The coming judgment from the north, that Jeremiah has been proclaiming, will not be the first time that the Lord’s people experience his anger. Throughout Israel’s history there have been a whole series of defeats by enemies and disasters such as famines and plagues as the Lord has brought his judgment against the persistent unfaithfulness of Israel.1 The Lord has struck them down
and consumed them,
but they have felt no anguish
and refused to take correction.
All these previous occasions of judgment were meant to be a warning to Israel and a call to repent of their unfaithfulness, but like a stubborn child they have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.
There is little, or even no hope of finding any kind of justice or faithfulness among this people.
3 O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.