The wickedness of the nation overwhelms Jeremiah. I pray our wickedness as a nation would overwhelm us, for we are not doing any better than they were at that point in history.
The original text did not include quotation marks, which makes it exceptionally hard to know where God’s declarations end and the prophet’s laments begin. In some ways–well, in every way–I think this was intentional. The words of the Lord should be part of the prophet’s being; and, the prophet should declare only the words of the Lord. Thus, when we read 9:1, how do we know if it is God lamenting or Jeremiah lamenting? Or, does it even matter? Should not their hearts be the same?
Something to think about.
As is 9:23 and 10:24.
Omer Redden 