Jeremiah 22:1-10--Message to the House of David (CONT.)

Jeremiah 22:1-10
English Standard Version

22 Thus says the LORD: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak there this word, 2 and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates. 3 Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people. 5 But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation. 6 For thus says the LORD concerning the house of the king of Judah:

“‘You are like Gilead to me,
    like the summit of Lebanon,
yet surely I will make you a desert,
    an uninhabited city.
7 I will prepare destroyers against you,
    each with his weapons,
and they shall cut down your choicest cedars
    and cast them into the fire.

8 “‘And many nations will pass by this city, and every man will say to his neighbor, “Why has the LORD dealt thus with this great city?” 9 And they will answer, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and worshiped other gods and served them.”’”

10 Weep not for him who is dead,
    nor grieve for him,
but weep bitterly for him who goes away,
    for he shall return no more
    to see his native land.

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A continuation from yesterday's journal article as the chapter division split's Jeremiah's prophecy to the house of David (the royal family).  This part of the message is specifically for the current king and his household.  In fact, the LORD has Jeremiah go to the king's house to deliver this message.  The content of this part of the message is much the same--the king is to execute justice for all the people, but to take special care to do justice for those who could be easily victimized.  He is to punish those who victimize others, especially those who would shed innocent blood.  If the king would be careful to do all these things, then the LORD promises that He will extend his reign and give him peace and prosperity, but if he does not, then the king's house will become a house of desolation.

Though the LORD loves the king and his family like the people love the choices parts of the Land, the LORD is willing to make the king and his house the proverbial wasteland and desert.  He will send the destroyers after them--their lineage and position will not save them.  The richness of the Land will be explanted by those who conquer them so that they will cut down the cedar and use them for simple firewood.

Jeremiah tells the king not to weep for the dead, but for the exiles, because every single exile who goes away will die before the LORD allows a new generation to return.  Seventy years will pass before this period of exile is over.  There is nothing more than could be done for the dead, but the exiles would have to live with the feeling of being abandoned, helpless and hopeless for the rest of their lives.