The Upside-Down World

Aim: To be upright, in Jesus, even in a sea of iniquity.

Doctrine: Where sin is rampant, everything is out of order. Sin turns God's smile into a frown; sin turns people from God's freemen into Satan's slaves.

Exegesis: The skewed results of unbridled sin: the covenant's God—instead of comforting—must destroy (vv. 5-8); the covenant's prophet—instead of being appreciated—is despised (vv. 9-10); the covenant's enemies—instead of loathing Jeremiah—defend him (v. 11)

Further application: How to thrive in a sin-twisted age: get citizenship in God's colony on earth, and determine by grace to love Christ, no matter what.

Key verse: v. 11 ''The LORD said: 'Surely it will be well with your remnant; surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you in the time of adversity and in the time of affliction.'''