◄ Jeremiah 10:17 ►
Gather up your belongings from this land, you who live under siege.
Study Bible
Gather up your belongings
The phrase "Gather up your belongings" is a call to action, urging the people to prepare for imminent departure. In the Hebrew text, the word for "gather" is "אסף" (asaph), which conveys the idea of collecting or assembling. This is not merely a physical act but also a spiritual preparation. Historically, this reflects the urgency of the situation faced by the inhabitants of Judah as they were about to be exiled. The call to gather belongings symbolizes the need to prioritize what is truly important, both materially and spiritually, in times of crisis.

from this land
The phrase "from this land" refers specifically to the land of Judah, which was under threat from Babylonian forces. The Hebrew word for "land" is "ארץ" (eretz), often used in the Old Testament to denote not just physical territory but also the covenantal promise of God to His people. The impending exile signifies a temporary removal from the land of promise, a consequence of the people's disobedience. This serves as a reminder of the conditional nature of God's blessings tied to the land, emphasizing the need for faithfulness to His covenant.

you who live under siege
The phrase "you who live under siege" describes the dire circumstances of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The Hebrew word for "siege" is "מצור" (matsor), indicating a state of being surrounded by enemy forces, leading to isolation and deprivation. Historically, this reflects the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, a period of intense suffering and hardship. Spiritually, living under siege can be seen as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations faced by believers. It is a call to trust in God's deliverance and to remain steadfast in faith, even when surrounded by adversity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
The prophet who conveyed God's messages to the people of Judah, warning them of impending judgment due to their idolatry and disobedience.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which was under threat from Babylonian invasion due to its persistent sin and rebellion against God.

3. Babylonian Siege
The historical context of this verse is the Babylonian threat and eventual siege of Jerusalem, leading to the exile of the Jewish people.
Teaching Points
Urgency of Repentance
Jeremiah's call to "gather up your belongings" signifies the urgency of repentance and readiness to face the consequences of sin. Believers today should heed the call to turn from sin and seek God's forgiveness.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
The impending siege reflects God's control over nations and history. Christians are reminded that God is sovereign and His plans will prevail, even in times of judgment.

Hope Amidst Judgment
While the verse speaks of impending doom, the broader context of Jeremiah assures believers of God's promise to restore and redeem. This encourages Christians to trust in God's ultimate plan for good.

Living as Exiles
Just as the people of Judah were to prepare for exile, Christians are called to live as "strangers and exiles" in this world, focusing on eternal values and God's kingdom.

Material Detachment
The instruction to gather belongings can be seen as a call to hold loosely to material possessions, prioritizing spiritual readiness over earthly attachments.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the historical context of the Babylonian siege enhance our interpretation of Jeremiah 10:17?

2. In what ways can we apply the urgency of Jeremiah's message to our own spiritual lives today?

3. How does the theme of God's sovereignty in Jeremiah 10:17 provide comfort in times of personal or national crisis?

4. What parallels can we draw between the exile of Judah and the New Testament concept of Christians living as exiles in the world?

5. How can we balance the need for material possessions with the call to be spiritually prepared, as suggested by Jeremiah's instruction to "gather up your belongings"?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 29:10-14
This passage offers hope and a future restoration for the exiled people, showing God's faithfulness despite the judgment.

2 Kings 24:10-16
Describes the Babylonian siege and the first deportation of the Jews, providing historical context to Jeremiah's warning.

Isaiah 39:6-7
Isaiah's prophecy about the Babylonian captivity, which aligns with Jeremiah's warnings and highlights the consequences of disobedience.
Sermons
IdolatryS. Conway Jeremiah 10:1-17
Wherefore God Doth Judge the WorldS. Conway Jeremiah 10:17, 18
People
Jacob, Jeremiah, Tarshish
Places
Tarshish, Uphaz, Zion
Topics
Abide, Abidest, Baggage, Belongings, Bulwark, Bundle, Dwell, Dweller, Fortress, Gather, Goods, Ground, Inhabitant, Inhabitress, Leave, Merchandise, O, Pick, Shut, Siege, Town, Walled, Wares
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 10:17-18

     7259   promised land, later history

Library
May 16. "It is not in Man that Walketh to Direct his Steps" (Jer. x. 23).
"It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. x. 23). United to Jesus Christ as your Redeemer, you are accepted in the Beloved. He does not merely take my place as a man and settle my debts. He does that and more. He comes to give a perfect ideal of what a man should be. He is the model man, not for us to copy, for that would only bring discouragement and utter failure; but He will come and copy Himself in us. If Christ lives in me, I am another Christ. I am not like Him, but I have the …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Possessing and Possessed
'The portion of Jacob is not like them--for He is the former of all things: and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. The Lord of Hosts is His name.'--JER. x. 16, R.V. Here we have set forth a reciprocal possession. We possess God, He possesses us. We are His inheritance, He is our portion. I am His; He is mine. This mutual ownership is the very living centre of all religion. Without it there is no relation of any depth between God and us. How much profounder such a conception is than the shallow …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

