15:1 The word of the Lord came to me:
In chapter 15-17, Jehovah would give Jeremiah three parables to teach that Israel has gone past the point of no return.
15:2 “Son of man, of all the woody branches among the trees of the forest, what happens to the wood of the vine?
The wood of the vine was good for producing fruit, but it was too thin, crooked, and weak to build wooden structures.
15:3 Can wood be taken from it to make anything useful? Or can anyone make a peg from it to hang things on?
These two questions required a “no” answer.
15:4 No! It is thrown in the fire for fuel; when the fire has burned up both ends of it and it is charred in the middle, will it be useful for anything?
This third question also required a “no” answer.
15:5 Indeed! If it was not made into anything useful when it was whole, how much less can it be made into anything when the fire has burned it up and it is charred?
A charred twig is even less useful than an uncharred twig.
15:6 “Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Like the wood of the vine is among the trees of the forest which I have provided as fuel for the fire—so I will provide the residents of Jerusalem as fuel.
Jehovah gave the meaning of the parable. Jerusalem was the vine branch. She thought that she was a vine of blessing, but she was no longer producing any fruit. Therefore, she was useless. She would be burned and thrown away. The evil residents of Jerusalem would become the fuel for the fire.
15:7 I will set my face against them—although they have escaped from the fire, the fire will still consume them! Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.
Jerusalem surrendered to Babylon in 597 B.C. She escaped total destruction at this time, but Babylon would return and finish the job. Although Judah had came out of the fire, the fire would still consume them.
15:8 I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully, declares the sovereign Lord.”
Since Israel had committed adultery with demonic idols, then Jehovah would kick Israel out of her land. God would do this, because He is sovereign over all of history.