Context No. 2821 of 4322 · Jeremiah

Jeremiah 6:9-15: in context

9The LORD of Armies says, “They will thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine. Turn again your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.” 10To whom should I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, the LORD’s word has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it. 11Therefore I am full of the LORD’s wrath. I am weary with holding it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife will be taken, the aged with him who is full of days. 12Their houses will be turned to others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand on the inhabitants of the land, says the LORD.” 13“For from their least even to their greatest, everyone is given to covetousness. From the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. 14They have healed also the hurt of my people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace. 15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. Therefore they will fall among those who fall. When I visit them, they will be cast down,” says the LORD.

Jeremiah is worn thin. To whom can I speak, he asks, that they will listen? Their ears are closed, God's word has become an offense to them, and they take no delight in it. He is so full of the LORD's wrath that he is weary of holding it in. The charge is sweeping: from the least to the greatest they are all greedy, and prophet and priest alike deal falsely.

The sharpest indictment is the false comfort. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. The very people whose job is to tell the truth paper over a mortal wound with cheerful assurances, because it is easier and more popular to promise peace than to name the sickness. And they have lost the capacity for shame; they commit abomination and cannot even blush. A conscience that can no longer be embarrassed by its own sin has gone numb.

Do I offer or accept a shallow "peace, peace" that avoids naming the real wound, and can my conscience still blush?

Sources

Jeremiah 6:14: "They have healed also the hurt of my people superficially, saying, Peace, peace! when there is no peace."
Jeremiah 8:11: "They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace."
2 Timothy 4:3: "They will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, having itching ears."