Reading for July 5th

 Read Jeremiah 9.4-16. In verses 4-8: Accusations against the people include their unfaithfulness to each other as they lie, slander, and deceive. In punishment God will refine them like silver. In verse 9: But God expresses hesitancy with a question also asked earlier (5.9, 29):  How can punishment be avoided? In verses 10-11: The command to weep indicates that the destruction of the earth and of the city of Jerusalem cannot be turned away. The poem implies the end of the world for the inhabitants of Judah. Invasion by the foe from the north will end normal life. In verses 12-16: These prose verses interpret further the tragedy about to happen but which for the audience of the book has already occurred. In verses 13-14: The people did not keep God's law nor listen to God's voice. Instead, they worshiped the Baals. Comments or Questions..