Sermon Exposition of Jeremiah Seventeen Five to Ten
Exposition of Jeremiah 17:5-10
Jeremiah 17:5-10 presents a stark contrast between the fate of those who trust in man and those who trust in the Lord. The passage begins by pronouncing a curse on those who trust in man (Jeremiah 17:5) and concludes by blessing those who trust in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7) [2].
The curse pronounced on those who trust in man is rooted in the understanding that human strength is frail and unreliable. In Jeremiah 17:5, the prophet declares, "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord." This verse highlights the dangers of relying on human power and wisdom, rather than seeking guidance and strength from God. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge notes that this verse is cross-referenced with Psalms 146:5, which states, "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God" [1].
In contrast, Jeremiah 17:7 pronounces a blessing on those who trust in the Lord, stating, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord." This verse emphasizes the importance of placing one's confidence in God, rather than in human abilities or strengths. According to Matthew Henry, this verse highlights the security and stability that comes from trusting in the Lord [4].
The imagery used in Jeremiah 17:5-10 to describe the consequences of trusting in man versus trusting in the Lord is vivid and evocative. Those who trust in man are likened to a shrub in the desert, unable to access the nourishing waters that would allow them to thrive (Jeremiah 17:6). In contrast, those who trust in the Lord are compared to a tree planted by the waters, whose roots extend to the river and are not affected by the heat (Jeremiah 17:8) [2].
The use of the tree imagery in Jeremiah 17:8 is significant, as it is a common biblical motif for spiritual vitality and fruitfulness. The image of a tree planted by the waters is also found in Psalms 1:3, which describes the righteous as being "like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither" [1].
The passage concludes by highlighting the Lord's role as a searcher of hearts and a tester of minds (Jeremiah 17:10). According to Augustine, this verse emphasizes God's ability to see beyond external appearances and to discern the true intentions of the heart [3].
The contrast between trusting in man and trusting in the Lord is a recurring theme in the book of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 7:1-15, the prophet warns against relying on external rituals and practices, rather than genuine faith and obedience. Matthew Henry notes that this passage emphasizes the importance of living a life of genuine faith and obedience, rather than simply going through the motions of religious practice [4].
The Jewish tradition also emphasizes the importance of trusting in the Lord. In the Babylonian Talmud, the rabbis note that there are five things in this world that are one-sixtieth of their corresponding entities in the world to come, including a dream being one-sixtieth of prophecy [5].
The exposition of Jeremiah 17:5-10 highlights the importance of trusting in the Lord, rather than relying on human strength or wisdom. This passage continues to be relevant today, offering a powerful reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the importance of living a life of genuine faith and obedience.
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Jeremiah 17:7 cross-references: Psalms 2:12, Psalms 20:8, Psalms 34:8, Psalms 40:4, Psalms 84:12, Psalms 125:1, Psalms 146:5, Proverbs 16:20, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 30:18, Zephaniah 3:12, Ephesians 1:12”
- Jeremiah “Behold, they tell me, Where is Yahweh’s word? let it come now. -- Jeremiah 17:15”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LXV.[5] (part 1): 1. The voice of holy prophecy must be confessed in the very title of this Psalm. It is inscribed, "Unto the end, a Psalm of David, a song of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, on account of the people of transmigration when they were beginning to go forth." How it fired with our fathers[6] in the time of the transmigration to Babylon, is not known to all, but only to those that diligently study the Holy Scriptures, either by hearing or by reading. For the captive people Israel from the city of Jerusalem was led into slavery unto Babylo”
- Jeremiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 7:1: These verses begin another sermon, which is continued in this and the two following chapters, much to the same effect with those before, to reason them to repentance. Observe, I. The orders given to the prophet to preach this sermon; for he had not only a general commission, but particular directions and instructions for every message he delivered. This was a word that came to him from the Lord, Jer 7:1. We are not told when this sermon was to be preached; but are told, 1. Where it must be preached - in the gate of the Lord's house, through which they entered int”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128a.114:13: The numbers five, six, and ten are mnemonics for the categories to follow. The Gemara says: There are five matters in our world which are one-sixtieth of their most extreme manifestations. They are: Fire, honey, Shabbat, sleep, and a dream. The Gemara elaborates: Our fire is one-sixtieth of the fire of Gehenna; honey is one-sixtieth of manna; Shabbat is one-sixtieth of the World-to-Come; sleep is one-sixtieth of death; and a dream is one-sixtieth of prophecy.”