Jeremiah 16:19

“O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.”

Certainly! Here’s a Bible study on Jeremiah 16:19 in the King James Version:

Verse: “O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.”

Context: The book of Jeremiah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament that contains the prophecies and messages of the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. Jeremiah prophesied during a time of great social and spiritual decline in Judah, warning the people of impending judgment if they did not repent and turn back to God.

Acknowledging God’s Attributes: In this verse, Jeremiah acknowledges several attributes of God: strength, fortress, and refuge. By addressing God with these titles, Jeremiah acknowledges God’s power, protection, and the fact that God is a safe place of refuge for His people, particularly in times of affliction or trouble. It demonstrates Jeremiah’s personal relationship with God and his reliance on Him in difficult times.

Gentiles Coming to God: Jeremiah prophesies that the Gentiles (non-Israelite nations) will come to the Lord from the ends of the earth. This highlights the universal nature of God’s salvation plan. Although the message of the prophets primarily focused on Israel, there were also promises of God’s blessing and inclusion of the Gentiles in His plan of redemption. This verse foreshadows the spread of the Gospel message beyond the nation of Israel to the nations of the world.

Recognizing False Inheritance: The Gentiles who come to God from the ends of the earth will make a significant realization. They will confess, “Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.” This statement acknowledges the spiritual condition of the Gentile nations, who had inherited false gods and beliefs from their ancestors. It recognizes the emptiness and futility of idol worship and the worthlessness of the idols themselves. The Gentiles will come to understand the truth and turn away from the false gods they had previously worshipped.

Application: As believers today, we can find encouragement in this verse. We can take comfort in God’s strength, fortress, and refuge in our own lives, especially during times of affliction or trouble. Just as the Gentiles turned away from their false gods, we are called to reject the lies, vanity, and things of no profit that the world offers and instead turn to the one true God. We can also be inspired by the universal scope of God’s salvation plan and the opportunity to share the Gospel with people from all nations.