Movatterモバイル変換

Jeremiah 4:21
How long shall I see the standard,and hear the sound of the trumpet?

Jeremiah 50:2
Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish,and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.

Jeremiah 51:12,27
Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon…

retire.

Jeremiah 1:13-15
And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereofis toward the north…

Jeremiah 6:1,22
O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction…

Jeremiah 21:7
And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

and a great

Jeremiah 50:22
A sound of battleis in the land, and of great destruction.

Jeremiah 51:54
A sound of a crycometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:

destruction.

Zephaniah 1:10
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD,that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.

Seek refuge!
The command to seek refuge implies an immediate threat that requires the people to find safety. In the context of Jeremiah's prophecy, this is a call to turn to God for protection. Throughout the Old Testament, God is often depicted as a refuge and fortress for His people (e.g.,Psalm 46:1). This phrase underscores the urgency of repentance and reliance on God amidst impending judgment.

Do not delay!
The urgency in this command highlights the immediacy of the threat. Historically, the people of Judah were often slow to heed prophetic warnings, leading to their downfall. This phrase serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of procrastination in spiritual matters. The call to immediate action is a common theme in prophetic literature, emphasizing the need for prompt repentance and obedience.

For I am bringing disaster from the north,
The reference to disaster from the north is significant in the historical context of Jeremiah's time. The northern threat likely refers to the Babylonian Empire, which eventually conquered Jerusalem. Geographically, invaders often approached Israel from the north due to the natural barriers to the east and south. This phrase also reflects God's sovereignty in using foreign nations as instruments of judgment against His people, as seen in other prophetic books like Isaiah and Ezekiel.

and terrible destruction.
The phrase "terrible destruction" conveys the severity of the impending judgment. This destruction is not just physical but also spiritual, as it represents the consequences of the people's persistent disobedience and idolatry. The prophetic literature often uses vivid imagery to describe the devastation that accompanies God's judgment, serving as a warning to future generations. This destruction foreshadows the ultimate judgment and redemption found in Jesus Christ, who offers salvation from spiritual destruction.

The Lord pictures a watchman running up a banner so that everyone in Judah can see the warning. Isaiah speaks of such banners that rally the people to safety (Isaiah 62:10). Earlier Jeremiah announced, “Sound the trumpet throughout the land!” (Jeremiah 4:5). The flag, like the trumpet, is a visible alert:

• God never judges without first broadcasting His warning (Amos 3:7).

• Zion—Jerusalem—was not only the political center but the spiritual heartbeat of the nation (Psalm 48:1-2).

The verse reminds us that when God raises His banner, ignoring it is not an option (Jeremiah 6:1).

After the signal comes the command: run for cover. In Jeremiah’s day that meant fleeing to fortified cities or high ground. Spiritually, the safest place is always in the Lord Himself: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Practical takeaway:

• Turn from sin and toward God’s shelter before the storm hits (Proverbs 18:10;Nahum 1:7).

• Refuge involves action; it is not a passive wish but a purposeful move.

Urgency pulses through the text. Delay would prove fatal, as hesitation did for Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:16-26). Paul echoes the same heartbeat centuries later: “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Key thoughts:

• Sin’s window of opportunity closes quickly (Hebrews 3:7-8).

• Immediate obedience often spells the difference between deliverance and disaster.

The warning now names its source. From the prophet’s vantage point, every major invasion route into Judah lay to the north, and Babylon would soon march that road (Jeremiah 1:14-15; 25:9).

Consider:

• God is sovereign over the nations, even those bent on conquest (Habakkuk 1:6).

• His judgment is righteous, measured, and purposeful—to purge sin and prompt repentance (Jeremiah 5:3-4).

• The “terrible destruction” that came in 586 BC vividly illustrates the certainty of all future judgments (Matthew 24:15-21).

Jeremiah 4:6 is a divine alarm bell. God lifts a banner everyone can see, urging His people to run to Him without hesitation, because real, historical judgment is on the way from the north. The verse calls us to recognize the warning, seek refuge in the Lord, act immediately, and remember that the One who announces judgment also provides the only safe haven.