Jeremiah 11:1

The Broken Covenant

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2 “Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

3 and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ^a“Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant

4 which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, ^afrom the iron furnace, saying, ^b‘Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,’

5 that I may establish the ^aoath which I have sworn to your fathers, to give them ^b‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is this day.” ’ ” And I answered and said, “So be it, Lord.”

6 Then the Lord said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: ‘Hear the words of this covenant ^aand do them.

7 For I earnestly exhorted your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, until this day, ^arising early and exhorting, saying, “Obey My voice.”

8 ^aYet they did not obey or incline their ear, but ^beveryone followed the dictates of his evil heart; therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but which they have not done.’ ”

9 And the Lord said to me, ^a“A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

10 They have turned back to ^athe iniquities of their forefathers who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.”

11 Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to¹ escape; and ^athough they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them.

12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and ^acry out to the gods to whom they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.

13 For according to the number of your ^acities were your gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to that shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal.

14 “So ^ado not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.

15 “What^a has My beloved to do in My house,
Having ^bdone lewd deeds with many?
And ^cthe holy flesh has passed from you.
When you do evil, then you ^drejoice.

Commentaries:

Matthew Henry

<< Jeremiah 10:25

Jeremiah 11:2 >>

Jeremiah 11:1-23

The disobedient Jews reproved. (1-10) Their utter ruin. (11-17) The people would be destroyed who sought the prophet's life. (18-23)

Verses 1-10 God never promised to bestow blessings on his rational creatures, while they persist in wilful disobedience. Pardon and acceptance are promised freely to all believers; but no man can be saved who does not obey the command of God to repent, to believe in Christ, to separate from sin and the world, to choose self-denial and newness of life. In general, men will hearken to those who speak of doctrines, promises, and privileges; but when duties are mentioned, they will not bend their ear.

Verses 11-17 Evil pursues sinners, and entangles them in snares, out of which they cannot free themselves. Now, in their distress, their many gods and many altars stand them in no stead. And those whose own prayers will not be heard, cannot expect benefit from the prayers of others. Their profession of religion shall prove of no use. When trouble came upon them, they made this their confidence, but God has rejected it. His altar shall yield them no satisfaction. The remembrance of God's former favours to them shall be no comfort under troubles; and his remembrance of them shall be no argument for their relief. Every sin against the Lord is a sin against ourselves, and so it will be found sooner or later.

Verses 18-23 The prophet Jeremiah tells much concerning himself, the times he lived in being very troublesome. Those of his own city plotted how they might cause his death. They thought to end his days, but he outlived most of his enemies; they thought to blast his memory, but it lives to this day, and will be blessed while time lasts. God knows all the secret designs of his and his people's enemies, and can, when he pleases, make them known. God's justice is a terror to the wicked, but a comfort to the godly. When we are wronged, we have a God to commit our cause to, and it is our duty to commit it to him. We should also look well to our own spirits, that we are not overcome with evil, but that by patient continuance in praying for our enemies, and in kindness to them, we may overcome evil with good.

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The Broken Covenant

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning