Trumpets of Warning, Hearts of Stone: God’s Cry for a True Return
- Be God's Glory
- Aug 12
- 10 min read
Welcome to Day 224 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Jeremiah. These chapters reveal God’s urgent warning to Judah that judgment is imminent unless they repent sincerely. Jeremiah 4 begins with a passionate call for the people to “circumcise their hearts” and remove the stubbornness that keeps them from obeying God. The prophet uses vivid imagery—blowing trumpets, advancing armies, and the desolation of the land—to describe the Babylonian invasion as God’s instrument of discipline. Jeremiah 5 continues this indictment, showing that corruption and rebellion run from the least to the greatest in the nation. Even the leaders, priests, and prophets twist the truth to maintain comfort, and the people prefer it that way. Together, these chapters emphasize that outward religious rituals mean nothing without true heart transformation, and that God’s patience has limits when sin is unrepented.
Jeremiah 4
In Jeremiah 4, God calls Judah to return to Him with sincerity, not merely in words but in genuine repentance—a “circumcision of the heart.” The prophet warns that disaster is coming from the north, describing the invading army as swift and relentless, like a lion leaving its den. Trumpet blasts and alarm signals emphasize the urgency, showing there will be no time to prepare once judgment begins. Jeremiah laments the devastation he foresees, portraying the land as trembling, cities abandoned, and the earth in chaos—echoing the imagery of Genesis creation undone. God reveals that this judgment is a direct result of the people’s evil, and though He will not completely destroy them, the destruction will be severe. The chapter ends with the people’s fear and anguish, underscoring the necessity of turning to God before it’s too late.
Jeremiah 5
Jeremiah 5 opens with God challenging anyone to find even one person in Jerusalem who deals honestly and seeks the truth, promising that such righteousness would spare the city—yet none can be found. The prophet observes that both the poor and the powerful alike are corrupt, refusing correction and hardening themselves against God. Leaders misuse authority, prophets speak falsely, priests rule by their own authority, and the people willingly accept this deception. God declares that His judgment will come like a lion, wolf, and leopard—symbols of unstoppable and deadly attack—because of their rebellion. Despite God’s past acts of provision and deliverance, the people have refused to fear Him or walk in His ways. The chapter closes with the chilling reality that the nation’s love for lies will bring about its ruin, for God will not overlook persistent unfaithfulness.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name Jeremiah comes from the Hebrew Yirmĕyāhû or Yirmĕyāh, meaning “Yahweh will exalt,” “Yahweh appoints,” or “The Lord establishes.” This meaning reflects Jeremiah’s prophetic calling, as God appointed him before his birth to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). The name itself is a prophetic statement of God’s sovereignty and purpose in raising up His messengers.
Purpose of the Book:
The Book of Jeremiah serves as both a record of God’s judgment and His invitation to repentance. Written during a time of national decline in Judah (late 7th to early 6th century B.C.), its purpose is to:
Warn Judah of the coming Babylonian invasion as a consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness.
Call the people to repentance, offering them the hope of restoration if they return to God.
Explain the fall of Jerusalem and the exile as part of God’s sovereign plan.
Provide hope for the future, pointing toward a new covenant where God’s law would be written on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
It is both a book of judgment and a book of hope—showing God’s justice in punishing sin and His mercy in promising restoration.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The prophet Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, is credited as the author of the book, with assistance from his scribe Baruch son of Neriah.
Biblical evidence for Jeremiah as the author includes:
Jeremiah 1:1–2 – Clearly identifies Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, as the prophet who received the words of the Lord.
Jeremiah 36:1–4 – God commands Jeremiah to dictate His words to Baruch, who writes them down on a scroll.
Jeremiah 36:32 – After King Jehoiakim burns the first scroll, Jeremiah dictates the same words again to Baruch, along with additional messages.
2 Chronicles 35:25 – Mentions Jeremiah writing laments for King Josiah.
Daniel 9:2 – Refers to “the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet” as authoritative Scripture, confirming early recognition of his writings.
External historical sources also support Jeremiah’s authorship:
The Babylonian Talmud (Baba Bathra 14b–15a) lists Jeremiah as the author of his prophetic book, the Book of Kings, and Lamentations.
Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 5) records Jeremiah as the prophet who warned of Jerusalem’s fall and wrote about it.
Ancient Septuagint manuscripts (Greek translation of the Old Testament, 3rd–2nd century B.C.) attribute the prophecies to Jeremiah, though in slightly different order than the Hebrew text.
