“And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.”
My Notes
What Does Jeremiah 5:19 Mean?
God anticipates Judah's inevitable question—"Why is God doing all this to us?"—and provides the answer in advance. The answer is a perfect mirror: "Like as ye have forsaken me and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours." The punishment matches the sin with devastating precision. You wanted foreign gods? You'll serve foreign masters. You chose to worship strangers? You'll live as strangers.
The poetic justice is exact: they served "strange gods in your land" (voluntary idolatry in the comfort of home), so they will "serve strangers in a land that is not yours" (involuntary service in the discomfort of exile). What they chose freely becomes what they're forced to endure. The penalty isn't arbitrary—it's the logical extension of the sin itself.
God providing the answer before the question is asked reveals both His omniscience and His desire for understanding. He's not punishing in silence. He's explaining in advance so that when the punishment arrives, the connection to the sin is clear. The suffering has a reason, and God wants them to know what it is.
Reflection Questions
- 1.If you asked God 'why is this happening to me,' what answer might He give? Have you been honest enough to listen?
- 2.Can you trace a current consequence back to a choice you made? How does that realization change your response to the suffering?
- 3.The punishment mirrors the sin: serving foreign gods leads to serving foreign masters. What 'foreign gods' have you been serving that might be costing you freedom?
- 4.God answers the question before it's asked. What does that tell you about His desire to communicate with you, even in judgment?
Devotional
"Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us?" They'll ask this question from exile, bewildered by their suffering. And God pre-writes the answer: because you chose foreign gods in your own land, now you'll serve foreign people in someone else's land. The punishment is a mirror of the sin.
The symmetry is precise and devastating. They chose idolatry voluntarily—worshiping foreign gods while sitting comfortably in the land God gave them. Now they'll serve foreigners involuntarily—living as servants in a land that isn't theirs. The freedom they used to choose wrong gods becomes the freedom they lose in someone else's country. What you do with freedom determines whether you keep it.
God answers their question before they ask it because He wants them to understand. He's not a God who punishes without explanation. He connects the dots in advance: this is why. Not random. Not cruel. Consequential. Your choices produced this. The suffering traces back to your decisions.
If you're in a situation that feels like exile—if you're 'serving strangers in a land that is not yours,' metaphorically—it might be worth asking God the question Judah asked: why? And being ready for the answer. Sometimes the answer is: you chose foreign gods in your own land. You gave your devotion to things that weren't worthy of it, and the consequence is finding yourself under the authority of things you didn't choose. But even in exile, God is still answering questions. That means the conversation isn't over.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say,.... That is, the people of the Jews, to whom the prophet belonged, after…
The reason why God so chastises His people. As they in a land especially consecrated to Yahweh had served “strange” (i.…
We may observe in these verses, as before,
I. The sin of this people, upon which the commission signed against them is…
The punishment was to be severe, because the wickedness which had called it forth was gross.
in a land that is not yours…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture