Jeremiah 5:24
They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights a subtle but crucial failure: the people's hearts were so unmoved by God's regular, life-sustaining provision of rain and harvests that the very thought of "fearing God" – of revering and obeying Him – never even occurred to them. It points to a profound disconnect where outward blessings don't translate into inward devotion, missing the divine authorship behind their sustenance.
Jeremiah is exposing the people's willful ignorance and ingratitude, showing how they've completely missed God's constant provision. After pointing out their disregard for His awesome power, he now highlights their failure to acknowledge His goodness seen in the regular, life-sustaining rains and the predictable harvest seasons He ordains. They simply don't consider that these blessings, so vital for their survival, are gifts from God that should inspire awe and obedience.
Imagine living in a land where your very survival depends on predictable weather patterns. Yet, the people Jeremiah speaks to were utterly unconcerned.
Jeremiah highlights a profound spiritual problem: a lack of internal reflection. The phrase "say in their hearts" isn't just about thinking; it's about consciously considering, weighing, and making something a priority.
A Deliberate Disconnect
The people weren't just ignorant; they were willfully inattentive. They experienced God's provision daily – the rain that nourished crops, the seasons that guaranteed harvest – but these blessings never prompted them to acknowledge the Giver. Their hearts were silent, undisturbed by the very evidence of God's faithfulness all around them. This wasn't an accidental oversight; it was a deep-seated apathy that left them spiritually numb.
The rhythm of seasons, the certainty of rain, the promise of harvest – these aren't random occurrences. They are divine appointments, and God's people were ignoring them.
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Jeremiah points to specific, tangible acts of God's providence: the rain and the harvest weeks. This wasn't just generic weather; it was a carefully orchestrated system:
The Rains of Provision
The "former rain" (typically autumn showers) prepared the ground for sowing, while the "latter rain" (spring showers) ensured the crops matured for harvest. This predictable pattern was essential for survival in ancient Israel.
The Appointed Weeks
Similarly, the "appointed weeks of the harvest" refer to the specific periods God ordained for the ingathering of crops, notably the seven weeks between Passover and Pentecost. This timing guaranteed a bounty for the people.
By focusing on these precise provisions, Jeremiah underscores that God is not a distant deity but an active, consistent sustainer. His faithfulness in nature was meant to be a constant reminder of His covenant faithfulness.
Jeremiah's words sting because they point to a profound spiritual blindness: the people are so focused on immediate needs and their own ways that they fail to acknowledge the Giver of life's fundamental provisions—the very rains and seasons that sustain them. This verse calls us to look beyond the mundane to see God's constant hand of grace in the everyday miracles that keep us alive.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its people. This event serves as a stark warning to the southern Kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and takes an initial group of exiles, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's decline.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, Babylon deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. Jeremiah continues to prophesy to those left behind.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This is a catastrophic fulfillment of God's warnings through the prophets.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Prophecy of God's Gracious Provision
Amidst the devastation and exile, Jeremiah's prophecy (including chapter 5) highlights the people's deep-seated ingratitude and failure to recognize God's consistent provision of rain and harvest, even as judgment falls.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
After the Babylonian Empire falls to Persia, Cyrus the Great allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks a new chapter of hope and restoration.
This passage also highlights God's provision of the early and latter rains as a blessing contingent on obedience, directly connecting natural sustenance to faithfulness.
Psalm 147:8This verse parallels the idea of God clothing the earth with rain, emphasizing His power and goodness over the natural world as a reason for praise and trust.
Matthew 5:45Jesus speaks of God causing His sun to rise and His rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous, showing God's consistent, benevolent provision even amidst human indifference.
Acts 14:17Paul points to God giving life-sustaining rain and fruitful seasons as evidence of His goodness and presence, even to those who might not fully acknowledge Him.
James 5:7This passage urges patience and steadfastness, using the example of the farmer waiting for the precious early and latter rains as a metaphor for enduring until the Lord's coming.
calvinJeremiah 5:24: "Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest."
- Et non dixerunt in corde suo, Timeamus agedum Jehovam, Deum nostrum, qui dat pluviam et imbrem matutinum et serotinum (diximus de his verbis alibi) tempore suo; hebdomadas perpetuas messis (hoc est, ad messem) custodit nobis.
The Prophet in other words proves here that the Jews had been…
pulpitJeremiah 5:24: "Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest."
Verse 24. - That giveth rain, etc. The second appeal is to the regularity of the rains. Dr. Robinson remarks that there are not at the present day in Palestine "any particular periods of rain, or succession of showers, which might be regarded as distinct rainy seasons," and that...unless ther…
This verse highlights a subtle but crucial failure: the people's hearts were so unmoved by God's regular, life-sustaining provision of rain and harvests that the very thought of "fearing God" – of revering and obeying Him – never even occurred to them. It points to a profound disconnect where outward blessings don't translate into inward devotion, missing the divine authorship behind their sustenance.
Jeremiah is exposing the people's willful ignorance and ingratitude, showing how they've completely missed God's constant provision. After pointing out their disregard for His awesome power, he now highlights their failure to acknowledge His goodness seen in the regular, life-sustaining rains and the predictable harvest seasons He ordains. They simply don't consider that these blessings, so vital for their survival, are gifts from God that should inspire awe and obedience.
Jeremiah is exposing the people's willful ignorance and ingratitude, showing how they've completely missed God's constant provision. After pointing out their disregard for His awesome power, he now highlights their failure to acknowledge His goodness seen in the regular, life-sustaining rains and the predictable harvest seasons He ordains. They simply don't consider that these blessings, so vital for their survival, are gifts from God that should inspire awe and obedience.
"They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’" — This verse highlights a subtle but crucial failure: the people's hearts were so unmoved by God's regular, life-sustaining provision of rain and harvests that the very thought of "fearing God" – of re…
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