I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, 'What have I done?' Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle. I have listened and heard;This phrase emphasizes God's attentiveness to the actions and words of His people. It reflects the divine attribute of omniscience, where God is fully aware of human behavior and intentions. In the context of Jeremiah, God is portrayed as a witness to the moral and spiritual state of Judah. This echoes other scriptures where God listens to His people, such as in Exodus 3:7, where God hears the cries of the Israelites in Egypt. they do not speak what is right.
The people of Judah are depicted as failing to uphold truth and righteousness in their speech. This reflects a broader theme in the prophetic books where the integrity of speech is a measure of one's faithfulness to God. The failure to speak rightly is indicative of a deeper spiritual malaise, as seen in Isaiah 59:14-15, where truth has stumbled in the public square. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’
This highlights the absence of self-examination and repentance among the people. Repentance is a central theme in the Bible, calling for a turning away from sin and a return to God. The rhetorical question "What have I done?" suggests a lack of awareness or acknowledgment of sin, contrasting with the call to repentance found in passages like 2 Chronicles 7:14. Everyone has pursued his own course
This phrase indicates a collective turning away from God's path, with each individual following their own desires. It reflects the theme of waywardness found throughout the Old Testament, such as in Judges 21:25, where everyone did what was right in their own eyes. This pursuit of personal paths over God's ways is a recurring issue leading to judgment. like a horse charging into battle.
The imagery of a horse charging into battle conveys a sense of reckless determination and lack of restraint. Horses in ancient warfare were symbols of strength and speed, but here the metaphor underscores the people's headlong rush into sin without consideration of the consequences. This imagery is reminiscent of the warnings in Proverbs 14:12 about the way that seems right to a man but leads to death. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and calls for repentance to the people of Judah. 2. JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, which was often the focus of Jeremiah's prophecies due to its persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. 3. GodThe speaker in this verse, expressing His disappointment with the people's lack of repentance and self-awareness. 4. The People of JudahThe audience of Jeremiah's prophecy, characterized by their stubbornness and refusal to acknowledge their sins. 5. The Horse Charging into BattleA metaphor used to describe the people's reckless pursuit of their own desires without consideration of the consequences. Teaching Points The Importance of Self-ExaminationWe must regularly ask ourselves, "What have I done?" to ensure we are living in alignment with God's will. The Danger of Spiritual DeafnessIgnoring God's voice and failing to repent can lead us down a destructive path. Repentance as a Daily PracticeTrue repentance involves a change of heart and direction, not just acknowledgment of wrongdoing. The Consequences of IgnoranceLike a horse charging into battle, pursuing our own desires without seeking God's guidance can lead to spiritual ruin. God's Desire for RighteousnessGod listens and desires for us to speak and act rightly, reflecting His character in our lives. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some practical ways we can cultivate a habit of self-examination in our daily lives? 2. How can we ensure that we are not spiritually deaf to God's voice and guidance? 3. In what areas of your life do you need to ask, "What have I done?" and seek repentance? 4. How does the metaphor of a horse charging into battle illustrate the dangers of pursuing our own desires without God's guidance? 5. How can we apply the lessons from Jeremiah 8:6 to ensure we are living righteously and in accordance with God's will? Connections to Other Scriptures Isaiah 1:3This verse also highlights the people's lack of understanding and awareness of their actions, similar to Jeremiah 8:6. Hosea 4:6Emphasizes the destruction that comes from a lack of knowledge and understanding, paralleling the ignorance seen in Jeremiah 8:6. Romans 3:10-12Paul echoes the theme of universal sinfulness and the absence of righteousness, which aligns with the behavior described in Jeremiah 8:6. Proverbs 14:12Warns about the way that seems right to a person but ultimately leads to death, similar to the reckless path pursued by the people in Jeremiah 8:6. People Dan, JeremiahPlaces Dan, Gilead, Jerusalem, ZionTopics Aright, Attended, Attention, Attentively, Battle, Charging, Course, Courses, Didn't, Ear, Evil-doing, Fight, Goes, Headlong, Hearken, Hearkened, Heed, Horse, Listened, Note, Plunging, Pursues, Regret, Repented, Repenteth, Repents, Rushes, Rusheth, Rushing, Saying, Spake, Speak, Spoke, Spoken, Turneth, Turns, Wickedness, YeaDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 8:6 5847 enthusiasm Library December 8. "Is There no Balm in Gilead; is There no Physician There?" (Jer. viii. 22).
"Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?" (Jer. viii. 22). Divine healing is just divine life. It is the headship of Christ over the body. It is the life of Christ in the frame. It is the union of our members with the very body of Christ and the inflowing life of Christ in our living members. It is as real as His risen and glorified body. It is as reasonable as the fact that He was raised from the dead and is a living man with a true body and a rational soul to-day, at God's right …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth What have I Done?
The text is "What have I done?" I shall just introduce that by a few words of affectionate persuasion, urging all now present to ask that question: secondly, I shall give them a few words of assistance in trying to answer it; and when I have so done, I shall finish by a few sentences of solemn admonition to those who have had to answer the question against themselves. I. First, then, a few words of EARNEST PERSUASION, requesting every one now present, and more especially every unconverted person, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858 Who Shall Deliver?
"Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?"--JER. viii. 22. "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God."-JER. iii. 22. "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed."-JER. xii. 14. "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession "For they that are after the Flesh do Mind,"
Rom. viii. s 5, 6.--"For they that are after the flesh do mind," &c. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." There are many differences among men in this world, that, as to outward appearance, are great and wide, and indeed they are so eagerly pursued, and seriously minded by men, as if they were great and momentous. You see what a strife and contention there is among men, how to be extracted out of the dregs of the multitude, and set a little higher …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Letter ii (A. D. 1126) to the Monk Adam
To the Monk Adam [3] 1. If you remain yet in that spirit of charity which I either knew or believed to be with you formerly, you would certainly feel the condemnation with which charity must regard the scandal which you have given to the weak. For charity would not offend charity, nor scorn when it feels itself offended. For it cannot deny itself, nor be divided against itself. Its function is rather to draw together things divided; and it is far from dividing those that are joined. Now, if that …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux 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 A Book for Boys and Girls Or, Temporal Things Spritualized.
by John Bunyan, Licensed and entered according to order. London: Printed for, and sold by, R. Tookey, at his Printing House in St. Christopher's Court, in Threadneedle Street, behind the Royal Exchange, 1701. Advertisement by the Editor. Some degree of mystery hangs over these Divine Emblems for children, and many years' diligent researches have not enabled me completely to solve it. That they were written by Bunyan, there cannot be the slightest doubt. 'Manner and matter, too, are all his own.'[1] …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 "But Whereunto Shall I Liken this Generation?"
Matth. xi. 16.--"But whereunto shall I liken this generation?" When our Lord Jesus, who had the tongue of the learned, and spoke as never man spake, did now and then find a difficulty to express the matter herein contained. "What shall we do?" The matter indeed is of great importance, a soul matter, and therefore of great moment, a mystery, and therefore not easily expressed. No doubt he knows how to paint out this to the life, that we might rather behold it with our eyes, than hear it with our …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 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 8:6 NIVJeremiah 8:6 NLTJeremiah 8:6 ESVJeremiah 8:6 NASBJeremiah 8:6 KJV
Jeremiah 8:6 Commentaries
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