Why Jeremiah Was In Perpetual
Pain And Had An Incurable Wound
Jeremiah 15:15-21 reads,
15:15Yahweh,
you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; don’t take
me away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered
reproach. 15:16Your words were
found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my
heart: for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of hosts. 15:17I didn’t sit in the assembly of those who
make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of your hand; for you have filled
me with indignation. 15:18Why is
my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you
indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?
15:19Therefore
thus says Yahweh, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may
stand before me; and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be
as my mouth: they shall return to you, but you shall not return to them. 15:20I will make you to this people a fortified
brazen wall; and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail
against you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says Yahweh. 15:21I will deliver you out of the hand of the
wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the terrible.
It should be noted that Jeremiah was in perpetual pain and had an incurable wound, which refused to be healed. He wondered why he underwent all that suffering?
Yahweh answered him by telling him that he had departed from Yahweh's way, and was therefore experiencing sickness and wounding on account of having departed from Yahweh's way. Yahweh was using the pain to discipline Jeremiah into returning to faithfully serving Yahweh, for Jeremiah had veered off the path that he should have been walking in.
Yahweh Doesn't Respect Even
His Servants
We should therefore realise that Yahweh is no respecter of persons. Even when his servants err, he disciplines them with pain, even as he does with the rest of his people. The pain Yahweh inflicts upon us he does in love - for our good. That we may return to him and his ways in faithfulness and truth, having repented of our erroneous ways. After our repentance he forgives us our sins and heals us.
Yahweh Graciously Heals Humans
Jeremiah 17:13-18 reads,
17:13Yahweh,
the hope of
It should be noted from 17:14 that Jeremiah asked Yahweh to heal him for Yahweh's own sake. By asking Yahweh to heal him because Yahweh was his praise, he was acknowledging that he didn't have some right to the healing, but was merely appealing to Yahweh to do it out of his own good heart, for his own name's sake.
It should also be noted that healing is equated with salvation - spiritual salvation, even as it is equated with peace, as seen earlier on.
Jeremiah 30 reads,
30:1The
word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 30:2Thus
speaks Yahweh, the God of
30:4These
are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 30:5For thus says Yahweh: We have heard a voice
of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 30:6Ask
now, and see whether a man does travail with child: why do I see every man with
his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into
paleness? 30:7Alas! For that day
is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but
he shall be saved out of it. 30:8It
shall come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Hosts, that I will break his
yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds; and strangers shall no more
make him their bondservant; 30:9but
they shall serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up
to them. 30:10Therefore don’t you be
afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh; neither be dismayed, Israel: for,
behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their
captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none
shall make him afraid. 30:11For I am
with you, says Yahweh, to save you: for I will make a full end of all the
nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I
will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.
30:12For
thus says Yahweh, Your hurt is incurable, and your wound grievous. 30:13There is none to plead your cause, that
you may be bound up: you have no healing medicines. 30:14All your lovers have forgotten you; they
don’t seek you: for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the
chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your
sins were increased. 30:15Why cry
you for your hurt? Your pain is incurable: for the greatness of your iniquity,
because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you. 30:16Therefore all those who devour you shall
be devoured; and all your adversaries, everyone of them, shall go into
captivity; and those who despoil you shall be a spoil, and all who prey on you
will I give for a prey. 30:17For I
will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh;
because they have called you an outcast, saying, It is Zion, whom no man seeks
after.
30:18Thus
says Yahweh: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have
compassion on his dwelling-places; and the city shall be built on its own hill,
and the palace shall be inhabited after its own manner. 30:19Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and
the voice of those who make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not
be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. 30:20Their children also shall be as before,
and their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all who
oppress them. 30:21Their prince
shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them;
and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach to me: for who is
he who has had boldness to approach to me, says Yahweh? 30:22You shall be my people, and I will be your
God. 30:23Behold, the tempest of
Yahweh, even his wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping tempest: it shall burst on
the head of the wicked. 30:24The
fierce anger of Yahweh shall not return, until he has executed, and until he have
performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days you shall understand it.
In 30:11-15 Yahweh shows that the measured punishments that he effects against Jacob are for Jacob's correction. Jacob has sinned against Yahweh and therefore needs corrective punishment, that they may return to Yahweh's righteous ways and reap of Yahweh's blessings upon those who do right before him.
How To Plead The Cause Of
Those Punished For Their Sins
30:13 implies that there should be a person who pleads the cause of those who are punished for their sins, that they may be healed of their wounds. Such a person should understand why those under punishment are in that punishment, that he may indeed counsel the people to depart from the cause of their punishment - sin. When the people depart from sin, acknowledging their sin and seek Yahweh's forgiveness, he indeed forgives them and heals them of their wounds. He restores their health when they return to righteousness, and makes clear to them that he punished them on account of their sins against Yahweh.
