Light Turns to Darkness (13:15-17):

13:15–17 In this next oracle, Jeremiah begins by calling his hearers, the people of Judah, to pay attention. He claims to speak for the Lord, and calls on them to acknowledge the Lord by giving him his proper glory. But there is a time limit of unspecified duration for them to do this. Soon God will bring his judgment on the people, the judgment signified by a coming darkness. In this darkness, the people will fall down. The people expect light, but because of their refusal to give glory to God, God will bring thick darkness, even gloom.

Listening means more than simply hearing the words of Jeremiah. The Hebrew word (shmʿ) implies acting on that message, in other words, repenting. Jeremiah imagines his reaction to the strong possibility that they will not …