The Broken Covenant in Jeremiah 11

Introduction: Jeremiah 11 outlines the covenant that God made with Israel and Judah, and how the people have continually broken it. The chapter is a call to repentance and a warning of the consequences for disobedience. Jeremiah, as the prophet, is tasked with delivering this message to the people, despite the personal danger it poses to him. The chapter serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the repercussions of turning away from Him.

I. The Broken Covenant (Jeremiah 11:1-8)
This section begins with God instructing Jeremiah to remind the people of the covenant He made with their ancestors when He brought them out of Egypt (Exodus 19:5-6). The terms were simple: obey God and be blessed, disobey and be cursed (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). Despite the clear instructions and the repeated warnings, the people of Israel and Judah turned to other gods and broke the covenant (Judges 2:11-12).

II. Conspiracy Against God (Jeremiah 11:9-10)
Jeremiah reveals that there is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 22:25). They have returned to the sins of their ancestors who refused to listen to God’s words (Nehemiah 9:26). As a result, the curses of the covenant are being invoked against them (Deuteronomy 29:25-26).

III. The Lord Will Not Listen (Jeremiah 11:11-14)
God declares that He will bring disaster upon the people, and when they cry out to Him, He will not listen (Proverbs 1:28). Jeremiah is told not to pray for the people or to plead on their behalf because God will not hear their prayers (Isaiah 59:2). Their worship of other gods has caused a separation between them and God (Hosea 4:17).

IV. The Destruction of the Wicked (Jeremiah 11:15-17)
The people are compared to an olive tree with beautiful fruit that God planted, but because of their wickedness, He will destroy it (Psalm 52:8). The Lord had called them “a green olive tree, fair with goodly fruit,” but with the noise of a great tumult, He would kindle a fire upon it (Isaiah 5:24).

V. Jeremiah’s Life Threatened (Jeremiah 11:18-23)
Jeremiah realizes that there are men from his own town of Anathoth who want to kill him (Psalm 31:13). God reveals their plot to Jeremiah and assures him that the evildoers will be punished (Proverbs 26:27). He is instructed not to be afraid of them for God is with him to deliver him (Isaiah 41:10).

Conclusion: Jeremiah 11 reminds the believer of the consequences of breaking a covenant with God. The chapter highlights the importance of obedience and the dangers of idolatry. Despite the personal threats to his life, Jeremiah faithfully delivers God’s message to the people. The chapter is a call to repentance and a warning to turn back to God before it is too late. It reminds us that God is just and will not tolerate disobedience, but He is also merciful and willing to forgive those who turn back to Him.