Jeremiah 12

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Jeremiah 12

Jeremiah's Complaint

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1 You will be righteous, Lord, even if I bring a case against You. Yet, I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the treacherous live at ease?

Ezra 9:15, Job 13:3, Jeremiah 5:27-28, Jeremiah 11:20, Habakkuk 1:4

2 You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their conscience.

Isaiah 29:13, Ezekiel 17:5-10, Ezekiel 33:31, Titus 1:16

3 As for You, Lord, You know me; You see me. You test whether my heart is with You. Drag the wicked away like sheep to slaughter and set them apart for the day of killing.

4 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? Because of the evil of its residents, animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.”

Jeremiah 5:31, Hosea 4:3, Joel 1:10-17

1 Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?

2 You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts.

3 But as for me, Lord, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts. Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered! Set them aside to be slaughtered!

4 How long must this land mourn? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land. For the people have said, “The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us!”

1 You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

3 Yet you know me, Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!

4 How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, “He will not see what happens to us.”

1 Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

3 But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

The LORD's Response

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5 If you have raced with runners and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?

Jeremiah 50:44

6 Even your brothers—your own father’s household — even they were treacherous to you; even they have cried out loudly after you. Do not have confidence in them, though they speak well of you.

7 I have abandoned My house; I have deserted My inheritance. I have given the love of My life into the hands of her enemies.

Jeremiah 7:29, Jeremiah 11:15, Hosea 11:1-4

5 “If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?

6 Even your brothers, members of your own family, have turned against you. They plot and raise complaints against you. Do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak.

7 “I have abandoned my people, my special possession. I have surrendered my dearest ones to their enemies.

5 “If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?

6 Even your brothers, members of your own family, have turned against you. They plot and raise complaints against you. Do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak.

7 “I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies.

5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

7 I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.

Study Notes

Study Notes - Jeremiah 12:1-6

1. Many people have asked, "Why are the wicked so prosperous? (see Job 21:4-21 and Habakkuk 1:1-4). Jeremiah knew that God's justice would ultimately come, but he was impatient because he wanted justice to come quickly. God didn't give a theoretical answer; instead, he gave a challenge: if Jeremiah couldn't handle this, how would he handle the injustices and invading armies that lay ahead? It is natural for us to demand fair play and cry for justice against those who take advantage of others. But when we call for justice, we must realize that we ourselves would be in big trouble if God gave each of us what we truly deserve.

Study Notes - Jeremiah 12:5-6

1. Life was extremely difficult for Jeremiah despite his love for and obedience to God. His own brothers had joined with the people of Anathoth in the plot to kill him (see Jeremiah 11:18-21). When he called to God for relief, God's reply was, in effect, "If you think this is bad, how will you cope when it gets really tough?" Not all of God's answers to prayer are nice or easy to handle. Any Christian who has experienced war, bereavement, a serious illness, or being driven from their community knows this. But we are to stay committed to God even in difficult times, when His answers to our prayers don't bring the needed relief, and in seasons when He doesn't even seem to be listening to us.

Cross-References

1. Jeremiah 12:5-6 >> Jeremiah 11:21

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