Almost nobody takes Sabbath-keeping seriously today, and it appears that was also true in Jeremiah’s day. He exhorted them to keep the fourth commandment, carrying no burdens on the Sabbath, but keeping the Sabbath day holy (Jeremiah 17:22). “Yet they did not listen or incline their ear; they stiffened their necks and would not hear or receive instruction” (17:23).

Indeed, if they would only listen, God promised an astonishing level of restoration: the kings would rule with authority, the city would never fall, and the people would experience great plenty and rich worship (17:24-26). What? After all of Jeremiah’s dire warnings, they would see all this restoration and blessing, if they would just keep the Sabbath?

This sounds like such an encouraging possibility. But there was actually so little hope that God forbade Jeremiah to marry or have a family (16:2). That’s because the young children were all going to die, and there would be no one left to mourn or bury them (16:4). Before their eyes the people of Jerusalem would see God banish all happiness from their community (16:9). God would hurl them out of the land into a faraway place (16:13). Their ongoing Sabbath-breaking would result in the destruction of Jerusalem (17:27).

Again we see the contrast in Jeremiah’s message: “your sins are so severe that judgment is inevitable,” on the one hand, and “even now you can repent and God will restore you,” on the other hand. Moreover, if the judgment comes to pass, as it draws nearer and nearer all the time, the devastation will not be permanent: the days are coming when people will celebrate that the Lord brought them back from exile (16:14-15).

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It is hard for us to obey so simple a thing as keeping the Sabbath, O Lord; indeed, it’s hard for us even to imagine doing so. If we cannot follow you for a day, how will we ever dedicate our lives to follow your will? Grant us your grace to change our hearts, that we may be your people once again.