Jeremiah 5:1-6; ; Jeremiah 20:1-18; Jeremiah 21:1-14; ; Jeremiah 22:1-30; Jeremiah 23:1-40; ; Jeremiah 24:1-10; Jeremiah 25:1-38; ; Jeremiah 26:1-24; Jeremiah 27:1-22; ; Jeremiah 28:1-17; Jeremiah 29:1-32; ; Jeremiah 30:1-24; Jeremiah 31:1-40
2 In spite of many fine professions of faith, it was difficult to find anyone who did what was right, who sought for truth in Jerusalem (v. 1; Ezekiel 22:30). The God of mercy would be ready to pardon the guilty city if only one righteous man could be found (v. 1; cf. Genesis 18:23 . . .). Sadly this faithfulness, so pleasing to God, was not to be found either among the common folk or among the noble ones, who were better taught, and therefore the more responsible (cf. Psalms 62:9). The end of the chapter shows this, as does the whole story of Jeremiah. "These are poor; they are foolish" (v. 4). This might equally be said of the many people who in this our day are going on heedless to perdition.
In vain has the LORD chastised His people. "They have not grieved . . . they have refused to receive correction . . . they have refused to return" (v. 3; Zephaniah 3:2). What can a doctor do when his sick patient refuses to take his medicine on the pretext that he is not suffering? May we never shirk this needed correction. May we keep our consciences very sensitive to what the Lord wants to say to us; otherwise "what will ye do in the end?" asks the prophet (v. 31).