Jeremiah 12:16 Study Bible: It shall happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, "As the LORD lives;" even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people.

Bible > Jeremiah > Chapter 12 > Verse 16

◄ Jeremiah 12:16 ►

And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'--just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal--then they will be established among My people.

Study Bible

And if they will diligently learn
The phrase "diligently learn" suggests a deep, intentional effort to understand and adopt the ways of God's people. The Hebrew root for "learn" is "לָמַד" (lamad), which implies not just acquiring knowledge but also practicing and embodying it. This reflects a call to transformation and commitment, emphasizing that true learning involves a change in behavior and heart. Historically, this was a call to the surrounding nations to abandon their pagan practices and embrace the covenantal relationship with Yahweh.

the ways of My people
"The ways of My people" refers to the lifestyle, customs, and religious practices that God had established for Israel. This includes adherence to the Law, worship of Yahweh, and living in a manner that reflects God's holiness and justice. The historical context here is significant, as Israel was meant to be a light to the nations, demonstrating the blessings of living under God's rule. The phrase underscores the distinctiveness of God's people, set apart from the surrounding nations.

and swear by My name
To "swear by My name" is to make an oath invoking the authority and truth of God. In ancient Near Eastern culture, swearing by a deity was a serious act, signifying allegiance and trust in that deity's power and truth. The Hebrew word for "swear" is "שָׁבַע" (shaba), which conveys the idea of making a solemn promise. This phrase indicates a shift in loyalty and recognition of Yahweh as the one true God, contrasting with the idolatrous practices of swearing by false gods.

‘As surely as the LORD lives,’
This phrase is a common oath formula in the Old Testament, affirming the reality and sovereignty of Yahweh. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) is significant, as it is God's covenant name, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness. The phrase "as surely as the LORD lives" is a declaration of faith in God's active presence and involvement in the world. It serves as a powerful contrast to the lifeless idols worshiped by the nations.

just as they taught My people to swear by Baal
Here, the text acknowledges the negative influence the surrounding nations had on Israel, leading them to idolatry. "Baal" was a prominent Canaanite deity, and swearing by Baal represented a departure from faithfulness to Yahweh. The historical context is crucial, as Israel often struggled with syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan practices. This phrase highlights the need for repentance and a return to exclusive worship of the LORD.

then they will be established among My people
The promise "they will be established among My people" offers hope and inclusion for those who turn from their ways and embrace the God of Israel. The Hebrew word for "established" is "בָּנָה" (banah), meaning to build or set up, indicating a firm and lasting place within the community of God's people. This reflects God's redemptive plan, where even those outside the covenant can become part of His people through faith and obedience. It underscores the inclusive nature of God's kingdom, where all who turn to Him are welcomed and given a place.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, often warning them of impending judgment due to their idolatry and disobedience.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who desires His people to follow His ways and commands, and who is the ultimate authority and judge.

3. The People of Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, often rebuked by Jeremiah for their idolatry and failure to follow God's commandments.

4. Baal
A Canaanite deity that the Israelites were often tempted to worship, representing a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh.

5. The Nations
Refers to the surrounding nations that influenced Israel and Judah, often leading them into idolatry and away from the worship of the true God.

Teaching Points

The Importance of Learning God's Ways
God desires that all people, including those outside of Israel, learn and adopt His ways. This involves a commitment to understanding and living according to His commandments.

The Power of God's Name
Swearing by God's name signifies a deep allegiance and recognition of His sovereignty. It is a declaration of faith and trust in the living God.

Repentance and Restoration
The verse offers hope for restoration to those who turn from idolatry and embrace the ways of God. It is a call to repentance and a promise of inclusion among God's people.

Influence and Responsibility
Just as the nations influenced Israel negatively, believers today have a responsibility to influence the world positively by living out God's truth.

The Inclusivity of God's Covenant
God's covenant is open to all who choose to follow Him, regardless of their background. This inclusivity is a testament to His grace and desire for all to be part of His people.

