Jeremiah 4:17 Cross References

Jeremiah 4:17

17: They surround Jerusalem like watchmen surrounding a field, for my people have rebelled against me,'" says the LORD.

"But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned against me and have chosen to practice idolatry.

So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls.
Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign.
By July 18 of Zedekiah's eleventh year, the famine in the city had become very severe, with the last of the food entirely gone.
Then a section of the city wall was broken down, and all the soldiers made plans to escape from the city. But since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, they waited for nightfall and fled through the gate between the two walls behind the king's gardens. They made a dash across the fields, in the direction of the Jordan Valley.

"But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They threw away your law, they killed the prophets who encouraged them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.

"And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived.
Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Let those in Jerusalem escape, and those outside the city should not enter it for shelter.
For those will be days of God's vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled.
How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies. For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
They will be brutally killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be conquered and trampled down by the Gentiles until the age of the Gentiles comes to an end.

For these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay any attention to the LORD's instructions.

But if you keep turning away and refusing to listen, you will be destroyed by your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers.
Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine.
Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them take bribes and refuse to defend the orphans and the widows.

Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you.
They will crush you to the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you have rejected the opportunity God offered you."

O Jerusalem, you are my beautiful and delicate daughter--but I will destroy you!
Enemy shepherds will surround you. They will set up camp around the city and divide your pastures for their flocks.

"Lord, you are in the right; but our faces are covered with shame, just as you see us now. This is true of us all, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.
O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.
But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.
We have not obeyed the LORD our God, for we have not followed the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.
All Israel has disobeyed your law and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice. "So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out against us because of our sin.

In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who, through the prophets, warned them about their sins. But still they wouldn't listen! So once again you allowed the pagan inhabitants of the land to conquer them.

"And the LORD is right," she groans, "for I rebelled against him. Listen, people everywhere; look upon my anguish and despair, for my sons and daughters have been taken captive to distant lands.

Jerusalem stands abandoned like a watchman's shelter in a vineyard or field after the harvest is over. It is as helpless as a city under siege.

Jerusalem has sinned greatly, so she has been tossed away like a filthy rag. All who once honored her now despise her, for they have seen her stripped naked and humiliated. All she can do is groan and hide her face.

"Son of man," he said, "I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a nation that is rebelling against me. Their ancestors have rebelled against me from the beginning, and they are still in revolt to this very day.
They are a hard-hearted and stubborn people. But I am sending you to say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says!'
And whether they listen or not--for remember, they are rebels--at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.
"Son of man, do not fear them. Don't be afraid even though their threats are sharp as thorns and barbed like briers, and they sting like scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls. For remember, they are rebels!
You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won't listen, for they are completely rebellious!

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