It should be noted from 30:17 that Yahweh will heal Jacob not on account of great deeds Jacob will do, but for Yahweh's own name's sake. For he will be so healing Jacob to make of no effect the derisory words of Jacob's enemies. Nevertheless, it should be noted that Yahweh doesn't compromise with his law in the manner that he heals Jacob. He causes Jacob to first repent of her sins and seek forgiveness and healing, before he effects the healing and binding of Jacob.
How To Obtain Yahweh's Healing
And Cure
Jeremiah 33:1-9 reads,
33:1Moreover
the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up
in the court of the guard, saying, 33:2Thus
says Yahweh who does it, Yahweh who forms it to establish it; Yahweh is his
name: 33:3Call to me, and I will
answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don’t
know. 33:4For thus says Yahweh, the
God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of
the kings of Judah, which are broken down to make a defense against the mounds
and against the sword; 33:5while men
come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of
men, whom I have killed in my anger and in my wrath, and for all whose
wickedness I have hid my face from this city: 33:6Behold,
I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them; and I will reveal to
them abundance of peace and truth. 33:7I
will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and
will build them, as at the first. 33:8I
will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me;
and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned against me,
and whereby they have transgressed against me. 33:9This city shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise
and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the
good that I do to them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all
the peace that I procure to it.
On account of wickedness, iniquity, sin and transgression, Yahweh kills and wounds. But he also heals and cures, by revealing peace and truth, cleansing from iniquity and forgiving iniquity. To obtain Yahweh's healing and cure we should repent of our sins, be cleansed of them and abide in the way of peace and truth - Yahweh's way.
Why Babylon's Wound Is Not
Healed
Jeremiah 51:1-9 reads,
51:1Thus
says Yahweh: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against those who
dwell in Leb-kamai, a destroying wind. 51:2I
will send to Babylon strangers, who shall winnow her; and they shall empty her
land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. 51:3Against him who bends let the archer bend
his bow, and against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail: and don’t
you spare her young men; destroy you utterly all her host. 51:4They shall fall down slain in the land of
the Chaldeans, and thrust through in her streets. 51:5For
Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, of his God, of Yahweh of Hosts; though their
land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel. 51:6Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save
every man his life; don’t be cut off in her iniquity: for it is the time of
Yahweh’s vengeance; he will render to her a recompense. 51:7Babylon has been a golden cup in Yahweh’s
hand, who made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine;
therefore the nations are mad. 51:8Babylon
is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so
be she may be healed. 51:9We would
have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go everyone
into his own country; for her judgment reaches to heaven, and is lifted up even
to the skies.
On account of her iniquity, Yahweh wounds Babylon with a grievous wound that is not healed. It is not healed on account of Babylon's refusal to repent of her iniquities that Yahweh may be merciful upon her and heal her.
Be Righteous And Dwell With
Other Righteous People
It should be noted that those dwelling in Babylon should flee from the midst of her and save their lives, lest they be caught up in the pains Yahweh inflicts upon Babylon. In other words, when Yahweh's people happen to be dwelling in an environment where people commit iniquity against Yahweh, they should move away from that environment. For by staying in that environment they risk getting caught up in the punishment that Yahweh inflicts upon the wicked. Yahweh's people should therefore be righteous and dwelling with other righteous people.
Receive The Truth That You May
Be Healed
Lamentations 2:13-14 reads,
2:13What
shall I testify to you? What shall I liken to you, daughter of Jerusalem?
What shall I compare to you, that I may
comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion?
For your breach is great like the sea: who
can heal you?
2:14Your
prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions;
They have not uncovered your iniquity, to
bring back your captivity,
But have seen for you false oracles and
causes of banishment.
To facilitate their healing, those to be healed must be told the truth and abide by truth. They must be told their iniquity, and they may repent of it, that Yahweh may be merciful to them and heal them.
Yahweh Wounds And Punishes On
Account Of Idolatry
Ezekiel 30:10-26 reads,
30:10Thus
says the Lord Yahweh: I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease, by the
hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. 30:11He
and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought in to
destroy the land; and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the
land with the slain. 30:12I will
make the rivers dry, and will sell the land into the hand of evil men;
and I will make the land desolate, and all that is therein, by the hand of
strangers: I, Yahweh, have spoken it.
