Raise a signal flag toward Zion. Seek refuge! Do not delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, and terrible destruction. Raise a signal flag toward Zion.In ancient times, signal flags were used as a means of communication, especially in times of war or impending danger. The call to raise a signal flag toward Zion indicates an urgent warning to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Zion, often synonymous with Jerusalem, is the spiritual and political center of Israel. This phrase suggests a call to alert the people of an imminent threat. Biblically, Zion is also seen as a symbol of God's presence and His covenant with Israel, making this warning not just a physical but a spiritual call to attention. Seek refuge!
The command to seek refuge implies an immediate threat that requires the people to find safety. In the context of Jeremiah's prophecy, this is a call to turn to God for protection. Throughout the Old Testament, God is often depicted as a refuge and fortress for His people (e.g., Psalm 46:1). This phrase underscores the urgency of repentance and reliance on God amidst impending judgment. Do not delay!
The urgency in this command highlights the immediacy of the threat. Historically, the people of Judah were often slow to heed prophetic warnings, leading to their downfall. This phrase serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of procrastination in spiritual matters. The call to immediate action is a common theme in prophetic literature, emphasizing the need for prompt repentance and obedience. For I am bringing disaster from the north,
The reference to disaster from the north is significant in the historical context of Jeremiah's time. The northern threat likely refers to the Babylonian Empire, which eventually conquered Jerusalem. Geographically, invaders often approached Israel from the north due to the natural barriers to the east and south. This phrase also reflects God's sovereignty in using foreign nations as instruments of judgment against His people, as seen in other prophetic books like Isaiah and Ezekiel. and terrible destruction.
The phrase "terrible destruction" conveys the severity of the impending judgment. This destruction is not just physical but also spiritual, as it represents the consequences of the people's persistent disobedience and idolatry. The prophetic literature often uses vivid imagery to describe the devastation that accompanies God's judgment, serving as a warning to future generations. This destruction foreshadows the ultimate judgment and redemption found in Jesus Christ, who offers salvation from spiritual destruction. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings and was marked by his deep emotional connection to his people and his unwavering commitment to God's message. 2. ZionOften used to refer to Jerusalem, the city of God, and a symbol of God's presence and covenant with His people. In this context, it represents a place of refuge and divine protection. 3. The NorthRefers to the direction from which disaster is prophesied to come. Historically, this is often associated with the Babylonian empire, which would eventually conquer Judah. 4. DisasterThe impending judgment and destruction that God is bringing upon Judah due to their persistent sin and rebellion. 5. BannerA signal or standard raised to gather people, often used in military contexts. Here, it symbolizes a call to action and urgency. Teaching Points Urgency of RepentanceThe call to "seek refuge; do not delay" emphasizes the urgency of turning back to God. In our lives, we must not procrastinate in addressing sin and seeking God's forgiveness. God's Sovereignty in JudgmentThe disaster from the north is a reminder of God's control over nations and history. We must recognize His sovereignty and align our lives with His will. Zion as a Symbol of HopeWhile judgment is imminent, Zion represents hope and refuge. In Christ, we find our ultimate refuge and salvation. The Role of ProphetsJeremiah's role as a prophet highlights the importance of listening to God's messengers. We should be attentive to God's Word and those He uses to speak truth into our lives. Preparation for Spiritual BattlesThe imagery of raising a banner calls us to be prepared for spiritual battles. We must equip ourselves with God's Word and be vigilant in prayer. Bible Study Questions 1. What does the imagery of raising a banner toward Zion signify in your personal spiritual journey? 2. How can we apply the urgency of seeking refuge in God to our daily lives, especially in times of crisis? 3. In what ways does recognizing God's sovereignty over nations and events impact your trust in Him? 4. How can we ensure that we are attentive to God's messages and messengers in our current context? 5. What practical steps can you take to prepare for spiritual battles, drawing from the imagery and lessons in Jeremiah 4:6? Connections to Other Scriptures Isaiah 13:2This verse also speaks of raising a banner, symbolizing a call to gather and prepare for an impending event, often related to judgment. Ezekiel 21:2Similar to Jeremiah, Ezekiel warns of disaster coming from the north, emphasizing the consistent message of judgment against sin. Psalm 48:2Describes Zion as the city of the Great King, highlighting its significance as a place of divine presence and protection. People Dan, JeremiahPlaces Dan, Jerusalem, Mount Ephraim, ZionTopics Banner, Bring, Bringing, Covert, Delay, Destruction, Disaster, Ensign, Evil, Flag, Flee, Flight, Lift, Longer, North, Raise, Refuge, Retire, Safe, Safety, Seek, Sign, Signal, Stand, Standard, Stay, Strengthen, Terrible, Towards, Waiting, Yourselves, Zion, ZionwardDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 4:6 5223 banner
5511 safety
5977 waiting Jeremiah 4:5-6 5316 fortress Library The Wailing of Risca
You all know the story; it scarce needs that I should tell it to you. Last Saturday week some two hundred or more miners descended in health and strength to their usual work in the bowels of the earth. They had not been working long, their wives and their children had risen, and their little ones had gone to their schools, when suddenly there was heard a noise at the mouth of the pit;--it was an explosion,--all knew what it meant. Men's hearts failed them, for well they prophesied the horror which …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861How those are to be Admonished who Sin from Sudden Impulse and those who Sin Deliberately.
