Jeremiah 4:5-18--Disaster from the North

Jeremiah 4:5-18
English Standard Version

Disaster from the North
5 Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,

“Blow the trumpet through the land;
    cry aloud and say,
‘Assemble, and let us go
    into the fortified cities!’
6 Raise a standard toward Zion,
    flee for safety, stay not,
for I bring disaster from the north,
    and great destruction.
7 A lion has gone up from his thicket,
    a destroyer of nations has set out;
    he has gone out from his place
to make your land a waste;
    your cities will be ruins
    without inhabitant.
8 For this put on sackcloth,
    lament and wail,
for the fierce anger of the LORD
    has not turned back from us.”

9 “In that day, declares the LORD, courage shall fail both king and officials. The priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded.” 10 Then I said, “Ah, LORD God, surely you have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘It shall be well with you,’ whereas the sword has reached their very life.”

11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A hot wind from the bare heights in the desert toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow or cleanse, 12 a wind too full for this comes for me. Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them.”

13 Behold, he comes up like clouds;
    his chariots like the whirlwind;
his horses are swifter than eagles--
    woe to us, for we are ruined!
14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil,
    that you may be saved.
How long shall your wicked thoughts
    lodge within you?
15 For a voice declares from Dan
    and proclaims trouble from Mount Ephraim.
16 Warn the nations that he is coming;
    announce to Jerusalem,
“Besiegers come from a distant land;
    they shout against the cities of Judah.
17 Like keepers of a field are they against her all around,
    because she has rebelled against me,
declares the LORD.
18 Your ways and your deeds
    have brought this upon you.
This is your doom, and it is bitter;
    it has reached your very heart.”

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God tells Judah and Jerusalem to prepare for an invasion from the North.  He tells them to blow the trumpets to assemble the people, not to fight in the war (for they will lose if they try), but to take shelter as much as possible in the walled city of Jerusalem (apparently, it will be kept safe) and to flee if they are unable to make it a walled city.

Though the LORD told them ahead of time, they will accuse Him of deceiving them and making them think that they were safe and going to prosper.  He did not such thing, but He allowed them to believe these delusions that had been concocted for them.  Now the king, the priests, the prophets and the people will all be taken by surprise when their lives are put in jeopardy by this opposing force.  However, it is the LORD Himself who is pictured as the one bringing judgment and wrath.  Though He is using other nations to do so, He is the one executing judgment.  He will even bring the forces of nature to bear to do battle against the wickedness of the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  Even the pagan people who the LORD will use to judge His people will know they are being used by the LORD to execute His judgment.