13:15 Jeremiah called the people to pay attention and not to disregard what he would tell them because they thought it was unimportant. Yahweh had a message for them.
13:16 They were to give glory to Yahweh before the darkness of God's judgment overwhelmed them and they stumbled in their walk, as people descending a mountain at twilight. Presently there was some light for the people to walk in, and they were hoping for more light, but deep darkness was about to overtake them. Giving glory to the Lord is an idiom for confessing sins (cf. Josh. 7:19; John 9:24).
The historical background for this oracle may be the deportation of Jehoiachin in 597 B.C., which was as twilight compared to the darkness of 586 B.C. when Jerusalem fell and Judah lost her independence.235
13:17 If the people would not listen to the Lord's word, Jeremiah would weep profusely for them because their failure to listen would indicate that the people, like a flock of sheep, would be taken captive by an enemy.
"Let no one think that the good news of Jesus Christ is to be communicated in a cold take it or leave it' manner. Evangelical preaching and Christian witnessing must not be limited merely to a correct interpretation of the doctrines of the Word. We must have a love for sinners, so great a love that we will be driven urgently to unfold to them the way of salvation, whatever the cost."236