(Admonition 33.). Differently to be admonished are those who are overcome by sudden passion and those who are bound in guilt of set purpose. For those whom sudden passion overcomes are to be admonished to regard themselves as daily set in the warfare of the present life, and to protect the heart, which cannot foresee wounds, with the shield of anxious fear; to dread the hidden darts of the ambushed foe, and, in so dark a contest, to guard with continual attention the inward camp of the soul. For, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Prevailing Prayer.
Text.--The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.--James v. 16. THE last lecture referred principally to the confession of sin. To-night my remarks will be chiefly confined to the subject of intercession, or prayer. There are two kinds of means requisite to promote a revival; one to influence men, the other to influence God. The truth is employed to influence men, and prayer to move God. When I speak of moving God, I do not mean that God's mind is changed by prayer, or that his …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion How to Make Use of Christ for Cleansing of us from Our Daily Spots.
Having spoken of the way of making use of Christ for removing the guilt of our daily transgressions, we come to speak of the way of making use of Christ, for taking away the guilt that cleaveth to the soul, through daily transgressions; "for every sin defileth the man," Matt. xv. 20; and the best are said to have their spots, and to need washing, which presupposeth filthiness and defilement, Eph. v. 27. John xiii. 8-10. Hence we are so oft called to this duty of washing and making us clean. Isa. …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life "For they that are after the Flesh do Mind the Things of the Flesh,",
Rom. viii. 5.--"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh,", &c. Though sin hath taken up the principal and inmost cabinet of the heart of man--though it hath fixed its imperial throne in the spirit of man, and makes use of all the powers and faculties in the soul to accomplish its accursed desires and fulfil its boundless lusts, yet it is not without good reason expressed in scripture, ordinarily under the name of "flesh," and a "body of death," and men dead in sins, are …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning "Who Walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the Flesh,"
Rom. viii. 4, 5.--"Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh," &c. If there were nothing else to engage our hearts to religion, I think this might do it, that there is so much reason in it. Truly it is the most rational thing in the world, except some revealed mysteries of faith, which are far above reason, but not contrary to it. There is nothing besides in it, but that which is the purest reason. Even that part of it which is most difficult to man, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning "If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is None of His. "
Rom. viii. 9.--"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." "But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?" 2 Chron. vi. 18. It was the wonder of one of the wisest of men, and indeed, considering his infinite highness above the height of heavens, his immense and incomprehensible greatness, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and then the baseness, emptiness, and worthlessness of man, it may be a wonder to the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Original Sin
Q-16: DID ALL MANKIND FALL IN ADAM'S FIRST TRANSGRESSION? A: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him, by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression. 'By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin,' &c. Rom 5:12. Adam being a representative person, while he stood, we stood; when he fell, we fell, We sinned in Adam; so it is in the text, In whom all have sinned.' Adam was the head …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Repentance
Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.' Acts 11: 18. Repentance seems to be a bitter pill to take, but it is to purge out the bad humour of sin. By some Antinomian spirits it is cried down as a legal doctrine; but Christ himself preached it. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent,' &c. Matt 4: 17. In his last farewell, when he was ascending to heaven, he commanded that Repentance should be preached in his name.' Luke 24: 47. Repentance is a pure gospel grace. …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Directions to Awakened Sinners.
Acts ix. 6. Acts ix. 6. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do. THESE are the words of Saul, who also is called Paul, (Acts xiii. 9,) when he was stricken to the ground as he was going to Damascus; and any one who had looked upon him in his present circumstances and knew nothing more of him than that view, in comparison with his past life, could have given, would have imagined him one of the most miserable creatures that ever lived upon earth, and would have expected …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6.
Several interpreters, Paulus especially, have asserted that the interpretation of Micah which is here given, was that of the Sanhedrim only, and not of the Evangelist, who merely recorded what happened and was said. But this assertion is at once refuted when we consider the object which Matthew has in view in his entire representation of the early life of Jesus. His object in recording the early life of Jesus is not like that of Luke, viz., to communicate historical information to his readers. …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision B. Jesus Talks with Nicodemus. ^D John III. 1-21. ^d 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [Nicodemus is mentioned only by John. His character is marked by a prudence amounting almost to timidity. At John vii. 50-52 he defends Jesus, but without committing himself as in any way interested in him: at John xix. 38, 39 he brought spices for the body of Jesus, but only after Joseph of Arimathæa had secured the body. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel 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 Links Jeremiah 4:6 NIVJeremiah 4:6 NLTJeremiah 4:6 ESVJeremiah 4:6 NASBJeremiah 4:6 KJV
Jeremiah 4:6 Commentaries
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