◄ Jeremiah 11:22 ►
So this is what the LORD of Hosts says: "I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine.
Study Bible
So this is what the LORD of Hosts says:
This phrase emphasizes the authority and power of God, often referred to as the "LORD of Hosts," which signifies His command over the armies of heaven. This title underscores God's sovereignty and His ability to execute judgment. It is a reminder of the divine authority behind the message, similar to other prophetic declarations found throughout the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah and Amos.

I will punish them:
The context here is God's response to the covenant unfaithfulness of the people of Judah. The punishment is a direct consequence of their idolatry and rebellion against God's commands. This reflects the covenantal relationship where blessings and curses are contingent upon obedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28. The punishment is not arbitrary but a fulfillment of the warnings given through the Law and the prophets.

Their young men will die by the sword:
This phrase indicates a specific form of judgment—military defeat. Historically, this aligns with the Babylonian invasions that led to the fall of Jerusalem. The loss of young men in battle would have been devastating, as they represented the strength and future of the community. This echoes similar judgments found in other prophetic books, such as Ezekiel and Habakkuk, where military defeat is a consequence of national sin.

their sons and daughters by famine:
Famine is a recurring theme in biblical judgment, often resulting from siege warfare, as seen in the Babylonian conquest. The mention of sons and daughters highlights the comprehensive nature of the judgment, affecting all generations. This reflects the curses for disobedience in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, where famine is a consequence of turning away from God. It also serves as a stark contrast to the blessings of provision promised for obedience.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD of Hosts
This title emphasizes God's supreme authority and power over all heavenly and earthly armies. It underscores His ability to execute judgment and fulfill His promises.

2. Jeremiah
The prophet who conveyed God's message to the people of Judah. He was called to warn them of impending judgment due to their disobedience and idolatry.

3. The People of Judah
The primary audience of Jeremiah's prophecy. They had broken the covenant with God by worshiping other gods, leading to the pronouncement of judgment.

4. The Sword and Famine
Symbols of divine judgment. The sword represents warfare and death, while famine signifies severe deprivation and suffering.

5. Anathoth
Jeremiah's hometown, where the people plotted against him. This verse is part of God's response to their conspiracy against His prophet.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Justice
God is sovereign and just, and His judgments are righteous. We must recognize His authority and align our lives with His will.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Disobedience to God leads to severe consequences. We are called to live in obedience to His commands to avoid spiritual and physical repercussions.

The Importance of Covenant Faithfulness
Just as Judah was held accountable for breaking the covenant, we are called to remain faithful to our commitments to God.

The Role of Prophets
Prophets like Jeremiah play a crucial role in calling people back to God. We should heed the warnings and teachings of those who speak God's truth.

Intercession and Repentance
In light of impending judgment, there is always room for intercession and repentance. We should pray for ourselves and others to turn back to God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the title "LORD of Hosts" in Jeremiah 11:22 influence our understanding of God's power and authority?

2. In what ways can we see the consequences of disobedience to God in our own lives or society today?

3. How does the concept of covenant faithfulness in Jeremiah 11:22 relate to the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ?

4. What role do modern-day prophets or spiritual leaders play in guiding us back to God, and how can we discern their messages?

5. How can we incorporate intercession and repentance into our daily spiritual practices in response to God's warnings?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 28
This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to God's covenant. Jeremiah 11:22 reflects the fulfillment of these covenant curses due to Judah's unfaithfulness.

Isaiah 1:20
This verse also speaks of the sword as a consequence of rebellion against God, reinforcing the theme of divine retribution for disobedience.

Ezekiel 14:21
Similar judgments of sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague are mentioned as God's four severe judgments, showing a consistent pattern of divine response to sin.
Sermons
Perils of ProphesyingA.F. Muir Jeremiah 11:18-23
The Baffled PlotS. Conway Jeremiah 11:18-23
The Prophet in His Own CountryD. Young Jeremiah 11:18-23
People
Anathoth, Jeremiah
Places
Anathoth, Egypt, Jerusalem, Zion
Topics
Armies, Behold, Chosen, Daughters, Death, Die, Famine, Hosts, Ones, Punish, Punishment, Says, Seeing, Sons, Sword, Thus
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 11:22

     4823   famine, physical
     5746   youth

Library
First, for Thy Thoughts.
1. Be careful to suppress every sin in the first motion; dash Babylon's children, whilst they are young, against the stones; tread, betimes, the cockatrice's egg, lest it break out into a serpent; let sin be to thy heart a stranger, not a home-dweller: take heed of falling oft into the same sin, lest the custom of sinning take away the conscience of sin, and then shalt thou wax so impudently wicked, that thou wilt neither fear God nor reverence man. 2. Suffer not thy mind to feed itself upon any …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

"And we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind, have Taken us Away. "
Isaiah lxiv. 6.--"And we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Here they join the punishment with the deserving cause, their uncleanness and their iniquities, and so take it upon them, and subscribe to the righteousness of God's dealing. We would say this much in general--First, Nobody needeth to quarrel God for his dealing. He will always be justified when he is judged. If the Lord deal more sharply with you than with others, you may judge there is a difference …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
THE FALL OF NINEVEH AND THE RISE OF THE CHALDAEAN AND MEDIAN EMPIRES--THE XXVIth EGYPTIAN DYNASTY: CYAXARES, ALYATTES, AND NEBUCHADREZZAR. The legendary history of the kings of Media and the first contact of the Medes with the Assyrians: the alleged Iranian migrations of the Avesta--Media-proper, its fauna and flora; Phraortes and the beginning of the Median empire--Persia proper and the Persians; conquest of Persia by the Medes--The last monuments of Assur-bani-pal: the library of Kouyunjik--Phraortes …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

Backsliding.
"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4. There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted: they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding; but they have never really been born again. They need to be treated differently from real back-sliders--those who have been born of the incorruptible …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

The Tests of Love to God
LET us test ourselves impartially whether we are in the number of those that love God. For the deciding of this, as our love will be best seen by the fruits of it, I shall lay down fourteen signs, or fruits, of love to God, and it concerns us to search carefully whether any of these fruits grow in our garden. 1. The first fruit of love is the musing of the mind upon God. He who is in love, his thoughts are ever upon the object. He who loves God is ravished and transported with the contemplation of …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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