Again, as in the days of Elijah, the people have sunk into pagan wickedness, and again drought has fallen on the land - but now everything is much worse: in Elijah's time, a considerable number of faithful people who had not bowed before pagan deities remained hidden from outside eyes, but now...
Again, as in the days of Elijah, the people have sunk into pagan wickedness, and again drought has fallen on the land - but now everything is much worse: in Elijah's time, a considerable number of faithful people who had not bowed before pagan deities remained hidden from outside eyes, but now the faithful remnant has grown very thin, and the Lord turns away from the unfaithful people to such a degree that He even asks Jeremiah not to pray for them.
Yet we should note that the prohibition on praying for sinners does not deny the possibility of repentant prayer by the sinners themselves. The Lord had no intention of refusing the people His help, but any good given to an unrepentant people will not benefit them.
An important lesson taught here is the need for careful discernment toward words proclaimed by prophets. Sadly, not every prophecy comes from God; many of them are dreams of one's own heart, mistaken for a voice from above. But the imaginary structures of false prophets will surely collapse, and the false hopes they offer will vanish.
The Lord, however, sternly and impartially warns the people about the disasters they have deserved. But a true prophet, proclaiming His will and not his own wishes, does not lose hope in His mercy. Aware of the full justice of God's anger, such a prophet still does not accept the destruction of the covenant between the Lord and His people, no matter how small the number of the faithful has become.
14 A grievous famine prophesied, its miseries, Jer 14:1-6.
The prophet prays, but God will not be entreated for them, Jer 14:7-12.
Lying prophets no excuse for them, Jer 14:13-16.
The prophet's complaint, Jer 14:17-22.
14:7 Testify - That thou art righteous in what thou hast done.Do thou it - Do thou what we stand in need of; give us rain, though not for our sake, we deserve no such kindness from thee, yet for thy names sake: thy promise, or for thine honour and glory.