Poor Jeremiah. What a terrible time to be a prophet. The one godly king, Josiah, meets an untimely death, which affected Jeremiah so that he composed laments for the people to sing. Once Josiah was gone, and his wicked sons took the throne, any semblance of godliness was gone as well. Then Jeremiah learns that the men of Anathoth were plotting against him and threatening to kill him if he won't stop prophesying. It's no wonder he went to God with his complaint.
You are always righteous, O LORD,
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease?
You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts. - Jer. 12:1-2
Why do the wicked prosper? God's answer to Jeremiah was for Jeremiah to go buy a linen belt and after he had worn it, to stuff it in a crevice in a rock and leave it. Naturally, when Jeremiah went back to retrieve it at God's command, it was ruined. That is what is going to happen to Israel, God told Jeremiah. 'They will become totally useless. The people are going to be filled with drunkenness, lust and adultery. But that will all change when drought takes over the land and there will be no water to drink, no grass for the cattle, no food. The prophets who say nothing bad will happen are lying. And even your prayers, Jeremiah, will not stay my hand.' 'Is there no hope?' Jeremiah finally asks the Lord. 'Have you completely rejected Judah?' Jeremiah cries a cry of repentance for all of Judah, but they have gone too far. The wicked who prospered so, who thought they were immune to any disaster, will be no more.
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