(A LINEN BELT)
Jeremiah 13: 1-11
King James Version (KJV)
13 Thus saith the Lord unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
2 So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD and put it on my loins.
3 And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying,
4 Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
5 So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the Lord commanded me.
6 And it came to pass after many days, that the Lord said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
7 Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
8 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
9 Thus saith the Lord, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the Lord; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear. Matt. 24:24; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 1 Tim. 4:1-2
KINGDOM DYNAMICS
13:1-11 The linen girdle is the first of the symbolic acts Jeremiah used to convey God’s word to the people. Linen is the material used for priestly garment (Ezek. 44:17, 18) and symbolizes Israel as a "holy people" a "kingdom of priests" (Ex.19:6). The sash as an emblem of Israel, speaks of the intimate relationship of God to His covenant people (v.11)
13:1 Girdle: A belt in oriental cultures indicates status, as "black belt" used for achievement in the martial arts. Put it not in water: Symbolic of Judah’s sinful pride, the belt was not to be washed (v.9)
13:6-9 Euphrates: On the basis of location, some suggest Jeremiah’s experience is only a symbolic vision or a parable because he would hardly have made two trips to the Euphrates River hundreds of miles away. Perhaps the reference is to Parah (Josh. 18:23) which is 3 miles, northwest of Anathoth. The geographical destination is less important than the message that the sash is marred (v.7), and so God will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem (v.9).
In Christ,
Janet Irene Thomas
Playwright/Screen Writer/Director
Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer
FOUNDER/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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