Jeremiah 22:20
Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.
Jeremiah 22:20
This verse invites a dramatic images of Lebanon, Bashan, and the “passages” as landscapes of strength and beauty, and declares all of the king’s lovers are destroyed. The Cherished relationships and alliances are personified as lovers—those who supplied security or wealth through political alliances. Jeremiah uses this to illustrate that the nation’s trust in alliances or idols—any source of security other than the Lord—will be hollow and broken when judgment comes. The imagery of calling out in these high places signals a cry to hear again, to return to the one true source of safety. It’s a wake-up call: when the structures you depended on crumble, where will you turn?
Theologically, the verse underscores the dependence of Israel on God alone for security. It reveals the fragility of false confidences and the permanence of God’s word and judgment. It resonates with themes of judgment for faithlessness and the collapse of built-up trust in anything other than God.
In modern life, it warns against trusting wealth, political power, or external alliances as ultimate security. Practical steps: diversify your security—develop spiritual resilience, community support, and ethical decision-making. Evaluate where you invest loyalty and resources. When “lovers” fail, you need a sturdier anchor—God’s promises and character. For individuals, consider where you place your trust: is it in career, reputation, or comfort? Reorient toward God by cultivating daily practices: prayer, honest confession, and acts of mercy that form a posture of dependency on God rather than on worldly assurances.
Cross-References: Psalm 20:7; Isaiah 31:1; Hosea 14:9; Psalm 146:3; Colossians 2:8