In the time of Jeremiah, the people of Israel had become very wicked. The northern kingdom had been taken away several years before. The southern kingdom, Judah, had not learned by what had happened to the northern kingdom. They had become just as wicked as the northern kingdom had been.
In Jeremiah 5:25-27, we read, “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.”
One way that birds were caught was to lay a trap with a birdcage. Decoys were made of wood or some other material. These decoys looked like a real bird. The decoys were put in a birdcage. Then real birds would fly into the cage thinking that they would be with other birds. Once in the cage they could not get out.
Evil men in Judah used deceit to lure other men into their homes. The men did not know that they were going to be robbed or enticed to be part of a false business venture. Whatever was done, the evil men were able to take money away from these other men. They were able to become very rich by doing such things.
Do not be make your life like a cage full of birds. Always be honest. Always tell the truth. Never steal. Do not be deceitful. Study your Bible. Learn what you should do to obey God. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
