5:1 Jerusalem was the capital city and center of worship for Judah. God was willing to spare the city if only one person who was just and honest could be found (he made a similar statement about Sodom; see Genesis 18:32). Think how significant your testimony may be in your city or community. You may represent the only witness for God to many people. Are you faithful to that opportunity?
5:3 Nothing but truth is acceptable to God. When we pray, sing, speak, or serve, nothing closes the door of God’s acceptance more than hypocrisy, lying, or pretense. God sees through us and refuses to listen. To be close to God, be honest with him.
5:4, 5 Even the leaders who knew God’s laws and understood his words of judgment had rejected him. They were supposed to teach and guide the people, but instead they led them into sin. Jeremiah observed the poor and ignorant—those who were uninformed of God’s ways—and realized they were not learning God’s laws from their leaders. Thus, God’s search in Jerusalem was complete. There were no true followers in any level of society.
5:7 God held these people responsible for the sins of their children because the children had followed their parents’ example. The sin of leading others, especially our children, astray by our example is one for which God will hold us accountable.
5:15 Babylon was indeed an ancient nation. The old Babylonian Empire had lasted from about 1900 to 1550 B.C., and earlier kingdoms had been on her soil as early as 3000 B.C. Babylon in Jeremiah’s day would shortly rebel against Assyrian domination, form its own army, conquer Assyria, and become the next dominant world power.
5:21 Have you ever spoken to someone, only to realize that the person didn’t hear a word you were saying? Jeremiah told the people that their eyes and ears did them no good because they refused to see or hear God’s message. The people of Judah and Israel were foolishly deaf when God promised blessings for obedience and destruction for disobedience. When God speaks through his Word or his messengers, we harm ourselves if we fail to listen. God’s message will never change us unless we heed it.
5:22-24 What is your attitude when you come into God’s presence? We should come with respect and trembling because God sets the boundaries of the roaring seas and sends the rain, assuring us of plentiful harvests. God had to strip away all the benefits that Judah and Israel had grown to expect from him and give the people another opportunity to turn back to him. God still sometimes uses the same method of blessing or withholding blessing to get our attention. Don’t wait until God removes your cherished resources before committing yourself to him as you should.
5:28, 29 People and nations who please God treat the fatherless (orphans) justly and care for the poor. Wicked men in Israel treated the defenseless unjustly, which displeased God greatly. Some defenseless people—orphans, the poor, the homeless, and the lonely—are within your reach. What action can you take to help at least one of them?