Jeremiah 17 meaning/summary, moral lessons, multiple translations and prayer points.
Jeremiah 17 Meaning / Summary
In Jeremiah 17, the Lord reveals to Jeremiah that Judah’s guilt is rooted deeply and cannot be removed. He states that instead of depending on God, the people have disregarded Him and placed their faith in their own abilities and resources.
They have been cursed as a result of their disobedience, and their land will be left in ruins. Jeremiah compares the fate of people who put their faith in themselves to that of people who put their faith in God.
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A person who places their reliance in people is likened to a desolate desert, whereas a person who places their trust in God is like a tree that was planted by water, with roots that reach out for food and leaves that stay green even during times of droughts The heart is more treacherous than all things, and only God has perfect wisdom within it.
The chapter goes on to urge readers to keep the Sabbath holy and to observe it. As a demonstration of their devotion to and faith in God, the populace is admonished to abstain from working on the Sabbath day.
Jeremiah issues a warning that the city of Jerusalem will be burned to the ground if they continue to violate the Sabbath. Jeremiah also forbids false worship and idolatry. He castigates individuals who follow paganism, including providing sacrifices and incense burning to pagan deities. The message is that God is the only one who can save them, and that relying on other gods will only lead to their own doom.
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Jeremiah pleads God in the final paths for protection from his adversaries. He expresses gratitude for his personal devotion to God and begs for his assistance and protection. He requests God to expose his adversaries and declares his faith in God’s power to execute just judgment.
Jeremiah 17 KJV
17 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;
2 Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.
3 O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.
4 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.
13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.
14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
15 Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the Lord? let it come now.
16 As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.
17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
19 Thus said the Lord unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;
20 And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:
21 Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.
23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
25 Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.
26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the Lord.
27 But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Lessons From Jeremiah 17
- The deceitfulness of the human heart: It teaches us to be cautious and not to rely solely on our own understanding or emotions, but to seek guidance and wisdom from God. It teaches us to be cautious and introspective, recognizing our own weaknesses and need for God’s grace.
- Trust in God: It indicates that people who put their faith in the Lord will be rewarded and fruitful, while those who put their confidence in their own strength would feel empty and let down. This lesson demonstrates the importance of putting our faith in God and asking for His direction in every area of our lives.
- The Consequences of Turning Away from God: The chapter discusses outcome of rejecting God and putting your trust in human ability or false idols. For those who desert the Lord, it speaks of dryness and a lack of riches. This lesson emphasizes the value of remaining obedient to God and the consequences of doing otherwise.
- The Blessings of Trust and Obedience: Jeremiah 17 also highlights the benefits of trusting in God and abiding by His commands, which contrasts with the prior statement. It alludes to the idea of prospering and producing fruit even in trying circumstances like a tree planted by water. This lesson exhorts us to maintain our commitment to faith and obedience in the knowledge that God will reward it.
- The Sabbath Rest: The necessity of honoring the Sabbath day and abstaining from work on that day is especially discussed in Jeremiah 17:21–27. It reminds us to respect and observe the Sabbath as a holy day set apart for worship and rest. This lesson demonstrates the need of making time for spiritual renewal and concentrating on our connection with God.
- The Source of True Healing: Jeremiah acknowledges that God is the ultimate source of healing and restoration toward the end of the chapter. Recognizing the limitations of human endeavors, he makes a prayer to God as the only One who can heal and save. This lesson serves as a reminder to seek God’s restoration and healing in all areas of our lives—spiritually and physically—recognizing His power and supremacy.
Prayer Points From Jeremiah 17
- Lord, help me to trust in You completely and not rely on my own strength or human wisdom.
- Heavenly Father, please forgive me for any areas of my life where I have turned away from You and relied on my own understanding.
- Lord, create in me a steadfast and faithful heart that is rooted in Your love and truth.
- Father, please bless me with spiritual discernment to recognize and avoid the deceitful ways of the world.
- Lord, guide me away from any paths that lead to destruction and help me to walk in the ways of righteousness.
- Lord, help me to rest in Your promises and to trust that You are working all things together for my good.Heavenly Father, I pray for a renewal of my strength and endurance, that I may run the race set before me with perseverance.Lord, lead me away from the distractions and idols of this world, and help me to fix my gaze on You.
- Lord, help me to rest in Your promises and to trust that You are working all things together for my good.
- Heavenly Father, I pray for a renewal of my strength and endurance, that I may run the race set before me with perseverance.
- Lord, lead me away from the distractions and idols of this world, and help me to fix my gaze on You.
Other Translations
English Standard Version (ESV)
