Read Jeremiah 11.
"Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them." (v.11b) "Therefore, do not pray for this people." (v.14)
The nation had become so spiritually corrupt that they had reached a point where prayer to God would not delay the judgment against them. Their root sin was turning to other things for life-guidance instead of solely depending on the LORD. God gave them plenty of warning, "Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart." (v.8)
Not only did they reject the message, they wanted to kill the messenger (v.21). This is the first mention of the increasing personal threat against Jeremiah for faithfully delivering the word of God. The LORD's response was to bring death to the conspirators (vv.22-23).
Such a sinful condition should strike terror in disobedient hearts. Hebrews 10:31 is a reminder to all, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Sin is nothing with which to play. The Apostle John wrote: "There is a sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that." (1 John 5:16b)
The prime example in the New Testament where a line was crossed with God and His judgment came quickly upon them is Ananias and Sapphira. They lied to the church in Acts 5 and the LORD killed both of them. In his first letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote of Hymenaeus and Alexander, two men in the church who were committed to false doctrine. "I have handed them over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1 Timothy 1:20)
We should all be warned to keep soft hearts for God and to be immediately responsive to His prompting. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)
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