Key People:
Jeremiah – The “weeping prophet,” called by God to warn Judah of coming judgment and to urge repentance.
Baruch son of Neriah – Jeremiah’s faithful scribe who recorded and preserved his messages.
King Josiah – The last godly king of Judah, under whom Jeremiah began his ministry.
King Jehoiakim – Rejected Jeremiah’s warnings and burned his prophetic scroll.
King Zedekiah – The last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile; vacillated between listening to Jeremiah and fearing his officials.
Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem and carried the people into exile.
Ebed-Melek – An Ethiopian court official who rescued Jeremiah from a cistern.
False prophets like Hananiah – Opposed Jeremiah’s message, promising peace when judgment was coming.
Conclusion
The Book of Jeremiah ends with the tragic reality of Jerusalem’s destruction and Judah’s exile to Babylon (chapters 39–52), fulfilling the very warnings Jeremiah proclaimed for decades. Yet, it is not a message of despair—it also points forward to God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. The prophecies of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34) and future restoration reveal God’s ultimate plan to redeem His people. Jeremiah’s ministry demonstrates that God’s word is unchanging, His justice is certain, and His mercy is always available to those who return to Him with a sincere heart. Even in judgment, God is working for the good of His people and the fulfillment of His redemptive purposes.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:
Jeremiah 4
In Jeremiah 4, God is revealed as both merciful and just. His mercy is seen in His call for the people to return to Him before disaster strikes, giving them a chance to repent. His justice is seen in His clear declaration that sin has consequences, and that judgment will come if they persist in rebellion. He is a God who longs for His people’s hearts, not just outward displays of religion.
The chapter uses YHWH (Yahweh), meaning “The LORD,” which emphasizes His covenant-keeping nature and His authority to judge and save. The lesson here is that true repentance must go beyond rituals—God calls for a “circumcision of the heart,” meaning a removal of stubbornness and sin. We learn that God’s warnings are acts of grace, but ignoring them invites certain judgment.
Jeremiah 5
In Jeremiah 5, God is portrayed as the all-seeing Judge who knows the hearts of all people. He searches for even one righteous person in Jerusalem to spare the city, showing His willingness to withhold judgment for the sake of the faithful. Yet He is also holy and cannot ignore persistent rebellion and deceit. His character blends patience with a firm commitment to uphold truth and justice.
God exposes the nation’s corruption from top to bottom, revealing that sin is not limited to one class or group of people. The lesson is that God’s standard of truth is the same for all, and no one can hide behind position, power, or religious appearance. We are reminded that God desires integrity, obedience, and genuine reverence—anything less will eventually bring His discipline.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
In Jeremiah 4, what does God’s call for a “circumcision of the heart” reveal about what He values most in His people?
How does God’s warning before judgment in Jeremiah 4 display both His patience and His justice?
In what ways does God’s role as Yahweh (the covenant-keeping LORD) shape how we view His warnings to Judah?
What does God’s search for even one righteous person in Jeremiah 5 show about His mercy?
How do these chapters portray God as deeply grieved over sin yet committed to righteousness?
What does God’s unwillingness to overlook corruption in Jeremiah 5 reveal about His holiness?
How can understanding God’s character in these chapters shape the way you respond to His correction?
Questions About Themes:
How is the theme of repentance central to both chapters, and what happens when it is ignored?
In what ways do these chapters show that sin affects an entire community, not just individuals?
How does the imagery of disaster coming from the north connect to God’s larger plan for judgment?
What do these chapters teach about the danger of religious hypocrisy—having outward form without inward change?
How does the theme of truth versus lies play out in Jeremiah 5, and what is its significance?
How do Jeremiah 4–5 connect personal morality with national stability?
What do these passages teach us about the relationship between leadership and accountability before God?
Reflective Application Questions:
Where might God be calling you to “circumcise your heart” by removing stubbornness or sin?
How do you personally respond when God gives repeated warnings—do you act quickly or delay?
Are there areas where you have relied on outward religious habits instead of true heart transformation?
In your community, where do you see patterns of dishonesty or injustice that God would want addressed?
If God were to search for one person of truth and integrity in your circle, what would He find?
How can you cultivate a deeper fear (reverence) of God so that your obedience flows from love rather than mere duty?
What practical steps can you take this week to align your heart with God’s truth and reject spiritual complacency?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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