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underwear and wine

Jeremiah 13:1-14 (JDV)

Jeremiah 13:1 This is what Yahveh said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen undergarment and put it on. But do not put it in water.”

Jeremiah 13:2 So I bought underwear as Yahveh instructed me and put it on.

Jeremiah 13:3 Then the word of Yahveh came to me a second time:

Jeremiah 13:4 “Take the underwear that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to the Euphrates and hide it in a rocky crevice.”

Jeremiah 13:5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as Yahveh commanded me.

Jeremiah 13:6 A long time later Yahveh said to me, “Go at once to the Euphrates and get the underwear that I commanded you to hide there.”

Jeremiah 13:7 So I went to the Euphrates and dug up the underwear and got it from the place where I had hidden it, but I noticed it was spoiled – of no use at all.

Jeremiah 13:8 Then the word of Yahveh came to me:

Jeremiah 13:9 “This is what Yahveh says: Just like this I will spoil the great pride of both Judah and Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 13:10 These evil people, who refuse to listen to me, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who have followed other gods to serve and bow in worship – they will be like this underwear, of no use at all.

Jeremiah 13:11 Just as underwear clings to one’s waist, so I fastened the whole house of Israel and of Judah to me” – this is what Yahveh declares – “so that they might be my people for my fame, praise, and glory, but they would not obey.

Jeremiah 13:12 “Say this to them: ‘This is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: Every jar should be filled with wine.’ Then they will respond to you, ‘Don’t we know that every jar should be filled with wine?’

Jeremiah 13:13 And you will say to them, ‘This is what Yahveh says: I am about to fill all who live in this land– the kings who reign for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the residents of Jerusalem – with drunkenness.

Jeremiah 13:14 I will smash them against each other, fathers and sons alike – this is what Yahveh declares. I will allow no mercy, pity, or compassion to keep me from destroying them.'”

underwear and wine

Jeremiah was given a message to his people with two very interesting illustrations. The first was a new pair of underwear, which he purposeless allowed to be ruined. God wanted his people to know that they were for him to wear – they became ruined and useless because they had stopped giving glory to him.

The second illustration was the wine. The point was that every jar – that is, every Israelite – was to be filled with the wine of his presence and influence. But since they chose not to be filled with the Sacred Breath, the Lord would fill them with drunkenness.

Both of these illustrations involve something which has a legitimate purpose, but if abused, lead to embarrassment and dishonor.

Lord, we surrender to your purpose for our lives. We are tired of living in shame due to our own choices.