Jeremiah had been forced to accompany a rebellious remnant of Jews from Judea, defeated and devastated and de-populated by Nebuchadnezzar, into Egypt. A fresh dispute arose about God and gods; whom should they worship? Who required their loyalty?
In context, this was a confrontation in Egypt amongst exiles from Judah. It was also a confrontation between God, represented by the prophet Jeremiah and the people, mainly the women, who clung to their devotion to the Queen of Heaven. Jeremiah gave the challenge quoted above (Jer 44.28 ).
This conflict is constantly repeated throughout history. Until Christ’s Return, there will always be conflict between God’s kingdom and the kingdom’s of fallen mankind; between godly ways of thinking and human ways of thinking; between holy thoughts and actions, and corrupt thinking and actions. (Paul says that our conflict is not against ‘flesh and blood;’ our enemies are never people.)
Reading through the Old Testament, we see the same story in the nation of Israel. Through the invasion and occupation of Canaan, conflict continued, including with the Philistines. Once separated, Israel and Judah frequently failed to appreciate that military defeat was a result of their repeated departure into idolatry. The prophets are persistent in making this point.
The second half of the book of Daniel presents future, to Daniel, visions of the rise and fall of kingdom after kingdom. Finally, Daniel declares to Nebuchadnezzar, that there will be an ultimate kingdom, a rock cut out without human hands, a mountain which will fill the earth (Dan 2.45). This kingdom of King Jesus will ultimately triumph. Jeremiah’s words will finally be proved right.