Living Truth in a World of Deceit: Jeremiah 9

The Prophetic Cry Over a Nation of Lies

What brings you to tears? For the prophet Jeremiah, it was the fact that he lived within a nation of lies. The people in Jeremiah's world were no longer "valiant for the truth" (Jeremiah 9:3). They didn't stand for what was right and true. They bounced from one wicked thing to the next. And God says, "They don't know me" (Jeremiah 9:3).

The God of Truth and a People of Lies

This kind of knowing is not just knowing that God exists, but it is relational. How could they know the God of truth when there is no truth in them? These people would deceive anyone if it was convenient or expedient. They became tired from the many ways they found to sin. Lying wasn't just a problem of the ancient world. It is too often a common problem of today.

Living Truth in a World of Deceit

Many of us have problems with telling the truth. Living truth in a world of deceit can be difficult. Sometimes we think it's just easier to tell a lie and hope no one will get hurt. However, when we aren't honest, it isn't just others that get damaged; it is ourselves. Lying separates us from God, as all sin does. We pray that God will convict us, if this is an area we struggle with. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will show us our sin and help us to do better. Our goal is to pursue holiness and the truth of our Lord. And as much as we want to think this is rare, the numbers tell a different story.

2021 Survey on Lying: Reasons and Victims

A survey on lying was conducted in 2021 (1). It found that people lie for many reasons.

The top 3 reasons were:

• to avoid others; as a joke; to protect themselves

The top three groups of people that were lied to were:

• family; friends; business and school colleagues

Everyday Deceit in Society and Scripture’s Warning

Does this surprise you? We have all seen people routinely lie. I have seen it among many of our politicians, government leaders, family members, coworkers, and sadly sometimes even church members. Have we forgotten how much God despises lying? The truth about lies is that it is an abomination to God (Proverbs 12:22). In Revelation 21:8, we see that liars among others will be thrown into the lake of fire. Lying will be more prevalent as we enter the days before the coming of the Lord. Scripture warns us of this, and we need to take it seriously.

Biblical Warnings Against Slander and Falsehood

2 Timothy 3:1-5 lists the characteristics of people in the last days. The list includes slanderers. Slandering means lying about someone in order to damage their reputation. I must say, it is difficult to read the list and not see modern society. But it’s not just unbelievers. Christians must also be careful. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:9 not to lie to one another. We are not to be like the world.

The Deep Spiritual Problem of Lying

Jeremiah tells us that his nation had taught themselves to speak lies (Jeremiah 9:5). Being good at lying takes practice. Anyone can spot a bad liar. They always get tripped up in the details, but a good liar can fool many people. They've been at it for a long time. They've taught themselves well. We also see this addressed in the New Testament. In John 8:44, Jesus tells the Pharisees that their father is the devil, and he is the 'father of lies.' Deceit is not just a problem in society but a deep spiritual one that is in direct contradiction to the truth of Christ.

The Cost of Living a Life of Deception

The deceit these people lived in caused them to actually refuse to know or acknowledge God. The father of lies doesn't like to share space with the God of Truth. God might require them to have some backbone. God might require them to be valiant. Liars don't like facing truth.

The Dangers of Hypocrisy and Two-Faced Behavior

The people Jeremiah was around spoke one way to their neighbor but in their hearts they were thinking something entirely different. You and I would say that they were being two-faced. James 1:8 puts it this way, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." But judgment comes on those who turn to lies.

Divine Judgment for Forsaking Truth

The punishment for forsaking truth so totally would be destruction. Jerusalem would become nothing but a ruinous heap (Jeremiah 9:11). Even the animals would forsake it. There was no shame in Jerusalem, God's city, for their many sins (Jeremiah 6:15) and so, destruction would come.

But Why Such a Harsh Punishment?

But why such a harsh punishment? Because God said they had "walked according to the dictates of their own hearts" (Jeremiah 9:14). They hadn't been obedient. They had abandoned truth. They had worshipped false gods. They had utterly forsaken God's laws. They had done what was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6). And so, because of all this, they would be scattered among the gentiles, and a sword would be sent to destroy them (Jeremiah 9:16).

A Vivid Picture of Divine Destruction

Their destruction is vividly described. They would be plundered and thrown out of their homes (Jeremiah 9:19). Death would come for children, for young men, and the dead would lie in the fields, not even buried (Jeremiah 9:21-22). Jeremiah then tells us what the Lord said the people had wrongly gloried in.

Warnings Against Worldly Glories

In Jeremiah 9:23, The wise were told:

• don't glory in your wisdom.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 tells us that the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God.

The mighty men were told:

• don't glory in your might.

1 Peter 5:5 tells us that God resists the proud.

The rich men were told:

• don't glory in your riches.

Proverbs 11:28 tells us that he who trusts in riches will fall.

Glorifying God Alone: Our True Source of Satisfaction

The only thing we should ever glory in, God says, is that we understand and know Him, as much as possible (Jeremiah 9:24). Whatever we glory in is what brings us the most happiness and satisfaction. The three things we should glory in are God's loving kindness, His righteousness, and His judgment. God knows us. The people had failed God by choosing empty worldly glories over the glory of knowing Him. What do we glory in today?

Judgment and Scattering of God’s People

Because of their sins, falsehoods, lack of obedience, and their forsaking of God's laws, His circumcised people would be scattered among the uncircumcised, the Gentiles (Jeremiah 9:25). The Lord looks at our heart. Because His people had what God hates the most—an uncircumcised heart, an unchanged heart, a worldly heart—destruction would come (Jeremiah 9:26).

Historical Judgment: Israel’s Past and Its Lessons

God sent Jeremiah to warn His people of the coming judgment, but not just Jeremiah, he also sent Daniel and Ezekiel. They listened to none of them, and as we know, Jerusalem was laid waste, the Temple destroyed, and the people exiled seventy years to Babylon.

Modern Implications of Divine Judgment

And today, how does God view us? I won’t presume to speak for Him, but I urge you to think about the reasons judgment fell on Israel—because they walked in deceit, abandoned truth, and refused to listen. God does not change. God doesn't just judge individual nations. Think about the reasons judgment came to Israel. Eventually, the whole world will be judged and those who don't know Christ as their Savior will have no advocate before God. Their sin will not be covered by the blood of the Lamb. There will be no escape, just as there was no escape for Israel.

An Urgent Call to Turn to Truth and God's Lovingkindness

If ever there was a reason to mourn as Jeremiah did, that will be a reason. To waste our precious lives living only for ourselves, denying God and reaping a just punishment, when it could all be avoided, is tragic. But it’s a tragedy that can still be prevented.

It’s like standing in a burning house while the door is wide open and the fireman is calling your name. You don’t have to stay. But pride, fear, or stubbornness keeps you frozen. And before long, the smoke becomes suffocating, and the flames close in. That is what it’s like to reject truth—to ignore the call of a Savior who has already made a way of escape.

Where there is no truth, there is no love of God. Reach out for the truth, forsake the father of lies, and live while you still can for the God of lovingkindness.

Jeremiah Weeps Over Jerusalem by Rembrandt

People Also Ask

Where was Babylon? Babylon was the capital of modern day Iraq. It was located about 55 miles south of modern Baghdad. At the time of the Jewish exile it was the capital of the neo-Babylonian empire. The exile ended when the Persians, under Cyrus the Great, conquered the neo-Babylonian's.

(1) Serota, K. B., Levine, T. R., & Docan-Morgan, T. (2021). Unpacking variation in lie prevalence: Prolific liars, bad lie days, or both? Communication Monographs, 89(3), 307–331. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2021.1985153"