Last night in Bible Study we talked about Jeremiah 9:1-9 (NIV). It gives us a close look at human nature, and will answer several questions we may have about it.
The prophet, Jeremiah, was so disappointed in his people that he lamented greatly about their nature and conduct. In verses one and two he expresses how he could cry a fountain of tears over them and leave them because “they are all adulterers, a crowd of unfaithful people.”
Think about that. That is his people he is talking about. He is not judging them, but describing their very nature. He calls them adulterers and unfaithful. Has that changed over the centuries? Absolutely not; people are still adulterers and unfaithful.
Jeremiah 9:1-9
1 Oh, that my head were a spring of water
and my eyes a fountain of tears!
I would weep day and night
for the slain of my people.
2 Oh, that I had in the desert
a lodging place for travelers,
so that I might leave my people
and go away from them;
for they are all adulterers,
a crowd of unfaithful people.
In verse three he says they use their tongue as a bow to shoot lies. That is powerful. A bow shoots an arrow with force and power. Isn’t that what people do sometimes? Don’t we shoot lies with force to intentionally deceive others?
Then it says people “go from one sin to another.” Wow, that hurts. I wish I could exclude myself from this indictment, but I am part of this whole concept of “people.” I am a person, a human just like those people Jeremiah was referring to. I can’t exclude myself, even though I would truly like to. Have I not gone from sin to sin in my life? Of course, and I am sure I will continue to do it, because it is our nature to sin.
3 “They make ready their tongue
like a bow, to shoot lies;
it is not by truth
that they triumph in the land.
They go from one sin to another;
they do not acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.
In verse four, Jeremiah says to “beware of your friends. Do not trust anyone in your clan, for everyone of them is a deceiver and every friend is a slanderer.” So, what does that mean? Does that mean we can’t trust anyone ever again? Let’s read on.
4 “Beware of your friends;
do not trust anyone in your clan.
For every one of them is a deceiver,[c]
and every friend a slanderer.
Look what Jeremiah said in verse five. “Friends deceive friends. No one speaks the truth.” Those are strong words, and we need to remember that about people. Even the best of us have a propensity to deceive when we think it is in our best interest. We have “taught our tongues to lie.” We are liars by nature. Even little kids lie instinctively to cover up their wrongdoing.
5 Friend deceives friend,
and no one speaks the truth.
They have taught their tongues to lie;
they weary themselves with sinning.
Verse six says “you live in the midst of deception.” Doesn’t that describe our world today? We hear lies constantly from politicians, the media, advertisers, and even from friends and family.
6 You live in the midst of deception;
in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.
In verses seven through nine we read about God’s response to our sinful and deceitful ways. He says he refines us and tests us. He even says that people will speak cordially to their neighbors while setting traps for them. “Should I not punish them?” says the Lord.
7 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says:
“See, I will refine and test them,
for what else can I do
because of the sin of my people?
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
it speaks deceitfully.
With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors,
but in their hearts they set traps for them.
9 Should I not punish them for this?”
declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge myself
on such a nation as this?”
The implied answer is “yes”.
Steve Holder 