Day 26/40 Call to Repentance (Jer 4:5)

Right at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), I received from YHWH, our God, a word from Jeremiah 4:5 that is now very familiar to me.

Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, “Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!’!" ( Jeremiah 4:5 )

Jeremiah 4 proclaims God's urgent warning to Judah to expect God's judgment for their disobedience and idolatry, but at the same time announces an opportunity for salvation through true repentance and the "circumcision of the heart." The prophet Jeremiah describes in a vision the devastated land and the approaching hostility of the Babylonians from the north, but emphasizes that despite the impending judgment, God offers hope for a return and a better future.

Main themes and significance:

• Warning before judgment:

  God announces a judgment, portrayed as a "storm" and war, as a result of the people's disobedience. The Babylonian siege of the cities symbolizes the complete destruction caused by the people's deep-seated idolatry and sin.

• False security:

  The message of peace that is being preached to the people is deceptive and serves as a false security that does not protect them from the impending judgment.

• Call to repentance (circumcision of the heart):

  Jeremiah calls the people to "circumcision of heart," which means removing everything that separates them from God. True repentance is the only way to salvation.

• Symbolic images:

  The prophet uses striking images such as the devastated land and the siege of the cities to emphasize the severity of the judgment and the imminence of the threat.

• Hope for recovery:

  Despite the impending destruction, Jeremiah also speaks of hope. God has a plan for the future of his people, and repentance can lead to salvation and a better future.

We, as followers of the Way—that is, as followers of Jesus Christ—must take this warning seriously. Over the past few years, I've experienced that whenever a threat threatened, our God gave me a sign through the Prophet's verse. This is how I was warned back then, before Covid-19 was declared a pandemic. My husband and I asked God for wisdom and advice. We stocked up on supplies in time before the coronavirus crisis hit Germany with full force. On March 18, 2020, an estimated 200,000 retail businesses went into lockdown, according to the German Retail Association. When stores and restaurants were closed or ran out of stock, we felt safe and well-supplied.

Call for repentance

Jeremiah 4:5 is a call to repentance, foretelling the impending destruction of Jerusalem and Judah if the people do not turn from their wicked ways and turn their hearts to the Lord. The verse tells the Israelites to expect destruction from the north that will devastate the land and warns of the failure of the spirit of leadership and the loss of security and home.

On October 10, 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and the radical Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip finally came into effect, according to Israeli sources. Israeli troops are reported to have begun a partial withdrawal and are taking up positions along the updated lines of operation. They are preparing for the return of the hostages. Will everything go as hoped, or is a new threat looming from the north? Jeremiah announces an invasion from the north that will sweep across the country like a mighty storm and turn it into a wasteland. He calls for a reversal.

God's warning

This warning from God in Jeremiah 4:5, dated October 8, 2025 , applies not only to Judah and Israel, but also to us Christians, who have been grafted into the nation of Israel. We, too, are in danger. Have we prepared for it? Do we listen to God's Word, or do we refuse to listen, just as the people of Israel did back then, and do we stubbornly continue to follow the ways of evil.

YAHWEH'S call

Our Father calls you:

Repent and turn around . Keep my commandments, especially the first and fourth commandments . ( Exodus 20:2, 8-11 ) Follow my Son Jesus, who showed you the way to eternal life and to me, your eternal Father, who died for you as a sacrificial lamb and shed his blood for your sins. Turn away from your evil ways and direct your heart toward me. I am Yahweh your God! I have freed you from the house of slavery in Egypt (the world). Keep my Sabbaths (Saturdays) and holidays. They are to bless you. They keep my times. When you have repented, you will experience my grace and will live in harmony with me again. If you have not already done so, accept Jesus as your Savior and follow his way. Jesus alone is the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to me except through him! ( John 14:6 ) Always remember: My thousand-year kingdom of peace is being established. Persevere. Jesus' sheep hear his voice!

Castle, tower from the Middle Ages