Question 1

What does it mean that Judah’s sin is written with a pen of iron?

Accepted Answer

The picture of sin being written with a pen of iron and the point of a diamond shows how deep and fixed Judah’s sin had become. It was not a light mistake they could easily wipe away. Their love for idols was carved into their hearts, like something etched into stone. Even their altars showed this, because they had built many places for false worship. This means their guilt was clear before God and in their own hearts, and unless they turned back, that sin would stay against them and bring judgment.

Question 2

Why does God say, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man”?

Accepted Answer

God says this because his people were leaning on human power, plans, and alliances instead of relying on him. To “trust in man” means to rest your hope on human strength, wisdom, or riches as if they can save you. When someone does that, their heart turns away from the Lord. God says such a person will be like a dry bush in the desert, in a salty, empty land. They might look strong for a while, but they miss real life and blessing, because they have turned from the only true source of help.

Question 3

How is the one who trusts in the Lord like a tree planted by the waters?

Accepted Answer

The person who trusts in the Lord is compared to a tree planted by water with roots reaching the stream. This tree stays green when heat comes and does not fear a year of drought. In the same way, someone who leans on God, not on people, can remain steady when trouble comes. Their hope is in God, so they are not dried up inside when circumstances get hard. Trusting God gives a hidden supply of strength and peace, so their life keeps bearing good fruit even in hard seasons.

Question 4

What does “the heart is deceitful above all things” mean?

Accepted Answer

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” means our inner thoughts and desires are not naturally honest or pure. We can fool ourselves about our motives and think we are fine when we are not. On our own, we do not fully know how twisted our hearts can be. That is why the next verse says the Lord searches the heart and tests the mind. God alone sees us truly and judges fairly. This teaches us to be humble, to distrust our own excuses, and to ask God to show us what is really inside.

Question 5

What is the point of the partridge and unjust riches picture?

Accepted Answer

The partridge that sits on eggs and does not hatch them is a picture of someone who gains wealth in a wrong way. Just as those eggs do not truly belong to the bird and are lost, riches gained by cheating, oppression, or any unjust way will not last. Such a person may pile up wealth for a time, but in the middle of his days he will lose it, and at the end he will be shown to be a fool. The lesson is simple: God sees how we gain what we have, and crooked gain will end in shame, not security.

Question 6

What does this passage teach about God’s character?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows God as holy and just, because he will not ignore sin that is carved into people’s hearts. He is also the one who searches the heart and repays each person according to their ways and the fruit of their doings, so his judgment is fair and personal. At the same time, he is the fountain of living waters and the hope of Israel, ready to bless those who trust him like a well-watered tree. He listens to Jeremiah’s prayer, which shows he is near, able to heal and save those who turn to him.

Question 7

Why does Jeremiah pray, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed”?

Accepted Answer

Jeremiah lives among people who mock God’s word and doubt that judgment will come. In that setting, he knows his own weakness and asks God to keep him, heal him, and save him. He is not trusting his own strength as a prophet. By saying, “Heal me, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved,” he shows that if God works, the work will surely stand. He also says, “Thou art my praise,” meaning his confidence and joy are in God alone, even while others resist and persecute him.

Question 8

What was happening when God warned them about the sabbath day?

Accepted Answer

God sends Jeremiah to stand in the city gates, where kings and people go in and out, and tell them to stop carrying burdens on the sabbath day. The people had broken this command and treated the sabbath as any other day, showing their hard hearts toward all of God’s law. God promises that if they honor the sabbath, the city will have kings from David’s line and people bringing offerings in peace. But if they refuse and keep working and trading, a fire will burn the gates and palaces, which pictures the coming destruction.

Question 9

How can I apply trusting in the Lord, not in people, to my life today?

Accepted Answer

This passage invites you to look at what you lean on most. Do you rest your heart on your own plans, other people, money, or position, as if those things could never fail you? That is like a dry bush in a desert. To trust in the Lord is to turn to him first, to obey his ways even when it seems costly, and to treat him as your real safety and hope. You can pray like Jeremiah, asking God to heal your heart, expose self-deception, and make you like that tree whose roots go down into the stream of God’s care.

Jeremiah 17:1

The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

The Sin and Punishment of Judah

Jeremiah’s Prayer for Deliverance

Restoring the Sabbath

The Sin and Punishment of Judah

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Jeremiah 17:1

The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

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The Sin and Punishment of Judah

Jeremiah’s Prayer for Deliverance

Restoring the Sabbath

The Sin and Punishment of Judah

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