King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2026
Chapters: Jeremiah 14-17
Lesson: Jeremiah: The Drought
Hello My Friend,
Just a few weeks ago I told someone that I never get sick, but when I do it is something serious. And would you not know it, the next week I got stung by a bee and that sting turned into a nightmare that ended up with me getting cellulitis and having to take antibiotics for a week to get rid of it. Thank God that it is gone, but there is a scar that I believe will remain for the rest of my life to remind me that no matter how strong you think you are, take your eyes off God and see just how weak you are without Him.
I know that is a loaded response to a bee sting, but it is the truth because I had no idea that it flew into my car, I just felt the pain of the sting as it flew away. When Jeremiah first told the people of Jerusalem that God was sending judgment to them it was likely just before Josiah died, it is actually recorded that Jeremiah lamented over his death, [II Chronicles 35:25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.]
It is said that Jeremiah began to prophecy in the twelfth year of Josiah’s reign so at this point in his prophesying to them he is likely in his thirties now and Jehoiakim, Josiah’s wicked son, is reigning. As we continue in the reading of Jeremiah, the entire nation is facing a severe drought. Through Jeremiah, God, describes the dearth.
[Jeremiah 14:1-5 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. 2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. 4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. 5 Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.]
When the ground, which was covered in grass has now turned to sand and there is no water to be found in the deepest of waters, then you know that it had to be a bad situation. All they had to do to see some water was to turn away from their false gods and solely put their faith and trust in the one and only living God and He would send the rain. Even though Jeremiah, and I am pretty sure there were a few others who would not bow to Baal, they too had to be in the midst of what was going on. Jeremiah, cries up to God.
[Jeremiah 14:7-9 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. 8 O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? 9 Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.]
Jeremiah, fully knowing the cause of the drought, could not defend the people, but he could make it known to God that he knew that He alone was still their hope. Of course, God knew Jeremiah’s heart, as He did the rest of them. It was not Jeremiah that God was angry with, it as his wicked brethren, who were trying to figure out how to get water by every other means than to seek God. So, God responds to Jeremiah and it is not good news.
[Jeremiah 14:10-12 Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. 11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.]
Those who acknowledge the LORD, Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and seek Him by confessing that they are sinners and need Him to save them will be saved from the sword, famine, or any disease that show up. However, to those who deny Him, He will deny them, and not only that they will give an account for all their sin, [Matthew 10:32-34 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.]
Our salvation does not give us exemption from being exposed to the evils that take place in the world, but it does promise God’s protection, even if only upon our death. Jeremiah, cries out that they are not listening to him because there are prophets telling them just the opposite of what he was saying. To which, God responds.
[Jeremiah 14:15-17 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them. 17 Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.]
Not only will the ones who lie face judgment so will the ones who trusted their lies. It seems as though the ones who believed the lies will face a much worse judgment, but the truth is that they made themselves prey because they accepted the lies over the truth. So many people are in hell right now because they believed the liars and why did they believe them? They tickled their ears with what they wanted to hear, [II Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.]
That time is not coming, it is already here. Anyone who has a heart sees what is going on an it grieves them. I heard someone say that if we are not shouting, “Come Jesus!” right now rather than saying, “Just a little more time, Jesus!” then we may not be saved. Well, the older I get and after what I saw my mother go through, the thought of being with Jesus sounds better every day, but that does not mean that I want to see my nation in ruin. I want to get as many out as I can while we are still able to do that. That does not mean that I am not saved, it just means that I want to see some souls saved before He gets here. As Jeremiah hears God, he basically has the same response that I do. Jeremiah, cries out to God, pleading with Him to have some compassion.
[Jeremiah 14:19-22 Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble! 20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. 21 Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.]
What God is about to do to His chosen is heartbreaking, and I am sure it grieves Him to even say it, but judgment always comes to God’s house first, or I should say, those who know better. We may not like it, and we may not understand it all, but God has a very specific reason for these judgments, which He goes on to say.
[Jeremiah 15:1-4 Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. 2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. 3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. 4 And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.]
What did Manasseh do that was so bad? This is what he did, [II Kings 21:1-3 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzi-bah. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.]
So, in other words, while God did repent of the judgment to destroy all the people of Israel both times when Moses and Samuel begged Him not to for the sake of the covenant, this time He will not. Manasseh, was the only king in Judah to not only worship idols and sacrifice some of his own children to these gods, he brought it into the Temple in which the people followed, even some of the priests. Now, Manasseh did actually repent, but his son, Amon, did not when he followed the same path as his father did.
[II Chronicles 33:12-13,20,22-23 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead. 22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; 23 And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.]
Now, there were some there who did stay faithful to God, but the majority of the nation did not and that is what made them worse that anything that their fathers did during the days of Samuel and Moses. God, goes on to explain why He is actually weary with repenting.
[Jeremiah 15:6-8 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting. 7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways. 8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.]
It wearies God greatly when He must continually rescue those who call upon Him only in moments of distress. What grieves Him even more is their unwillingness to seek the truth or turn from their wrongdoing. He is always ready to forgive, even the most grievous sins, when we come before Him in sincere confession. While Jeremiah was telling the people these things they were quite angry. Jeremiah, goes on to question why God placed such a heavy burden upon him.
[Jeremiah 15:10-11,13 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me. 11 The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. 13 Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.]
In the midst of this conflict, Jeremiah wondered why he had been born into such a time. He questioned why God had appointed him to carry a message that stirred such anger, why he had been given a burden that set him at odds with the very people he sought to help. His lament reflects the deep tension between his gentle nature and the harshness of the mission entrusted to him. To which God replies that the storm he was facing would not last forever; he will find rest and vindication in the end. God, pledged to stand by him, strengthen him, and make him able to bear the burden placed upon him. Then to which Jeremiah replies with prayer.