30:13Thus
says the Lord Yahweh: I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause the
images to cease from Memphis; and there shall be no more a prince from the
land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt. 30:14I will make Pathros desolate, and will set
a fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments on No. 30:15I
will pour my wrath on Sin, the stronghold of Egypt; and I will cut off the
multitude of No. 30:16I will set a
fire in Egypt: Sin shall be in great anguish, and No shall be broken up; and
Memphis shall have adversaries in the day-time. 30:17The
young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword; and these cities
shall go into captivity. 30:18At
Tehaphnehes also the day shall withdraw itself, when I shall break there the
yokes of Egypt, and the pride of her power shall cease in her: as for her, a
cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity. 30:19Thus will I execute judgments on Egypt;
and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
30:20It
happened in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the
month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 30:21Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of
Egypt; and, behold, it has not been bound up, to apply healing medicines, to
put a bandage to bind it, that it be strong to hold the sword. 30:22Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh:
Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong
arm, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his
hand. 30:23I will scatter the
Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 30:24I will strengthen the arms of the king of
Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break the arms of Pharaoh,
and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man. 30:25I will hold up the arms of the king of
Babylon; and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am
Yahweh, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he
shall stretch it out on the land of Egypt. 30:26I
will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the
countries; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
Yahweh wounds and punishes Egypt on account of her idolatries. Wounding and pain is the punishment for sin.
How Shepherds Should Heal The
Sick Of Their Flock
Ezekiel 34:1-16 reads,
34:1The
word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 34:2Son
of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and tell them,
even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the shepherds
of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep? 34:3You eat the fat, and you clothe you with
the wool, you kill the fatlings; but you don’t feed the sheep. 34:4You haven’t strengthened the diseased,
neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that
which was broken, neither have you brought back that which was driven away,
neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have
you ruled over them. 34:5They were
scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the
animals of the field, and were scattered. 34:6My
sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill: yes, my sheep
were scattered on all the surface of the earth; and there was none who searched
or sought.
34:7Therefore,
you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: 34:8As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely because my sheep
became a prey, and my sheep became food to all the animals of the field,
because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my sheep,
but the shepherds fed themselves, and didn’t fed my sheep; 34:9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh:
34:10Thus says the Lord Yahweh:
Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand,
and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither shall the shepherds
feed themselves any more; and I will deliver my sheep from their mouth, that
they may not be food for them.
34:11For
thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep,
and will seek them out. 34:12As a
shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are
scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of
all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 34:13I will bring them out from the peoples,
and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land;
and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in
all the inhabited places of the country. 34:14I
will feed them with good pasture; and on the mountains of the height of Israel
shall their fold be: there shall they lie down in a good fold; and on fat
pasture shall they feed on the mountains of Israel. 34:15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,
and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord Yahweh. 34:16I will seek that which was lost, and will
bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was
broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong
I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.
Good shepherds bind up the broken bones of their flock, and strengthen and heal the sick of their flock. This they do by causing them to abide in Yahweh's word and truth, causing them to turn from the way of sin to the way of righteousness. For it is in turning to righteousness, and acknowledging their iniquity, and seeking forgiveness, that Yahweh heals them of their broken bones and sicknesses.
Healing Comes From Yahweh's
Dwelling Place
Ezekiel 47:1-12 reads,
47:1He
brought me back to the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from
under the threshold of the house eastward; (for the forefront of the house was
toward the east;) and the waters came down from under, from the right side of
the house, on the south of the altar. 47:2Then
he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way
outside to the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looks toward the east;
and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 47:3When the man went forth eastward with the
line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass
through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. 47:4Again he measured one thousand, and caused
me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured
one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the
loins. 47:5Afterward he measured one
thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were
risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. 47:6He said to me, Son of man, have you seen
this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river.
47:7Now
when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on
the one side and on the other. 47:8Then
said he to me, These waters issue forth toward the eastern region, and shall
go down into the Arabah; and they shall go toward the sea; into the sea shall
the waters go which were made to issue forth; and the waters shall be healed. 47:9It shall happen, that every living creature
which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, shall live; and there shall
be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come there, and the
waters of the sea shall be healed, and everything shall live wherever the river
comes. 47:10It shall happen,
that fishermen shall stand by it: from En-gedi even to En-eglaim shall be a
place for the spreading of nets; their fish shall be after their kinds, as the
fish of the great sea, exceeding many. 47:11But
the miry places of it, and the marshes of it, shall not be healed; they shall
be given up to salt. 47:12By the
river on the bank of it, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree
for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall the fruit of it fail: it
shall bring forth new fruit every month, because the waters of it issue out
of the sanctuary; and the fruit of it shall be for food, and the leaf of it for
healing.
Healing comes from Yahweh's dwelling place. For the waters that issue forth out of Yahweh's sanctuary heal the environment that it comes into contact with.
Return To Yahweh That He May
Heal You
Hosea 5:13-6:3 reads,
5:13When
Ephraim saw his sickness,
And Judah his wound,
Then Ephraim went to Assyria,
And sent to king Jareb:
But he is not able to heal you,
Neither will he cure you of your wound.
5:14For
I will be to Ephraim like a lion,
And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
I myself will tear in pieces and go away.
I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.
5:15I
will go and return to my place,
until they acknowledge their offense,
And seek my face.
In their affliction they will seek me earnestly."
