The Promise

God’s Marvelous Loving-kindness

This account shows vividly that the Lord is unwilling to chastise. He yearns over His erring children. In every way possible He seeks to teach them the way of life. See Jeremiah 9:24. Though the Israelites had wandered in idolatry for a long time and ignored His warnings, yet He now declares His willingness to postpone punishment and grant yet another opportunity to repent. He makes plain that they could avoid the coming doom only by complete heart reformation. Their trust in the temple and its services would be in vain. Ceremonies could not atone for sin. Only reformation of heart and of the life practice could save them from the result of transgression. 2TC 206.4

Thus “in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem” the message of Jeremiah was, “Hear the words of this covenant”—the instructions of God as recorded in the Scriptures—“and do them.” Jeremiah 11:6. The Lord inquired, “Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding?” Jeremiah 8:5. It was because they had refused to be corrected. See Jeremiah 5:3. “Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.” “Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?” Jeremiah 8:7; 9:9. 2TC 206.5

While Josiah had been their ruler, the people had some ground for hope. But he had fallen in battle. The time for intercession had nearly passed. “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me,” the Lord declared, “My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight.” Jeremiah 15:1. 2TC 207.1

A refusal to accept God’s current invitation would bring the judgments that had fallen on the northern kingdom more than a century before. The message now was: “If you will not listen to ... the words of My servants the prophets whom I sent to you, ... then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.” Jeremiah 26:4-6. 2TC 207.2

Those who stood in the temple court listening to Jeremiah clearly understood this reference to Shiloh, when in Eli’s days the Philistines had carried away the ark of the covenant. Eli’s sin consisted in treating lightly the evils prevailing in the land. His neglect to correct these evils had brought a fearful disaster on Israel. Eli lost his life, the ark had been taken from Israel, thirty thousand people had been killed—all because sin had flourished unrebuked and unrestrained. Israel had foolishly thought that, despite their sinful practices, the ark would ensure victory over the Philistines. Likewise, during the days of Jeremiah, the people of Judah tended to believe that performing the appointed temple services would preserve them from punishment for their wicked course. 2TC 207.3

What a lesson this is to people holding positions of responsibility in the church! What a warning to deal faithfully with wrongs that bring dishonor to the cause of truth! Let no one accuse the servants of God of being too zealous in trying to cleanse the camp from evil-doing. Jerusalem’s desolation in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning that we cannot disregard the counsels given through God’s chosen instruments and expect no consequences to follow. 2TC 207.4

Jeremiah’s message stirred up the angry opposition of many. They cried out, “‘Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, “This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without an inhabitant”?’ And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.” Verse 9. Priests, false prophets, and people turned on him who would not speak smooth things or prophesy deceit. They threatened God’s servant with death. 2TC 207.5