Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"I will hand them over to trouble"
Text: Jeremiah 15:4
FOUR TERRIBLE FORMS OF DEATH
The judgment of the LORD was clearly stated time and again. This word described death in four horrible ways.
“‘And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction,’
says the LORD: ‘the sword to slay, the dogs to drag,
the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.
I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth,
because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah,
for what he did in Jerusalem.'”
Jeremiah 15:3-4
1. “‘And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction,’ says the LORD”
a) These forms of destruction were announced.
b) They were determined by the LORD Himself.
2. The Four Forms
a) “The sword”
A reference to the battlefield or execution.
b) “The dogs”
There were stray dogs that were vicious in their attacks at prey that were weak and vulnerable.
c) “The birds of the heavens”
These were scavengers like the vultures and the ravens.
d) “The beasts of the earth”
These could be predators like lions and leopards.
They will bring death in very gruesome ways! They will devour their prey. Those destroyed this way may not have a decent burial!
3. “I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth”
a) The children of Judah would face all these problems.
b) They would also go into exile to all the kings of the earth.
4. “Because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem”
a) Manasseh was arguably the worst king of Judah.
b) His father was king Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:33).
c) The wicked deeds of Manasseh.
i) He promoted Baal worship (2 Chronicles 33:3).
ii) He even set up altars to idols in the Temple of God (2 Chronicles 33:4).
iii) He built altars to worship all the host of heaven (2 Chronicles 33:5).
iv) He practised child sacrifice (2 Chronicles 33:6).
v) He indulged in the occult (2 Chronicles 33:7).
vi) He caused the nation to do great evil (2 Chronicles 33:9).
d) Because of his deadly influence many became worse and worse.
This punishment from the Lord shows the way in which God was offended!