For more than two hundred years, the United States Marines have been looking for “a few good men.” Jeremiah was looking for only one. At the start of chapter 5, God issues a challenge. If the prophet can find just one person of real integrity, God will forgive the sins of the entire city of Jerusalem (v 1). Jeremiah’s search begins with the common folk. These people talked about God quite a bit. Unfortunately, they didn’t fear Him or follow Him. Their worship was insincere, and the hardships they endured in life had not produced godly character. They were stubborn and unteachable (v 2-3). But what can you expect from the poor? They haven’t been to many Bible studies and they know very little theology. Surely Jeremiah’s search will yield different results if he looks among the cultural elite. But the only difference is that these people sin out of defiance rather than ignorance! Because of their willful disobedience, the people of Judah are warned of enemy attack (v 4-6). The children weren’t innocent either. They too had forsaken the LORD, just like all the adults who were lavishing their affection on dead idols, committing both physical and spiritual adultery. Instead of praising God for His generous provisions, they were turning to sexual sin, and the LORD was fed up (v 7-9). Judah was supposed to be a choice vine, bearing good fruit for God, but now the vine is to be plucked. They had little respect for God’s authority and little interest in hearing God’s spokesmen, whom they considered windbags. But now they must deal with Jeremiah. His preaching will be like a consuming fire, and they themselves will be the kindling. He warns of a powerful foreign army who will carry them away to a distant land. Since they worshiped foreign gods anyway, what could be more appropriate? (v 10-19). Jeremiah’s congregation consisted of people whose eyes, ears, and minds were shut to the Word of God. They were in denial, refusing to acknowledge that God would hold them accountable for their sins. They did not stand in awe of God’s power, nor bow in gratitude for His kindness (v 20-25). They had become rich and powerful, not through honest work and noble ambition, but through their oppression of the poor. The “haves” were using the system to take advantage of the “have-nots.” Those not guilty of injustice were guilty of apathy, for they did nothing to advocate for the needy. Even the clergy were selfishly unwilling to challenge the status quo (v 26-31). Jeremiah’s search was in vain. He found no one righteous; not even one. Only in Jesus do we find a good man who is able to turn away the wrath of God. For further meditation: