Jeremiah 5:5

Jeremiah began with the poor of the city, with people who knew very little. Of them he had to say, "These are only the poor; they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God" (verse 4). He went to the poor, simple folk that were sinning because they did not know better; then he went to the great ones that were sinning and who did know better. So from the least to the highest he searched that city and not one righteous man could be found.

From the king down to the man in the street not one could be found to meet the situation. We are told, "There was no man"! There were plenty of strong men and hard men, but they did not know the way of the LORD (Jer. 5:3-4). "I will go to the great," said the prophet, but they were just as evil. The eyes of the LORD are on truth, yet not one man could be found in agreement with it. The nation was in a pitiable state. It was the same cry then which we sometimes hear now — "Wanted: a man"!

God in His goodness gives people a measure of light. They are to be faithful to that light. The measure of that light is the measure of their responsibility on the day they must give account to God. For, "that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required" (Luke 12:47-48).

No one brings such shame on the truth, and no one so loses all conscience, as those who are familiar with truth without obedience. The people who dishonour the Lord most are those who know the truth, but are not subject to it.

It was a general apostasy. A similar apostasy is predicted for the end of our age. "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" They were foolish, says the Lord; they broke the yoke and burst the bonds; they have refused to return.

The rich and the poor, the rulers and the crowds, were all alike exposed by it. So Jeremiah, in his day, visited "the poor," and found that they did not know the way of the Lord. He then visited "the great ones," and found that they had completely broken the bonds. Jer. 5:1-5. And so it was here with Jeremiah's Lord.

Thanks be to God, we have no need now to cry out "A man wanted"! The king of Israel might fail as the head of the nation, or, even if faithful, he still died. The man Christ Jesus, however, who is the Head of the assembly today, never fails and never dies... God has provided a perfect Man, a Man who has settled the sin question, who has overthrown Satan, and redeemed us to God by His blood.