14:1 The Lord spoke to Jeremiah about the drought. 

 

According to the Mosaic Law, Israel would be punished by drought for disobeying the Mosaic Law. The “drought” is plural, meaning that Judah has been hit by several droughts.

 

14:2 “The people of Judah are in mourning. The people in her cities are pining away. They lie on the ground expressing their sorrow. Cries of distress come up to me from Jerusalem. 

 

These droughts have caused many deaths in Jerusalem, so the people are mourning their dead.

 

14:3 The leading men of the cities send their servants for water. They go to the cisterns, but they do not find any water there. They return with their containers empty. Disappointed and dismayed, they bury their faces in their hands. 

 

These droughts have even effected the wealthy nobles of the city.

 

14:4 They are dismayed because the ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land. The farmers, too, are dismayed and bury their faces in their hands. 

 

The farmers cannot grow any crops. Their land is beginning to crack.

 

14:5 Even the doe abandons her newborn fawn in the field because there is no grass. 

 

The animal kingdom is also suffering. The does forsakes her newborn fawn, because she can not eat enough grass to produce milk for her young.

 

14:6 Wild donkeys stand on the hilltops and pant for breath like jackals. Their eyes are strained looking for food, because there is none to be found.” 

 

The donkeys stand on the top of hilltops panting, because there is no water. Their eyes begin to fail.

 

14:7 Then I said, “O Lord, intervene for the honor of your name even though our sins speak out against us. Indeed, we have turned away from you many times. We have sinned against you. 

 

Jeremiah prays his first of three intercessory prayers. Jeremiah asked God to provide water so that Jehovah’s name could be honored among the people. Jeremiah confessed the sins of the people and also asked for mercy. 

 

14:8 You have been the object of Israel’s hopes. You have saved them when they were in trouble. Why have you become like a resident foreigner in the land? Why have you become like a traveler who only stops in to spend the night? 

 

Jehovah is the only hope and savior of Israel. Why is God like a stranger to Israel? Why is he like a traveler who only spends one night in Israel?

 

14:9 Why should you be like someone who is helpless, like a champion who cannot save anyone? You are indeed with us, and we belong to you. Do not abandon us!” 

 

Jeremiah continued his first intercessory prayer. God has the power to deliver Israel, but He is acting like a coward. Jehovah is a part of Israel. Israel needs God now. Israel belongs to Jehovah. Do not abandon Israel when she needs God the most.

 

14:10 Then the Lord spoke about these people. “They truly love to go astray. They cannot keep from running away from me. So I am not pleased with them. I will now call to mind the wrongs they have done and punish them for their sins.” 

 

Jehovah answered Jeremiah’s first intercessory prayer. The people love to go astray. They run away from Him when He tries to help them. God is not pleased with them. God is going to point out to Jeremiah why He is displeased with Judah.

 

14:11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for good to come to these people! 

 

Jehovah asked Jeremiah not to pray for Judah. They were past the point of no return. Their cup of iniquity was full.

 

14:12 Even if they fast, I will not hear their cries for help. Even if they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will kill them through wars, famines, and plagues.”

 

Jehovah rejected Jeremiah’s first intercession, Even if Judah fasts, Jehovah will not listen to her prayers. Even if Judah offers Him burnt and grain offerings, Jehovah will not hear her prayers. Instead, Jehovah is going to kill the people of Judah by the big three: sword, famine, and plague.

 

14:13 Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, look! The prophets are telling them that you said, ‘You will not experience war or suffer famine. I will give you lasting peace and prosperity in this land.’ ” 

 

God’s rejection was not what Jeremiah wanted to hear. Jehovah was not a seeker-friendly pastor. Therefore, Jeremiah offered a second prayer of intercession. He blamed the sin of the people on the false prophets. The false prophets were telling the people that they would not experience death by sword, famine, or pestilence. This was the exact opposite of what Jeremiah was telling them. The people liked and listed to the positive messages of the false prophets, but they did not listen to Jeremiah’s negative messages.

 

It is important to note that this situation was very similar to that of modern Carnal Christians who attend seeker-friendly churches. They will not support a pastor who reveals their sin. They will support a pastor who tickles their ears.

 

14:14 Then the Lord said to me, “Those prophets are prophesying lies while claiming my authority! I did not send them. I did not commission them. I did not speak to them. They are prophesying to these people false visions, worthless predictions, and the delusions of their own mind.

 

Jehovah informed Jeremiah that these false prophets were liars, but they were prophesying in the name of Jehovah. Their visions were false. Their predictions were worthless. These prophecies were delusions of their own mind. 

 

These visions and prophecies were very similar to those who are in modern charismatic churches today. The charismatics claim that their visions and prophesies come from the Holy Spirit, but they are actually the delusions of their own mind.

 

14:15 I did not send those prophets, though they claim to be prophesying in my name. They may be saying, ‘No war or famine will happen in this land.’ But I, the Lord, say this about them: ‘War and starvation will kill those prophets.’

 

Jehovah did not send these false prophets. These false prophets who claimed that their would be no death and famine will actually die by war and starvation. There are many charismatics prophets in the church today who are prophesying in the name of the Lord, but they were not sent by God. God will say to them, “I never knew you.”

 

14:16 The people to whom they are prophesying will die through war and famine. Their bodies will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem and there will be no one to bury them. This will happen to the men and their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out on them the destruction they deserve.” 

 

The people who listen to these false prophets will die in the streets of Jerusalem by sword, famine, and pestilence.

 

14:17 “Tell these people this, Jeremiah: ‘My eyes overflow with tears day and night without ceasing. For my people, my dear children, have suffered a crushing blow. They have suffered a serious wound. 

 

Jehovah cries tears night and day, because His children will not listen to Him. This is why Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Jeremiah cries these same tears for his people, just as God does.

 

14:18 If I go out into the countryside, I see those who have been killed in battle. If I go into the city, I see those who are sick because of starvation. For both prophet and priest go about their own business in the land without having any real understanding.’ ”

 

Jeremiah sees through the eyes of Jehovah into the future of Judah. She will die in the streets of the cities and countryside by sword, famine, and pestilence.

 

14:19 Then I said, “Lord, have you completely rejected the nation of Judah? Do you despise the city of Zion? Why have you struck us with such force that we are beyond recovery? We hope for peace, but nothing good has come of it. We hope for a time of relief from our troubles, but experience terror. 

 

Jeremiah began his third intercession. Has Jehovah completely rejected Judah? Does Jehovah hate Judah? Why has Jehovah struck Judah with a devastating blow which cannot be healed? Judah hopes for peace and relief from her troubles, but she experiences terror.

 

14:20 Lord, we confess that we have been wicked. We confess that our ancestors have done wrong. We have indeed sinned against you. 

 

Jeremiah confessed the sins of the nation.

 

14:21 For the honor of your name, do not treat Jerusalem with contempt. Do not treat with disdain the place where your glorious throne sits. Be mindful of your covenant with us. Do not break it! 

 

Jeremiah asked Jehovah to bring honor to His name. He asked Jehovah not to treat Jerusalem with contempt. He reminded Jehovah that Jerusalem was the city of His very throne. He reminded Jehovah of the promises that He had made to Israel. He asked Jehovah not to break these promises.

 

14:22 Do any of the worthless idols of the nations cause rain to fall? Do the skies themselves send showers? Is it not you, O Lord our God, who does this? So we put our hopes in you because you alone do all this.” 

 

Jeremiah confessed that idols were worthless. They cannot cause rain to fall and end the drought. Only Jehovah can bring rain to Judah. Judah needs to transfer her hope to Jehovah so that He could bring rain to the nation.