[:en]SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 9
“Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning”: (Jeremiah 9:4-5)
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that i am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23-24)
Jeremiah was burdened for his people. He stayed with them as a true shepherd to minister to them. The people’s tongue were deadly arrows with deceitful hearts. Every brother was a deceiver and every friend was a slanderer. They lived in the midst of deception and refused to acknowledge the true God.
Because they have broken His law and disobeyed Him, God will make the people eat bitter food and drink poisoned water. They will be scattered among nations and pursued by sword. They day was coming and they had to prepare to wail and lament.[:]