Sin is written with an iron tool and diamond point on the heart and altar horns.
Jeremiah 17:1-4
1 “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond. It is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars.
The next generation remembers altars and Asherah poles by green trees and high hills.
2 Even their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles by the green trees on the high hills.
The LORD will give Judah's wealth, treasures, and high places over as spoil because of sin.
3 My mountain in the field, I will give your substance and all your treasures for a plunder, and your high places, because of sin, throughout all your borders.
Judah will lose the inheritance the LORD gave and serve enemies in an unknown land.
4 You, even of yourself, will discontinue from your heritage that I gave you. I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you don’t know, for you have kindled a fire in my anger which will burn forever.”
The person whose heart turns from the LORD and trusts flesh becomes like a desert shrub.
Jeremiah 17:5-8
5 Yahweh says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, relies on strength of flesh, and whose heart departs from Yahweh.
6 For he will be like a bush in the desert, and will not see when good comes, but will inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, an uninhabited salt land.
The one who trusts the LORD becomes like a tree by water, fearless in heat and fruitful in drought.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose confidence is in Yahweh.
8 For he will be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be concerned in the year of drought. It won’t cease from yielding fruit.
Human inward life is exposed as deceptive, sick, and unknowable apart from God's searching.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
9 The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
The LORD examines inward motives and repays each according to conduct and deeds.
10 “I, Yahweh, search the mind. I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
Dishonest gain is foolish, unstable, and ultimately exposed.
Jeremiah 17:11
11 As the partridge that sits on eggs which she has not laid, so is he who gets riches, and not by right. In the middle of his days, they will leave him. At his end, he will be a fool.
The LORD's exalted throne is the place of true refuge and worship.
Jeremiah 17:12-13
12 A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.
Those who forsake the spring of living water are shamed and transient.
13 Yahweh, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be disappointed. Those who depart from me will be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Yahweh, the spring of living waters.
Jeremiah asks the LORD to heal and save him because the LORD is his praise.
Jeremiah 17:14-18
14 Heal me, O Yahweh, and I will be healed. Save me, and I will be saved; for you are my praise.
The people mockingly ask where the word of the LORD is and demand its fulfillment.
15 Behold, they ask me, “Where is Yahweh’s word? Let it be fulfilled now.”
Jeremiah has not run from being a shepherd after the LORD and has not desired the day of despair.
16 As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you. I haven’t desired the woeful day. You know. That which came out of my lips was before your face.
Jeremiah asks the LORD not to be a terror to him but to shame his persecutors.
17 Don’t be a terror to me. You are my refuge in the day of evil.
18 Let them be disappointed who persecute me, but let not me be disappointed. Let them be dismayed, but don’t let me be dismayed. Bring on them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
The LORD sends Jeremiah to stand at the gates of Jerusalem and speak to kings and people.
Jeremiah 17:19-27
19 Yahweh said this to me: “Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, through which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem.
20 Tell them, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word, you kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:
The people must not carry loads on the Sabbath but must keep it holy as commanded to their ancestors.
21 Yahweh says, “Be careful, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.
22 Don’t carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don’t do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers.
23 But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.
If the people obey, Davidic kings, officials, and worshipers will continue entering the city with offerings.
24 It will happen, if you diligently listen to me,” says Yahweh, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to make the Sabbath day holy, to do no work therein;
25 then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever.
26 They will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, meal offerings, and frankincense, and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving, to Yahweh’s house.
If they refuse to keep the Sabbath holy, the LORD will burn Jerusalem's gates and fortresses.
27 But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.” ’ ”