But from the time we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been perishing by sword and famine." But from the time we stopped burning incense to the Queen of HeavenThis phrase refers to the Israelites' practice of idolatry, specifically worshiping the "Queen of Heaven," likely a reference to a pagan goddess such as Ishtar or Astarte. This practice was prevalent among the Israelites despite God's commandments against idolatry ( Exodus 20:3-5). The worship of the Queen of Heaven involved rituals that were directly opposed to the worship of Yahweh, highlighting the Israelites' syncretism and spiritual adultery. Historically, this idolatry was a significant issue during the reigns of certain kings, such as Manasseh, who led Judah into deep idolatry ( 2 Kings 21:3-5). and pouring out drink offerings to her,
Drink offerings were part of the sacrificial system in ancient Near Eastern religions, including the worship of Yahweh, but here they are misappropriated for idol worship. This act of pouring out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven signifies a complete devotion and allegiance to a false deity, which was a direct violation of the covenant relationship with God. The Israelites' actions reflect a misunderstanding of true worship, which should be directed solely to God (Deuteronomy 6:13-15). we have lacked everything
The people of Judah are expressing their belief that their misfortunes began when they ceased their idolatrous practices. This reflects a misunderstanding of the source of their blessings and curses. According to the covenant outlined in Deuteronomy 28, blessings come from obedience to God, while curses result from disobedience. Their lack of everything is a consequence of their disobedience to God, not the cessation of idol worship. and have been perishing by sword and famine.”
The sword and famine are common judgments from God for covenant unfaithfulness, as seen throughout the prophetic literature (Jeremiah 14:12, Ezekiel 5:12). These calamities were prophesied as consequences for Israel's idolatry and rebellion against God. The people's interpretation of their suffering as a result of stopping idol worship shows their spiritual blindness and failure to recognize God's hand in their discipline. This phrase underscores the theme of divine retribution and the need for repentance and return to covenant faithfulness. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. He is known for his perseverance in the face of opposition. 2. The People of JudahThe audience of Jeremiah's message, who had been exiled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem. They are struggling with faithfulness to God amidst their hardships. 3. The Queen of HeavenA pagan deity worshiped by some Israelites, often associated with fertility and prosperity. This worship was contrary to the worship of Yahweh. 4. EgyptThe place where the remnant of Judah had fled after the destruction of Jerusalem. It represents a place of disobedience and misplaced trust. 5. Sword and FamineConsequences of disobedience and idolatry, symbolizing God's judgment on the people for their unfaithfulness. Teaching Points Idolatry's ConsequencesIdolatry leads to spiritual and physical ruin. The people of Judah experienced lack and destruction because they turned away from God. Misplaced TrustTrusting in anything other than God, such as false gods or human solutions, leads to disappointment and judgment. Faithfulness in HardshipTrue faithfulness to God is tested in times of hardship. The people of Judah failed this test by reverting to idolatry when faced with difficulties. Repentance and RestorationGod desires repentance and offers restoration. The people of Judah had the opportunity to return to God, but they chose otherwise. The Danger of Cultural InfluenceThe influence of surrounding cultures can lead believers away from God. The Israelites in Egypt adopted local pagan practices, which led to their downfall. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some modern-day "idols" that can distract us from our relationship with God, and how can we guard against them? 2. How does the account of the Israelites in Egypt serve as a warning for us today regarding cultural influences? 3. In what ways can we ensure that our trust remains in God, especially during times of hardship and uncertainty? 4. How can we apply the lessons of repentance and restoration in our personal lives and communities? 5. What steps can we take to remain faithful to God when faced with societal pressures to conform to non-biblical practices? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20:3-5The commandment against idolatry, which the people of Judah violated by worshiping the queen of heaven. Deuteronomy 28:15-68The curses for disobedience, including sword and famine, which align with the consequences faced by the people in Jeremiah 44:18. 1 Kings 18:21Elijah's challenge to the Israelites to choose between God and Baal, similar to Jeremiah's call for the people to abandon idolatry. Hosea 2:5-13The metaphor of Israel as an unfaithful spouse, pursuing other gods and facing the resulting consequences. People Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, ZedekiahPlaces Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, Memphis, Migdol, Pathros, TahpanhesTopics Burn, Burning, Ceased, Consumed, Draining, Drink, Drink-offerings, Famine, Heaven, Heavens, Incense, Lacked, Libations, Met, Nothing, Offer, Offerings, Perfume, Perfumes, Perishing, Pour, Pouring, Queen, Sacrifices, Sky, Stopped, Sword, Wanted, WastedDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 44:17-18 8829 superstition Jeremiah 44:17-19 5487 queen
7350 drink offering Library God's Patient Pleadings
'I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.'--JER. xliv. 4. The long death-agony of the Jewish kingdom has come to an end. The frivolous levity, which fed itself on illusions and would not be sobered by facts, has been finally crushed out of the wretched people. The dreary succession of incompetent kings--now a puppet set up by Egypt, now another puppet set up by Babylon, has ended with the weak Zedekiah. The …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureMan's Misery by the Fall
Q-19: WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? A: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. 'And were by nature children of wrath.' Eph 2:2. Adam left an unhappy portion to his posterity, Sin and Misery. Having considered the first of these, original sin, we shall now advert to the misery of that state. In the first, we have seen mankind offending; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem Man's Inability to Keep the Moral Law
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them, in thought, word, and deed. In many things we offend all.' James 3: 2. Man in his primitive state of innocence, was endowed with ability to keep the whole moral law. He had rectitude of mind, sanctity of will, and perfection of power. He had the copy of God's law written on his heart; no sooner did God command but he obeyed. …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting 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 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 44:18 NIVJeremiah 44:18 NLTJeremiah 44:18 ESVJeremiah 44:18 NASBJeremiah 44:18 KJV
Jeremiah 44:18 Commentaries
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