In Jeremiah five, verses one through nine, beginning from the first, “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” Judah’s corruption had reached such a degree that few could be found who loved God’s truth and righteousness. The nation was guilty; therefore, God determined to bring judgment upon His faithless people.
None could be found who behaved as upright and godly men. But the Lord saw the true character of the people through all their disguises. The poor were ignorant, and therefore they were wicked. What can be expected but works of darkness, from people that do not know nothing of God and religion? There are God’s poor, who, notwithstanding poverty, know the way of the Lord, walk in it, and do their duty; but these were willingly ignorant, and their ignorance would not be their excuse. The rich were insolent and haughty, and the abuse of God’s favours made their sin worse.
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, as in Ephesians four, verse eighteen. God called the people who grew ignorant, faithless. They were the opposite of faithful. How did the people of God become so disloyal? Corruption.
“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” A little child accepts the truth until they get older and to know the opposite.