Jeremiah 11:9
And the LORD told me, "There is a conspiracy among the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem.
And the LORD said to me
This phrase emphasizes the direct communication between God and the prophet Jeremiah. The Hebrew root for "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, highlighting His covenant relationship with Israel. This divine communication underscores the authority and authenticity of the message. In the historical context, prophets were God's mouthpieces, and Jeremiah's role was to convey God's words to the people, often calling them back to faithfulness.

A conspiracy exists
The term "conspiracy" in Hebrew is "qesher," which implies a treacherous plot or alliance against rightful authority. This word suggests a deliberate and secretive rebellion against God’s covenant. Historically, Judah was often tempted to form political alliances with surrounding nations, which led them away from reliance on God. Spiritually, this conspiracy represents a deeper betrayal, as the people of Judah were turning their hearts away from God, despite His continuous warnings and calls for repentance.

among the men of Judah
"Men of Judah" refers specifically to the inhabitants of the southern kingdom, which included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Judah was the last remnant of the once-united Israelite kingdom, and its people were expected to uphold the covenant with God. The historical context here is crucial, as Judah was facing external threats from powerful empires like Babylon, and internal decay due to idolatry and injustice. This phrase highlights the collective responsibility of the community in maintaining faithfulness to God.

and the residents of Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the capital city, was the spiritual and political heart of Judah. It housed the Temple, the center of Jewish worship and the symbol of God's presence among His people. The mention of "residents of Jerusalem" indicates that the conspiracy was not limited to rural areas but had infiltrated the very heart of the nation. This highlights the pervasive nature of the rebellion and the seriousness of the situation. In a spiritual sense, it serves as a warning that even those who are closest to the symbols of faith can fall into corruption and disobedience.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, who communicates His will and judgments through the prophets.

2. Jeremiah
The prophet chosen by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah, often involving calls to repentance and warnings of impending judgment.

3. Men of Judah
The inhabitants of the southern kingdom of Judah, who are part of the covenant community but have turned away from God.

4. Residents of Jerusalem
The people living in the capital city of Judah, who are central to the religious and political life of the nation.

5. Conspiracy
A secret plan or agreement to do something unlawful or harmful, in this context, a spiritual rebellion against God.
Teaching Points
Understanding Rebellion
Recognize that rebellion against God can take the form of a "conspiracy," where individuals collectively turn away from His commands.

Covenant Faithfulness
Emphasize the importance of remaining faithful to God's covenant, as outlined in the Scriptures, and the consequences of failing to do so.

Role of the Prophet
Appreciate the role of prophets like Jeremiah, who are called to speak truth to power and call God's people back to righteousness.

Spiritual Vigilance
Encourage believers to be vigilant against spiritual conspiracies in their own lives, where subtle compromises can lead to significant departures from God's will.

Community Accountability
Highlight the need for accountability within the Christian community to prevent collective rebellion against God's Word.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the term "conspiracy" imply about the nature of Judah's rebellion against God, and how can we identify similar patterns in our own lives?

2. How does the covenant relationship between God and Israel, as described in Deuteronomy 29, inform our understanding of Jeremiah 11:9?

3. In what ways can we, like Jeremiah, be faithful in delivering God's message even when it is unpopular or met with resistance?

4. How can the reforms of King Josiah in 2 Kings 22-23 serve as a model for personal and communal repentance today?

5. What steps can we take to ensure that our church community remains faithful to God's Word and avoids the pitfalls of spiritual conspiracy and rebellion?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 29
This chapter outlines the covenant between God and Israel, highlighting the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. Jeremiah 11:9 reflects the people's failure to uphold this covenant.

Ezekiel 22
This passage describes the sins of Jerusalem, including conspiracy among the prophets, priests, and princes, similar to the rebellion mentioned in Jeremiah.

2 Kings 22-23
The reforms of King Josiah, which attempted to bring Judah back to covenant faithfulness, contrast with the conspiracy and rebellion described in Jeremiah 11:9.

Isaiah 1
Isaiah's opening chapter also addresses the rebellion of Judah and Jerusalem, calling them to repentance and warning of judgment.
A Sad RelapseC. J. Ball, M. A.Jeremiah 11:9
The Covenant with the Fathers Binding on the ChildrenD. Young Jeremiah 11:1-12
People
Anathoth, Jeremiah
Places
Anathoth, Egypt, Jerusalem, Zion
Topics
Conspiracy, Design, Evil, Inhabitants, Jerusalem, Judah, Revolt
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 11:9-10

     5817   conspiracies
     7135   Israel, people of God

Jeremiah 11:9-11

     5376   law, purpose of

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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