Jeremiah 13

The ruined wasitband analogy.

So...

I love analogies. And illustrations. And even parables most of the time. This opening passage is an analogy; but I'm not sure it's clear to me.

God tells Jeremiah to buy a waistband and put it on, but to avoid putting it in water.

The Ryrie footnote describes a waistband as a thigh-length undergarment that clings close to the body. I'm of course picturing modern day elastic and bicycle shorts; but I'm guessing they didn't have those back then. 😉

Ryrie also states that it is supposed to symbolize close to God's heart. But I think they are being polite. It isn't worn close to the heart. It's worn close to...well...the groin and the "family jewels". When Abraham wanted a vow from his servant when he sent him to get a bride for his son, he had the man out his hand under his thigh. And when God made a covenant with Moses, it was demonstrated through circumcision. All of that to say, that "close to the heart" is a more modern concept. This garment was close to something were less inclined to mention in these terms today.

One of my friends in Bible study always points out how many times God uses sex references in terms of related to Israel. But she was His bride. his wife. He uses that analogy liberally; but we feel less comfortable when the analogy extends to the marital act of love. I know it makes me uncomfortable. I think that requires some contemplation. Something God talks about a lot, but it makes me squeamish.

Also, it sounds like the thing Mormons have to wear. And I do think some orthodox Jews might still wear.

Back to the text. Once Jeremiah has worn the garment, he is to go and hide them.

When the Lord sends Jeremiah to retrieve the hidden garment, it is ruined and worthless.

Here's the Lord's take on this:

 ⁹  “This is what the Lord says: ‘To the same extent I will destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.

¹⁰ This wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts and have followed other gods to serve them and to bow down to them, let them be just like this undergarment which is completely useless.

¹¹ For as the undergarment clings to the waist of a man, so I made the entire household of Israel and the entire household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘so that they might be My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they did not listen.’ Jeremiah 13: 9-11

The Lord came to Jeremiah three times to make this lesson happen; so it seems pretty important. Let's look at this.

• The waistband is symbolic of the people of Israel. Again, He has them wrapped tightly around His groin. As much as that leaves me a bit squeamish, it makes sense. That is a region of high value to a man and a place where a man would hold something of value.
• Once the waistband comes off of Him and becomes hidden by the Euphrates, it becomes ruined. I assume that means it becomes soiled by the world.
• Once it is ruined, He vows to destroy it. prideful Judah and Jerusalem are busy thinking highly of themselves and all of the their international treaties, while God is looking at them as a dirty and worthless ruined undergarment.
• He tells us that they were clinging to Him, safe and secure next to what a man values most on his person, they were a people of renown, for praise and glory.
• Hollywood came to mind. Gifted and blessed people who squandered their gifts on the world. Walking around in their expensive gowns and waving their worldly awards in the air; meanwhile God sees their soiled hearts and counts them as worthless in their current state. (Not to judge. They are the clearest contrast to show the point; but we're all like that when we try and make ourselves praiseworthy using the world and not clinging to God.
• We're supposed to be the bride of Christ. We should keep that in mind in our worldly decision-making.

Starting in verse 12 the Lord tell Jeremiah what to prophesy after seeing this analogy. Again, it's an unusual approach, compared to other prophets.

“Therefore you are to speak this word to them. ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: “Every jug is to be filled with wine.”’ And when they say to you, ‘Do we not very well know that every jug is to be filled with wine?’ Jeremiah 13: 12

The people are already self-satisfied with their fill of wine; but the Lord tells of a time coming soon when they will all be drunk and dashing into one another and the Lord will have no pity or compassion. And then we get a prophesy directly from the words of the Lord.

• do not be haughty
• give glory to the Lord
• before he brings darkness and you stumble, so dark you'll have to hope for light
• if you don't listen, Jeremiah will weep for you because God will take you captive
• the king and queen mother will lose their crowns (King Jehoiachin and Queen mother Natushta)
• all of Judah carried into exile
• look at the conquerors coming from the north, where are the sheep you were supposed to be shepherding (the people)
• those under you will be over you and you will have pain like childbirth
• you're going to wonder why these things are happening- it's because of your iniquity
• you've earned your lot because you have forgotten the Lord and trusted in falsehood

Verse 27 ends the chapter this way:

As for your adulteries and your lustful neighings,
The outrageous sin of your prostitution
On the hills in the field,
I have seen your abominations.
Woe to you, Jerusalem!
How long will you remain unclean?” Jeremiah 13: 27

Notice that, once again, this is a charge of a woman committing adultery and of prostitution. The Lord was the husband of Israel and her idolatry was like sexual sin against a husband.

When we chase worldly comfort, satisfaction, and assistance, it's a deeply personal affront to God. We would do well to remember that he isn't a judge passing out sentences to strangers, he is a husband passing judgement on a wife who deeply, personally betrayed him.

Which makes her soiled and worthless.

But God. Thank you, Jesus, for making a way back to you. Amen.