4:1, 2 Throughout the Old Testament, God consistently revealed his intentions to bless the nations of the world. His global vision included a central role for the people of Israel as the channel through which God would pour out his blessings on all nations. But their privilege as the chosen people was in jeopardy as long as they insisted on disobedience and idolatry.
4:3 Jeremiah told the people to break up the hardness of their hearts as a plow breaks up fallow ground—soil that has not been tilled for a season. Good kings like Josiah had tried to turn the people back to God, but the people had continued to worship their idols in secret. Their hearts had become hardened to God’s will. Unless their hearts were broken and cleaned up, the good seed of God’s commands could not take root. Old habits and hidden sins had to be uprooted and rejected. Likewise we must remove our heart-hardening sin if we expect God’s Word to take root and grow in our lives.
4:6, 7 The destruction from the north came from Babylon when Nabopolassar and his son, Nebuchadnezzar II, attacked (see 2 Chronicles 36).
4:10 Jeremiah, deeply moved by God’s words, expressed his sorrow and confusion to God. Jeremiah was intercessor for the people. These people had false expectations because of the past promises of blessings, their blindness to their own sin, and the false prophets who kept telling them that all was well.
4:15 Destruction was announced first from Dan and then on to the hill country of Ephraim because Dan was located at the northern border of Israel. Thus, the Danites would be the first to see the approaching armies as they invaded from the north. No one would be able to stop the armies because they would be coming as punishment for the people’s sin.
4:19-31 Jeremiah was anguished by the sure devastation of the coming judgment. This judgment would continue until the people turned from their sin and listened to God. Although this prophecy refers to the future destruction by Babylon, it could also describe the judgment of all sinners at the end of the world. These verses also speak to those in an age of terrorism about overwhelming feelings of dread and the importance of recognizing God’s ultimate control over the events of history.
4:22 Judah was clever at doing wrong but did not know how to do what was right. Right living is more than simply avoiding sin. It requires decision and discipline. We must develop skills in right living because our behavior attracts attention to our God. We should pursue excellence in Christian living with as much effort as we pursue excellence at work.
4:27 God warned that destruction was certain, but he promised that the faithful remnant would be spared. God is committed to preserving those who are faithful to him.