Jeremiah 19:15
"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'Behold, I am about to bring on this city and on all the villages around it every disaster I have pronounced against them, because they have stiffened their necks so as not to heed My words.'"
This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:
This phrase emphasizes the authority and sovereignty of God. The title "LORD of Hosts" signifies God's command over the armies of heaven, indicating His supreme power. The "God of Israel" highlights His covenant relationship with the nation of Israel, reminding them of their unique position and responsibilities. This introduction underscores that the message is not from Jeremiah himself but from God, lending it divine authority.

Behold, I am about to bring on this city and on all the villages around it every disaster I have pronounced against them:
The term "Behold" serves as a call to attention, indicating the seriousness of the forthcoming message. The "city" refers to Jerusalem, the center of religious and political life in Judah, while "all the villages around it" includes the surrounding areas, showing that the judgment is comprehensive. The disasters mentioned are the consequences of the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28, which were to befall Israel if they disobeyed God. This prophecy was fulfilled with the Babylonian invasion and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

because they have stiffened their necks so as not to heed My words:
The phrase "stiffened their necks" is a metaphor for stubbornness and rebellion, often used in the Old Testament to describe Israel's resistance to God's commands (e.g., Exodus 32:9, Deuteronomy 9:6). This imagery suggests an unwillingness to submit to God's authority, akin to an ox resisting the yoke. The refusal to "heed My words" indicates a rejection of the prophetic messages delivered by Jeremiah and other prophets, who called the people to repentance. This disobedience is the root cause of the impending judgment, highlighting the importance of obedience to God's word.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD of Hosts
This title emphasizes God's supreme authority and power over all heavenly and earthly armies. It underscores His ability to execute judgment.

2. Jeremiah
The prophet who delivers God's message. Known as the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah's ministry was marked by warnings of impending judgment due to Israel's unfaithfulness.

3. The City
Refers to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, which was the center of religious and political life for the Israelites.

4. Villages around it
The surrounding areas of Jerusalem, indicating that the judgment would not be limited to the city alone but would extend to its neighboring regions.

5. Stiffened Necks
A metaphor for stubbornness and rebellion against God, indicating a refusal to heed divine warnings and commands.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Disobedience
God's warnings are not to be taken lightly. Persistent disobedience leads to inevitable judgment.

The Importance of Heeding God's Word
Listening to and obeying God's Word is crucial for avoiding spiritual and physical calamity.

God's Patience and Justice
While God is patient, His justice will ultimately prevail. His repeated warnings are an act of mercy, giving people time to repent.

The Role of Prophets
Prophets like Jeremiah serve as God's mouthpiece, calling people back to righteousness. Their messages, though often unpopular, are vital for spiritual health.

Stubbornness as a Spiritual Barrier
A "stiff neck" symbolizes resistance to God's will. Believers must remain humble and open to correction.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the metaphor of "stiffened necks" apply to our personal spiritual lives today?

2. In what ways can we ensure that we are listening to and obeying God's Word in our daily lives?

3. How does understanding God's patience and justice affect our view of His character and our relationship with Him?

4. What role do modern-day "prophets" or spiritual leaders play in guiding us back to God's path, and how can we discern their messages?

5. How can we draw parallels between the warnings given to Jerusalem and the warnings we might receive in our own spiritual communities today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 31:27
This verse also uses the metaphor of a "stiff-necked" people, highlighting Israel's historical pattern of rebellion against God.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16
Chronicles the repeated warnings given by God through His prophets and the people's persistent refusal to listen, leading to judgment.

Acts 7:51
Stephen accuses the Jewish leaders of being "stiff-necked," drawing a parallel between their rejection of Jesus and their ancestors' rejection of God's prophets.
Denunciations of DoomS. Conway Jeremiah 19:1-15
People
Ben, Jeremiah
Places
Jerusalem, Potsherd Gate, Topheth, Valley of Hinnom, Valley of Slaughter
Topics
Armies, Behold, Bring, Bringing, Calamity, Cities, Declared, Disaster, Ear, Entire, Evil, Hardened, Heed, Hosts, Listen, Neck, Necks, Pronounced, Refusing, Says, Spoken, Stiff, Stiffened, Stiff-necked, Thus, Town, Towns, Villages
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 19:15

     5170   neck
     5601   village

Jeremiah 19:1-15

     4290   valleys
     9511   hell, place of punishment

Library
The Valley of Hinnom.
A great part of the valley of Kedron was called also the 'Valley of Hinnom.' Jeremiah, going forth into the valley of Hinnom, went out by the gate "Hacharsith, the Sun-gate," Jeremiah 19:2; that is, the Rabbins and others being interpreters, 'by the East-gate.' For thence was the beginning of the valley of Hinnom, which, after some space, bending itself westward, ran out along the south side of the city. There is no need to repeat those very many things, which are related of this place in the Old
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters,
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

On Earthly Things
The earth is man himself; in the gospel: another has fallen into the good earth. The same in a bad part about the sinner: you devour the earth all the days of your life. [Mark 4:18; Genesis 3:14] The dry lands are the flesh of a fruitless man; in Ecclesiastes, to work in a dry land with evil and sorrow. [Ecclesiastes 37:3] The dust is a sinner or the vanity of the flesh; in the psalm: like the dust, which the wind blows about. [Ps. 1:4 Vulgate] The mud is the gluttony of sinners; in the psalm: tear
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

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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