The Sin of Judah
Jeremiah 17 “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond. It is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of y’all’s altars. Even their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles by the green trees on the high hills. My mountain in the field, I will give your substance and all your treasures for a plunder, and your high places, because of sin, throughout all your borders. You will, of yourself, relinquish your inheritance that I gave you. I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land that you don’t know, for y’all have kindled a fire in my anger which will burn forever.”This is what YHWH says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in humankind, who relies on strength of mere flesh, and whose heart turns away from YHWH. For that person will be like a bush in the desert, and will not see when good comes, but will inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, an uninhabited salt land.“Blessed is the one who trusts in YHWH, and whose confidence is in YHWH. For they will be like a tree planted by the waters, that spreads out its roots by the river. It does not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be concerned in the year of drought. It won’t stop bearing fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things and incurably sick. Who can understand it?
“I, YHWH, search the heart. I examine the mind, to give every person according to their ways, according to the fruits of their actions.”
As the partridge that sits on eggs that she has not laid, so is the one who gets riches by unjust means. In the middle of their days, it will forsake them. At the end, they will be fools. A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary. YHWH, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be disappointed. Those who depart from me will be written in the earth, because they have forsaken YHWH, the spring of living waters. Heal me, O YHWH, and I will be healed. Save me, and I will be saved; for you are my praise. See, they ask me, “Where is the word of YHWH? Let it be fulfilled now.” As for me, I have not hurried from being a your shepherd. You know I haven’t longed for the day of sickness. What came out of my lips was before your face. Don’t be a terror to me. You are my refuge in the day of evil. Let them be disappointed who persecute me, but don’t let me be disappointed. Let them be dismayed, but don’t let me be dismayed. Bring on them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
Keeping the Sabbath Day
YHWH said this to me: “You are to go stand at the gate of the children of the people, through which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem. Tell them, ‘Y’all must listen the word of YHWH, you kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: YHWH says, “Y’all must be careful with your* lives! Y’all must not carry a load on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. Y’all must not carry a load out of your* houses on the Sabbath day. Y’all must not do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded y’all’s ancestors. But they didn’t listen or turn their ear. Instead they made their neck stiff, so that they would not hear or receive instruction. But if you listen-listen to me,” says YHWH, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to make the Sabbath day holy, to do no work therein; then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever. They will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, meal offerings, and frankincense, and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving to the house of YHWH. But if y’all don’t listen to me and make the Sabbath day holy, by not carrying a load and entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.”’”