Jeremiah Chapter 4–5 — The Foe from the North

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21 June 2026 · Sunday Bible Class · Jeremiah 4:5–5:31

The Lord sends Jeremiah running through the streets of Jerusalem on a single errand: find one man who does justice and seeks truth, and the whole city will be pardoned — “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem… and seek… if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her” (Jer. 5:1). He finds none.

Abraham once bargained God down to ten righteous men for Sodom; here the number has fallen to one, and Jerusalem still cannot produce him. The foe gathers from the north, and Jeremiah’s vision reaches past the invading army to the earth itself “without form, and void” (Jer. 4:23) — Genesis run backward over a people who are “wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” (Jer. 4:22).

The one Just Man the search was looking for is found at last outside the city walls, denied by the very people He came to pardon — “But you denied the Holy One and the Just” (Acts 3:14). And for His sake, not ours, the city is spared.

The chapter ends with the verdict: “The prophets prophesy falsely… and My people love to have it so” (Jer. 5:31). The lie was not only told; it was wanted. The search through every human heart ends the same — and yet God did not make a full end. He gave us the one Just Man, His Son, and for His sake He pardons the city.

📖 Read the full Bible study, with handout and discussion questions: https://sjrl.org/jeremiah-chapter-4-5-bible-study-june-21-2026/

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie · St. John Ev. Lutheran Church & School — Sherman Center, Random Lake, Wisconsin

Full archive: https://sjrl.org · More writing: https://outerrimterritories.com