Bible Study Questions

1. What does it mean to "diligently learn the ways of My people" in the context of Jeremiah 12:16, and how can we apply this in our daily lives?

2. How does the act of swearing by God's name reflect our relationship with Him, and what are some modern-day equivalents of this practice?

3. In what ways can we guard against the influence of "Baal" or modern-day idols in our lives?

4. How does the promise of being "established among My people" encourage us to share the gospel with those outside the faith?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's restoration after turning away from a wrong path. How can this experience help you encourage others in their faith journey?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 6:13
This verse emphasizes the importance of swearing by God's name alone, highlighting the exclusivity of worship and allegiance to Yahweh.

1 Kings 18:21
Elijah's challenge to the Israelites to choose between Yahweh and Baal underscores the theme of loyalty and the rejection of idolatry.

Romans 11:17-24
Paul's discussion of the Gentiles being grafted into the olive tree of Israel parallels the idea of foreign nations being established among God's people if they follow His ways.

Sermons

Mercy and Judgment	A.F. Muir	Jeremiah 12:14-17
The Tide that has no Ebb, But Overflows	S. Conway	Jeremiah 12:14-17

People

Jeremiah

Places

Anathoth, Jerusalem, Jordan River

Topics

Baal, Ba'al, Built, Diligently, Established, Learn, Learning, Midst, Minds, Oaths, Pass, Really, Saying, Surely, Swear, Taught, Teaching, Using

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Jeremiah 12:16

5430 oaths, human

Jeremiah 12:14-17

5704 inheritance, material

Library

Calms and Crises
'If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and though in a land of peace thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the pride of Jordan?'--JER. xii. 5, R.V. The prophet has been complaining of his persecutors. The divine answer is here, reproving his impatience, and giving him to understand that harder trials are in store for him. Both clauses mean substantially the same thing, and are of a parabolic nature. The one adduces the metaphor …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Are You Prepared to Die?
"There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign; Infinite day excludes the night, And pleasures banish pain." There everlasting spring abides, And never-withering flowers; Death, like a narrow sea, divides This heavenly land from ours." Taking "the swelling of Jordan" to represent the precise time of death, the question really is, what shall we do when we come to die? "How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" I. We notice, in the first place, that this is an EXCEEDINGLY PRACTICAL …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 11: 1865

Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It.
[Sidenote: 1139] 33. (20). It seemed to him, however, that one could not go on doing these things with sufficient security without the authority of the Apostolic See; and for that reason he determined to set out for Rome, and most of all because the metropolitan see still lacked, and from the beginning had lacked, the use of the pall, which is the fullness of honour.[507] And it seemed good in his eyes[508] that the church for which he had laboured so much[509] should acquire, by his zeal and labour, …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Of the Trinity and a Christian, and of the Law and a Christian.
EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. These two short treatises were found among Mr. Bunyan's papers after his decease. They probably were intended for publication, like his 'Prison Meditations' and his 'Map of Salvation,' on a single page each, in the form of a broadside, or handbill. This was the popular mode in which tracts were distributed; and when posted against a wall, or framed and hung up in a room, they excited notice, and were extensively read. They might also have afforded some trifling profit to aid …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."--Jeremiah i. 8. The Prophets were ever ungratefully treated by the Israelites, they were resisted, their warnings neglected, their good services forgotten. But there was this difference between the earlier and the later Prophets; the earlier lived and died in honour among their people,--in outward honour; though hated and thwarted by the wicked, they were exalted to high places, and ruled in the congregation. …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Justice of God
The next attribute is God's justice. All God's attributes are identical, and are the same with his essence. Though he has several attributes whereby he is made known to us, yet he has but one essence. A cedar tree may have several branches, yet it is but one cedar. So there are several attributes of God whereby we conceive of him, but only one entire essence. Well, then, concerning God's justice. Deut 32:4. Just and right is he.' Job 37:23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent …
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

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