20150909 Wednesday, September 9 2015
Jeremiah 17: A Pen Of Iron With The Point Of A Diamond

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart"

Due to its extreme hardness, diamond had been used in the tips of engraving pens since ancient times. They are still very much in use today because, like some other methods of engraving (from a word that means to dig - hence also the origin of the word grave), they provide an indelible ("un-delete-able") form of writing.

The LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) referred to diamond-pointed engraving pens in a figurative sense, in that just as the Law of the LORD can be indelibly engraved on the "heart" of those who truly follow and obey Him (see the Fact Finder question below), a declaration of defiance and rebellion can also be indelibly self-written on the "hearts" of those who foolishly and arrogantly choose to go their own way, rather than the Way of Life.

The Israelites were created from the nations of the Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Jordan) and Africa (Egypt) as a living prophecy of the coming Kingdom of God that will be composed of people of all nations who choose to accept the LORD's offer of family citizenship (see What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?). Like everyone else, some of the people of Israel, and then some of the people of Israel and Judah, chose to reject the LORD's offer of life. While the LORD is longsuffering and patient, the time of opportunity is not infinite. There comes a "point" when those who refuse to repent will have made their defiance "written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart." So then, "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."

"17:1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars; 17:2 Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills. 17:3 O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders. 17:4 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever. 17:5 Thus saith the LORD;

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." (Jeremiah 17:1-5 KJV)

Notice that the defiance can also take the form of rejecting obedience to the LORD - while claiming His Name for a man-made religion (see Iniquity In History And Prophecy). The full context of the verses quoted above:

"17:1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars; 17:2 Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills. 17:3 O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders. 17:4 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.

17:5 Thus saith the LORD;

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 17:6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

17:11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

17:12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. 17:15 Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now. 17:16 As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee. 17:17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil. 17:18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

17:19 Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; 17:20 And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: 17:21 Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 17:22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 17:23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. 17:24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; 17:25 Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. 17:26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD. 17:27 But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." (Jeremiah 17:1-27 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is indelibly written on the "hearts" of the people of the LORD who truly follow and obey Him?
See 2 Corinthians 3:3 and Written In The Heart Of Our Tabernacles