20150906 Sunday, September 6 2015
Jeremiah 14: What Happens During A Dearth?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The Word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth"

The English-language words "dearth" and "dear" originated from an Anglo-Saxon word, deore, that meant high priced. It was actually an ancient economic "supply and demand" term in which prices for a commodity increase when it becomes scarce. While "dearth" is rarely used today, "dear" is still used to describe an expensive price - to "pay dearly." The same word "dear" is also used as a personal term of endearment (in-dear-ment) i.e. affection - being greatly affected by someone, rather than something.

"Dearth" is used by the King James Version to translate the Hebrew word, pronounced, raw-awb, that meant hunger, but referred to famine and economic destruction. The people of Bible history experienced "dearths" - including the great one that caused the family of Israel to seek refuge in the well-watered Nile Delta region of Egypt (see Jacob's Israel In The Land Of Goshen).

"41:54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 41:55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 41:56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 41:57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands." (Genesis 4:54-57 KJV)

The LORD (see The LORD God Our Saviour) delivered the Israelites to their "land of milk and honey" - where the LORD would not let a dearth happen to His people (the Kingdom of Israel was created by God as a living prophecy of the coming Kingdom of God; see The First And Last Nation and The Patriotism Prophecy). When they rebelled against His Law however, the blessings for obedience were withdrawn. The LORD does not reward evil and self-righteousness (see Iniquity In History And Prophecy), so they reaped the dearth that they had sown for themselves (see Reap What You Sow).

"14:1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.

14:2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 14:3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. 14:4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. 14:5 Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. 14:6 And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.

14:7 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. 14:8 O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? 14:9 Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.

14:10 Thus saith the LORD unto this people,

Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.

14:11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. 14:12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

14:13 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. 14:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 14:16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.

14:17 Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them;

Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow. 14:18 If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.

14:19 Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble! 14:20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. 14:21 Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us. 14:22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things." (Jeremiah 14:1-22 KJV)

Fact Finder: How will the "four horsemen of the apocalypse" cause a great dearth in the world?
See The Horsemen Of The Apocalypse