[Jeremiah 15:15-18 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?]
It is a great comfort to us that, whatever afflicts or perplexes us, we have a God to whom we may go. Before Him we may lay open our case entirely, appealing to His perfect grace. God knows his sincerity, although his opposers refuse to acknowledge it. When earthly observers misinterpret, dismiss, or even scorn the truth of our condition, God sees it all with absolute clarity and responds accordingly.
[Jeremiah 15:19-21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.]
Though there was no just cause to accuse Jeremiah of unfaithfulness, and though God Himself knew the sincerity of his heart, yet He saw fit to give him this solemn warning. Jeremiah, needs to regain his composure to do the work appointed to him, and to cease from contending with the burden of his calling as he had done. He must return to a right frame of mind. This is a lesson for us as well. Whenever we have stepped aside into an uneasy, troubled, or resentful temper, our first care must be to return to a right and humble sate of mind. In doing so, while we may have to suffer through some adversity even as faithful Christians, but we will not suffer what is worse to come. God explains what is to come of those who refuse to repent, and why we are not even allowed to be around them. He even goes on to tell Jeremiah not to take a wife from among any of them.
[Jeremiah 16:1-2,5-5 The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying, 2 Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place. 4 They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. 5 For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.]
And this is why we are not to be unequally yoked with those who are not saved, who do not share our faith, and who are not like‑minded in the things of God. The sad reality is that it is far more common for a faithful Christian to be drawn downward by the influence of the unfaithful than for the unfaithful to repent, [II Corinthians 6:14-16 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.]
So many people desire the respect of God without any willingness to walk in obedience. They want His favor while refusing His authority. And though God’s grace extends remarkably far, there does come a point when His patience is exhausted. Respect is not granted where there is no repentance. God will not honor those who persist in dishonoring Him. God, goes on to declare to Israel that the time of His forbearance is ending. Their stubborn refusal to turn from sin has reached its limit.
[Jeremiah 16:10-12 And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God? 11 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law; 12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:]
In other words, they have no one, but themselves to blame for what is going on because even though their forefathers rebelled against Him so many times, they have done much more to provoke Him than even the heathens He commanded them to take out of the nation. It does not matter if we are saved, judgment will come for unrepentant sin. Granted, we will not face hell because Jesus promises to never take one soul to hell that trusts in Him as their Saviour, but there is no such thing as justifiable sin once we are saved, [James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.]
People are lost and confused; many have forsaken God altogether, turning to the world for guidance, or worse, conforming themselves to its ways. The spiritual decline of our nations roots back to the moment society began teaching evolution as unquestioned fact and slowly eroding the foundations of biblical truth. The false church, abandoning the authority of Scripture, replaced God’s law with liberal traditions and human philosophies, leading countless souls astray. While everyone is wondering why all this is going on, God has the answer for them, and it is not want anyone wants to hear, unless you are saved.
[Jeremiah 16:14-17 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 15 But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. 16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. 17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.]
My goodness, there are some powerful words here. Even we who are faithful stumble daily, we falter, we backslide, we grow sluggish in our devotion, and far too often we trust man over the Word of God. Yet the suffering we endure in this present life is the worst we will ever face. This should remind us of the mercy we have received and the urgency with which we must cling to every day, which is what Jeremiah goes on to say, [Jeremiah 16:19-21 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. 20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods? 21 Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.]
God’s unfaithful bring more judgment upon this earth than those who are not saved because they are actually ignorant to the Word of God and have no interest whatsoever in knowing it other than getting saved. Through Jeremiah, God goes on to refer to their sin as written with a pen of iron.
[Jeremiah 17:1-4 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars; 2 Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills. 3 O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders. 4 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.]
In other words, God was removing them from the land that He gave them and they will no longer enjoy it. Instead of trusting in God for their salvation and well being they trusted in themselves and their own righteousness. Our faith in God comes from the heart, many will believe in God, but to believe in Christ that takes on a whole other level of faith. God, goes on to remind them of how deceitful the heart can be and how He knows and tries every heart to make sure they are true in their faith.
[Jeremiah 17:5,7-10 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.]
God knows every heart. He knows our thoughts, our desires, our motives, and the true condition of our inner life. Nothing is hidden from Him. Even Jeremiah, long before he knew the name of Christ, understood that the LORD is the fountain of living water. And he understood the tragedy of those who forsake that living water.
[Jeremiah 17:13-17 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. 14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. 15 Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now. 16 As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee. 17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.]
I feel for Jeremiah, and am with him on this, though the whole world around me is falling to pieces, I will keep teaching the truth. And while I do not desire to see my nation go into ruin, I know it is bound to happen, but I also know where I will be when it does. And thank God that He is the hope of every one who calls upon His Son, [I Peter 3:14-17 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank you, for Your gift of eternal life though our faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ alone. There is not one thing that we need to do for our soul to be saved other than to trust Him as our Saviour. Jesus, since You gave Your life for us, let us become the faithful servants that You call us to be. Salvation, has gotten sloppy, Christians are forsaking Your Word, ignoring it, and even refusing to hear what You have to say, using their salvation as a cloak for their sin. Lord, open their hearts, eyes, and ears, help them see their need to let go of their sin while they have some time left here. As for your faithful servants, give us Your hedge of protection, shied us with Your mercies and grace, and keep us repentant. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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