True Repentance

God gives these warnings 20 years before Nebuchadnezzar attacks.

  • 4:1 “and not be moved/waver” - translators are divided over whether “and not” is a consequence: “do this, and that will not happen” - or an additional condition: “do this, and not that”. Both are valid in both Hebrew and English.
  • 4:3 “break up your fallow ground” - their hearts were hardened. Repentance would require great changes in their way of life.
  • 4:4 “foreskins of your hearts” - they were externally circumcised, but God is concerned with the heart.
  • 4:9 “prophets will be astounded” - the problem with telling lies is that you start to believe them yourself.
  • 4:10 “You will have peace” - this was not from God, but from the false prophets (fake news). Ahab also listened to false prophets in 1 Kings 22
  • 4:14 “that you may be saved” - the future judgement can still be averted. It doesn’t have to be that way.
  • 4:17 “because she has rebelled again Me” - their rebellion against God was the root of their rebellion against their sworn treaties.
  • 4:18 “your ways and deeds brought this on you” - the Chaldeans were not interested in conquering Judah - only in maintaining a neutral buffer zone between them and Egypt. The only reason for the invasion was that Judah insisted on allying with Egypt - despite swearing not to do so to Nebuchadnezzar. Judah was a traitor to their treaty with the Chaldeans as well as their covenant with God.