Jeremiah 11

God reminded the people that disobedience of the Law brought curses; but if they obeyed, there would be blessings. The Lord commanded Jeremiah to "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem..."

Hear the words of the covenant and do them.

However, they did not obey; "...everyone followed the dictates of his evil heart..." The people, nonetheless (after having found the Law and heard it read to them), turned back to their man-made gods. The Lord said He would bring calamity upon them, and though the people cry out to Him, He will not listen. They may cry out to their idols, but they will not save them either. 

The Lord told Jeremiah not to pray for them anymore. He made it known to Jeremiah that the people of his hometown plotted to kill him. Therefore, Jeremiah asked that God take vengeance on them. God promised to punish them by causing the men to die by the sword and their children to die in the famine. 

...There shall be no remnant of them...

COMMENTARY

After the Law was found, it was read to the people, and King Josiah and the city leaders made an oath to follow the Word of God. But after having heard it, they still remained in their evil practices. 

At some point, the people of Anathoth -- Jeremiah's hometown -- got tired of hearing the prophet and threatened him with death if he did not stop prophesying. Therefore, he stopped and went elsewhere. The same happened to Jesus when He had to leave His town of Nazareth because the people rejected Him. 

Know that it is not a good sign when the word of God is no longer preached in your church, community, city, state, or nation. If the Lord has to turn His back on YOU, it is not going to turn out good. I believe Jesus said it will be better for the people of Sodom in the Day of the Judgment than that town (that rejects Him/the word of God) (Matt 10:14-15).

from Mission Venture Ministries