but do not destroy them completely

Jeremiah 5:1-31

“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.”

Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.

Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the Lord.

“Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.

“Announce this to the descendants of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence?

They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’ Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.

Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor. Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?

Why?

The Lord pointed out their evil deeds and their hearts are full of evil and deceit. They have eyes but could not see the truth, they have ears but could not listen to the true words. 

The Lord asked Jeremiah to search for a man of justice, but none. God has mercy on his people, but they still refuse the Lord and their hearts are hardened like stones.

God does not totally destroy Israel and Judah but still loves them, so do not destroy them completely.

All we have and all we are enjoy or suffering are the grace of the Lord. God is good, God is my way and my strength.

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神感嘆： 想給人赦罪的理由，卻找不到一個義人。官長、先知、祭司等比較高位的人，明白律法，應該比較明白，可惜他們不喜歡律法，不想被約束，結果引到更危險的地方。出城似乎自由，城是保護人的地方，卻到了曠野險境中。

行公義，尋誠實的人，一個都沒有。如果有一人，神就赦免這城。海浪不越界，下雨似乎平常，這些都是神蹟。人可以努力耕種，但是沒有下雨，怎麼有收成?雖然是自然現象，但是這就是神蹟。我們還要做愚昧人嗎？

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How?

Be careful don't fall into the world, I belong to the Lord, Find the truth and walk out the truth and justice.