (vv. 15–18).

Jeremiah, seeing the disaster that will come upon Judah and Jerusalem, is deeply distressed and overwhelmed with anguish (vv. 19–21). The Lord then explains to the grieving prophet the reason Judah must endure such judgment (v. 22).

Next, the Lord allows Jeremiah to see what the land of Judah will look like after Babylon’s invasion. The scene is one of chaos and emptiness—like the formless void before creation itself (vv. 23–26). Although the Lord assures Jeremiah that He will not completely destroy Judah (v. 27), He also reveals that the coming disaster will be unlike anything ever seen before (vv. 28–29). Yet even in the face of such destruction, the people of Jerusalem remain oblivious and unrepentant (v. 30).

Finally, Jeremiah sees the people of Judah writhing in agony like a woman in labor, suffering the pain brought by their own rebellion (v. 31).

Meditation:

Being called to do God’s work is a great honor—but it always comes with pain. Participating in God’s work means sharing not only in God’s purpose but also in the suffering of society, the nation, and humanity. Jeremiah was called to God’s service in the midst of his nation’s collapse. God opened the eyes of Jeremiah’s heart to see in advance the coming disaster that would fall upon Judah and Jerusalem. When Jeremiah saw this vision, he felt unbearable anguish, for the suffering that awaited the people of Judah was beyond words.

Today, we see on TV the ruins of cities in Ukraine and Gaza. We see the frail bodies and vacant eyes of children who have lost their parents. Even though we may have no direct connection to them, witnessing such scenes breaks our hearts. How much more devastating it must have been for Jeremiah to see such suffering coming upon his own nation and people!

In Jeremiah’s time, there were many false prophets. They claimed to speak for God, saying that although the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen, Judah and Jerusalem would remain safe. The people of Judah were deceived by their lies, leaving them unprepared for the coming judgment. Even as the sword was at their necks, they refused to repent and continued to indulge in sin. In contrast, Jeremiah proclaimed that there was no other way but repentance. Because of this, he became an outcast—an unpopular prophet.

Thus, Jeremiah endured a double burden of suffering. He was tormented by the knowledge of Judah’s impending destruction, and he also suffered from the hostility of the very people he tried to warn. The more chaotic the times become, the heavier the burden on those who speak God’s word—because people only want to hear what pleases them and believe what comforts them.

Prayer:

Lord, our times are so much like the days of Jeremiah. Both nationally and internationally, people rush blindly toward disaster, yet few are willing to repent of their injustice and wrongdoing and turn back to You. In this dark and troubled age, we awaken, Lord. Help us to follow Your Word faithfully and live with reverence, sincerity, and righteousness before You. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God wants us to open our hearts to see the world through His eyes — to care about what He cares about and to live faithfully even when it’s hard.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Jeremiah felt sad when he saw people turning away from God. What do you think made him so sad?
  • How do you think God feels when people hurt others or don’t listen to Him?
  • When you see something wrong or unfair (like bullying or fighting), what do you think Jesus wants you to do?
    
• Youth
  • Jeremiah saw that people preferred comforting lies over difficult truths. Why do you think it’s hard for people to face the truth about themselves or their world?
  • Have you ever felt like you were the only one trying to do the right thing when others didn’t care? How did that feel, and what helped you keep going?
  • What does “repentance” mean to you personally? How might repentance look in our lives today — at school, online, or in our relationships?