6:1"Come,
and let us return to Yahweh;
For he has torn us to pieces,
And he will heal us;
He has injured us,
And he will bind up our wounds.
6:2After
two days will he revive us.
On the third day he will raise us up,
And we will live before him.
6:3Let
us acknowledge Yahweh.
Let us press on to know Yahweh.
As surely as the sun rises,
Yahweh will appear.
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain that waters the earth."
Address The Cause Of Your
Sickness To Facilitate Your Healing
When the cause of Israel's sickness and wounding is her sin, even if she goes to medicine-men for healing, she will not be healed. She must first address the cause of the sickness and wounding - her sin.
When she realises that it is Yahweh who has wounded her and made her sick, on account of her sin, and that it is only Yahweh who has power to heal her, she will indeed acknowledge her sin and return to Yahweh. For she will remember Yahweh's mercies and healing powers. And Yahweh will indeed forgive and heal her, when she repents of her iniquities.
Is This A Prophecy Of
Yah'shuah's Resurrection From The Dead On The Third Day?
6:2 appears to me to be a prophecy of the resurrection on the third day of Yah'shuah - Yahweh's Anointed. In other words, a prophecy that Yahweh's Anointed was to be dead and be raised to life on the third day!
Stumbling Blocks To Yahweh
Healing Us
Hosea 7:1-2 reads,
7:1When
I would heal Israel,
Then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered,
Also the wickedness of Samaria;
For they commit falsehood,
And the thief enters in,
And the gang of robbers ravages outside.
7:2They
don’t consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness.
Now their own deeds have engulfed them.
They are before my face.
Yahweh desires to heal Ephraim, even as he desires to heal everyone. But Ephraim's sins are a stumbling block to Yahweh healing them! In other words, when we continue in sin, even though Yahweh desires to heal us, he doesn't, because we continue in sin. Therefore, to receive healing from Yahweh, we must indeed depart from sin, acknowledging it, repenting of it and seeking Yahweh's forgiveness.
Hosea 14 reads,
14:1Israel,
return to Yahweh your God;
For you have fallen because of your sin.
14:2Take
words with you, and return to Yahweh.
Tell him, "Forgive all our sins,
And accept that which is good:
So we offer like bulls our lips.
14:3Assyria
can’t save us.
We won’t ride on horses;
Neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’
For in you the fatherless finds mercy."
14:4"I
will heal their waywardness.
I will love them freely;
For my anger is turned away from him.
14:5I
will be like the dew to Israel.
He will blossom like the lily,
And send down his roots like Lebanon.
14:6His
branches will spread,
And his beauty will be like the olive tree,
And his fragrance like Lebanon.
14:7Men
will dwell in his shade.
They will revive like the grain,
And blossom like the vine.
Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.
14:8Ephraim,
what have I to do any more with idols?
I answer, and will take care of him.
I am like a green fir tree;
From me your fruit is found."
14:9Who
is wise, that he may understand these things?
Who is prudent, that he may know them?
For the ways of Yahweh are right,
And the righteous walk in them;
But the rebellious stumble in them.
When Israel eventually returns to Yahweh, acknowledging her sin, and confessing it before Yahweh, and seeks Yahweh's mercy, Yahweh will indeed forgive her. For Yahweh desires to forgive and heal. But we must first repent, return to him, acknowledge and confess our sin, seek his forgiveness and mercy. Then he heals us, when we are resolutely in his way.
Why Yahweh Fatally Wounded The
King Of Assyria
Nahum 3:18-19 reads,
3:18Your
shepherds slumber, king of Assyria. Your nobles lie down. Your people are
scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them. 3:19There is no healing your wound, for your
injury is fatal. All who hear the report of you clap their hands over you;
for who hasn’t felt your endless cruelty?
It is for endless cruelty that Yahweh fatally wounded Nineveh and the king of Assyria. In other words, Yahweh wounds those who are sinful. But he also heals them when they take instruction from their punishment and repent of their sin, confessing it and seeking his pardon.
How Yahweh Deals With Foolish
Shepherds Who Do Not Heal The Sick Among His People
Zechariah 11:15-17 reads,
11:15Yahweh
said to me, "Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish
shepherd. 11:16For, behold, I
will raise up a shepherd in the land, who will not visit those who are cut off,
neither will seek those who are scattered, nor heal that which is broken,
nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat the flesh of the fat sheep, and
will tear their hoofs in pieces. 11:17Woe
to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm,
and on his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye
will be totally blinded!"
Yahweh punishes with wounding foolish shepherds who do not heal the sick among his people, or bind up the broken bones of the wounded among his people. In other words, it is the responsibility of shepherds of Yahweh's people to bring healing to them, by preaching Yahweh's words and truth to them, that they may depart from sin and turn to righteousness. That they may confess their sin and seek Yahweh's forgiveness, that Yahweh may extend his mercy over them and heal them.
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