But they did not listen or incline their ears; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. But they did not listen or incline their ears;This phrase highlights the persistent disobedience of the people of Judah. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, the prophet repeatedly calls the people to repentance, yet they consistently refuse to heed his warnings. This reflects a broader biblical theme of human stubbornness and rebellion against God, seen in passages like Isaiah 6:9-10 and Ezekiel 12:2. The phrase "incline their ears" suggests an intentional act of listening, which the people deliberately chose not to do, indicating a hardened heart. they did not turn from their wickedness
The refusal to turn from wickedness underscores the moral and spiritual decline of Judah. The term "wickedness" encompasses idolatry, injustice, and immorality, which were rampant in the society. This is consistent with the covenantal language found in Deuteronomy, where blessings and curses are contingent upon obedience to God's laws. The call to "turn" is a call to repentance, a central theme in prophetic literature, emphasizing the need for a change of heart and behavior. or stop burning incense to other gods.
Burning incense to other gods was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern religions and was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law (Exodus 20:3-5). This act of idolatry was not just a religious offense but a breach of the covenant relationship with Yahweh. The worship of other gods often involved syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan practices, which was prevalent in Judah despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah. This idolatry is a direct violation of the first commandment and is seen as spiritual adultery, drawing parallels to the unfaithfulness of Israel as depicted in Hosea. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and calls to repentance to the people of Judah. 2. JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, which had fallen into idolatry and was facing God's judgment. 3. EgyptThe place where the remnant of Judah fled, despite God's warnings, and continued their idolatrous practices. 4. The Remnant of JudahThe group of Israelites who survived the Babylonian conquest and fled to Egypt, continuing in disobedience. 5. IdolatryThe act of worshiping other gods, which was a significant sin that led to Judah's downfall. Teaching Points The Importance of Listening to GodGod repeatedly calls His people to listen and obey. Ignoring His voice leads to spiritual and often physical consequences. The Dangers of IdolatryIdolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can include anything that takes the place of God in our lives. We must examine our hearts for modern-day idols. Repentance as a Turning PointTrue repentance involves a change of heart and direction. It is not enough to feel remorse; we must actively turn away from sin. The Consequences of DisobediencePersistent disobedience leads to judgment. God's patience is immense, but it is not without limits. The Role of Prophets and ScriptureProphets like Jeremiah were sent to guide and warn. Today, Scripture serves as our guide, and we must heed its warnings. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some modern-day "idols" that can distract us from fully worshiping God, and how can we identify them in our lives? 2. How does the account of Judah's disobedience in Jeremiah 44:5 serve as a warning for us today? 3. In what ways can we ensure that we are truly listening to God's voice in our daily lives? 4. How does the concept of repentance in Jeremiah 44:5 compare to New Testament teachings on repentance? 5. What steps can we take to avoid the spiritual pitfalls that led to Judah's downfall, as described in Jeremiah 44:5? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 32The incident of the golden calf, where the Israelites turned to idolatry shortly after being delivered from Egypt, showing a recurring pattern of disobedience. 2 Kings 17The fall of the northern kingdom of Israel due to persistent idolatry, serving as a warning to Judah. Deuteronomy 6:4-5The Shema, which emphasizes the importance of exclusive worship of Yahweh, contrasting with Judah's idolatry. Isaiah 1:2-4A call to repentance and a description of Israel's rebellion, similar to Jeremiah's message. 1 Corinthians 10:14A New Testament exhortation to flee from idolatry, showing the timelessness of this command. People Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, ZedekiahPlaces Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, Memphis, Migdol, Pathros, TahpanhesTopics Attention, Burn, Burning, Didn't, Ear, Ears, Evil-doing, Forbear, Gods, Hearkened, Incense, Incline, Inclined, Listen, Offering, Open, Pay, Perfume, Sacrifices, Stop, Turn, WickednessDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 44:5 5165 listening
7386 incense Jeremiah 44:2-6 5508 ruins Jeremiah 44:4-5 6194 impenitence, warnings Jeremiah 44:5-6 5885 indifference 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 44:5 NIVJeremiah 44:5 NLTJeremiah 44:5 ESVJeremiah 44:5 NASBJeremiah 44:5 KJV
Jeremiah 44:5 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