An Instructive Truth
"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."--Jeremiah 10:23. This declaration follows after Jeremiah's lamentation over the Lord's ancient people, who were about to be carried captive into Babylon. The prophet speaks of a fact that was well known to him. It is always well, brethren, to know the truth, and to know it so certainly that you are able to remember it just when you most need it. There are some people, who are very much like …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 50: 1904

Dwight -- the Sovereignty of God
Timothy Dwight was born at Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1752. He graduated from Yale in 1769, served as chaplain in the army during the Revolutionary War and was chosen president of his university in 1795. He died, after holding that office for twelve years, in 1817. Lyman Beecher, who attributed his conversion to him, says: "He was of noble form, with a noble head and body, and had one of the sweetest smiles that ever you saw. When I heard him preach on 'the harvest is passed, the summer is ended, …
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 3

Of the Exercises of a Religious Man
The life of a Christian ought to be adorned with all virtues, that he may be inwardly what he outwardly appeareth unto men. And verily it should be yet better within than without, for God is a discerner of our heart, Whom we must reverence with all our hearts wheresoever we are, and walk pure in His presence as do the angels. We ought daily to renew our vows, and to kindle our hearts to zeal, as if each day were the first day of our conversion, and to say, "Help me, O God, in my good resolutions, …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Of Hiding Our Grace under the Guard of Humility
"My Son, it is better and safer for thee to hide the grace of devotion, and not to lift thyself up on high, nor to speak much thereof, nor to value it greatly; but rather to despise thyself, and to fear as though this grace were given to one unworthy thereof. Nor must thou depend too much upon this feeling, for it can very quickly be turned into its opposite. Think when thou art in a state of grace how miserable and poor thou art wont to be without grace. Nor is there advance in spiritual life …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

A Wise Desire
I remember once going to a chapel where this happened to be the text, and the good man who occupied the pulpit was more than a little of an Arminian. Therefore, when he commenced, he said, "This passage refers entirely to our temporal inheritance. It has nothing whatever to do with our everlasting destiny: for," said he, "We do not want Christ to choose for us in the matter of heaven or hell. It is so plain and easy that every man who has a grain of common sense will choose heaven; and any person …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

"And Hereby we do Know that we Know Him, if we Keep his Commandments. "
1 John ii. 3.--"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." This age pretends to much knowledge beyond former ages, knowledge, I say, not only in other natural arts and sciences, but especially in religion. Whether there be any great advancement in other knowledge, and improvement of that which was, to a further extent and clearness, I cannot judge, but I believe there is not much of it in this nation, nor do we so much pretend to it. But, we talk of the enlargements of …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"Hear the Word of the Lord, Ye Rulers of Sodom, Give Ear unto the Law of Our God, Ye People of Gomorrah,"
Isaiah i. 10, 11, &c.--"Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah," &c. It is strange to think what mercy is mixed with the most wrath like strokes and threatenings. There is no prophet whose office and commission is only for judgment, nay, to speak the truth, it is mercy that premises threatenings. The entering of the law, both in the commands and curses, is to make sin abound, that grace may superabound, so that both rods and threatenings …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How Christ is the Way in General, "I am the Way. "
We come now to speak more particularly to the words; and, first, Of his being a way. Our design being to point at the way of use-making of Christ in all our necessities, straits, and difficulties which are in our way to heaven; and particularly to point out the way how believers should make use of Christ in all their particular exigencies; and so live by faith in him, walk in him, grow up in him, advance and march forward toward glory in him. It will not be amiss to speak of this fulness of Christ …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Meditations for Household Piety.
1. If thou be called to the government of a family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thy own person, unless thou cause all under thy charge to do the same with thee. For the performance of this duty God was so well pleased with Abraham, that he would not hide from him his counsel: "For," saith God, "I know him that he will command his sons and his household after him that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

"For if Ye Live after the Flesh, Ye Shall Die; but if Ye through the Spirit do Mortify the Deeds of the Body, Ye Shall Live.
Rom. viii. s 13, 14.--"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." The life and being of many things consists in union,--separate them, and they remain not the same, or they lose their virtue. It is much more thus in Christianity, the power and life of it consists in the union of these things that God hath conjoined, so that if any man pretend to …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Creation
Q-7: WHAT ARE THE DECREES OF GOD? A: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever shall come to pass. I have already spoken something concerning the decrees of God under the attribute of his immutability. God is unchangeable in his essence, and he-is unchangeable in his decrees; his counsel shall stand. He decrees the issue of all things, and carries them on to their accomplishment by his providence; I …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

God's Sovereignty and Prayer
"If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us" (1 John 5:14). Throughout this book it has been our chief aim to exalt the Creator and abase the creature. The well-nigh universal tendency now, is to magnify man and dishonour and degrade God. On every hand it will be found that, when spiritual things are under discussion, the human side and element is pressed and stressed, and the Divine side, if not altogether ignored, is relegated to the background. This holds true of very much of the …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

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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