Jeremiah 17:7-8 (7) “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. (8) For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Overview|Background
Jeremiah was a priest, a native of Anathoth, in the tribe of Benjamin. He was called to the prophetic office when very young, about seventy years after the death of Isaiah, and exercised it for about forty years with great faithfulness, till the sins of the Jewish nation came to their full measure and destruction followed.
Illustration of a cistern cut in bedrock. In many areas groundwater was nonexistent or too deep inside the stone for access. Often lined with waterproof plaster, cisterns allowed for retention of drinking water for dry times. Seasonal rain water running into cisterns would carry in silt and dirt, filling the cistern with mud over time (see Jer 38:6 & 13)
Key Passage(s)
Jeremiah 1:1-19 (1) The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, (2) to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. (3) It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. (4) Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: (5) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (6) Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” (7) But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. (8) Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. (9) Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. (10) See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.” (11) Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” (12) Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.” (13) And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.” (14) Then the LORD said to me: “Out of the north calamity shall break forth On all the inhabitants of the land. (15) For behold, I am calling All the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the LORD; “They shall come and each one set his throne At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, Against all its walls all around, And against all the cities of Judah. (16) I will utter My judgments Against them concerning all their wickedness, Because they have forsaken Me, Burned incense to other gods, And worshiped the works of their own hands. (17) “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them. (18) For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land—Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land. (19) They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the LORD, “to deliver you.”
KEY MINOR CHARACTERS: Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Pashhur, Hananiah, Nebuchadnezzar, and Ebed-melech
The Story
Summary
The Book of Jeremiah is primarily a message of judgment on Judah for rampant idolatry (Jeremiah 7:30-34; 16:10-13; 22:9; 32:29; 44:2-3). After the death of King Josiah, the last righteous king, the nation of Judah had almost completely abandoned God and His commandments. Jeremiah compares Judah to a prostitute (Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1-3). God had promised that He would judge idolatry most severely (Leviticus 26:31-33; Deuteronomy 28:49-68), and Jeremiah was warning Judah that God’s judgment was at hand. God had delivered Judah from destruction on countless occasions, but His mercy was at its end. Jeremiah records King Nebuchadnezzar conquering Judah and making it subject to him (Jeremiah 24:1). After further rebellion, God brought Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian armies back to destroy and desolate Judah and Jerusalem (Jeremiah chapter 52). Even in this most severe judgment, God promises the restoration of Judah back into the land God has given them (Jeremiah 29:10).
Major Events
Jeremiah’s call
Jeremiah’s temple sermons
Jeremiah’s disputes with God,
Jerusalem’s fall
The people’s exiles.
Themes
God opposes individual and corporate sin
God forgives when people repent
God promises renewal after judgment through the Messiah and the new covenant
Outline of Jeremiah
Providential Care for God’s Servant
Jeremiah 1 – The Prophet is Called; The Lord commands Jeremiah to speak every word He puts in his mouth without fear; “whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. (Key verse: Jeremiah 1:7-8)
The People’s False Hopes
Jeremiah 2-3:5 – A Pestilent Exchange; Jerusalem leaves their first love, exchanging the fountain of living waters [for] broken cisterns that hold no water. (Key verse: Jeremiah 2:13)
Jeremiah 3:6-6 – A Pretense of Worship; In the days of Josiah, a backsliding people returning to the Lord but not with her whole heart, but in pretense (Key verse: Jeremiah 3:10)
Jeremiah 7-10 – A Precarious Trust; Those who trusted in the temple warned to truly and thoroughly amend [their] ways (Key verse: Jeremiah 7:5)
Persecutions & Prophecies
Jeremiah 11-12 – Plotting Against the Prophet; The people begin conspiring against Jeremiah as he continues interceding for them and faithfully speaking God’s word. (Key verse: Jeremiah 11:18-19)
Jeremiah 13 – Pictures for the People; The Lord uses several symbols—the sash, the wine barrels, and the leopard’s spots—to illustrate their irredeemable ruin before Him because they trust in falsehood, refuse to hear His words, and follow the dictates of their own hearts. (Key verse: Jeremiah 13:10)
Jeremiah 14-17 – The Prophet’s Struggle; Jeremiah continues to wrestle with the people and with God, interceding for them while faithfully preaching the Lord’s word. (Key verse: Jeremiah 17:16)
Jeremiah 18-20 – The Potter and His Clay; The Lord uses imagery of a Potter, his clay, and a broken vessel to illustrate the inevitability and completeness of the destruction to come, while persecution rises against Jeremiah. (Key verse: Jeremiah 19:11)
Jeremiah 21-24 – The Progeny of David’s House; the word of the Lord comes against the kings of Judah and their dynasty. Because of their wickedness, no more kings would sit on the throne of David until the Branch of righteousness comes. (Key verse: Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Jeremiah 25-28 – Proclamation of Judgment for Judah, Babylon, and the Whole World; Starting with the promise of 70 years of captivity for Judah, the Lord speaks judgments through Jeremiah from one end of the earth to the other (Jeremiah 25:30)
Jeremiah 29-33 – Promises of Peace & Restoration for Israel; The Lord promises a future and a hope for Israel after the return of their captivity. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Punishment for Judah and the Nations
Jeremiah 34-39 – The Penultimate Days of the Kingdom; As the Babylonian captivity draws near, several prophecies illustrate the totality of Judah’s rebellion leading up to the fall of Jerusalem and the exile. (Jeremiah 37:1-2)
Jeremiah 40-45 – Pandemonium of the Remnant; Unrest plagues the people as Gedaliah is assassinated and Johanan takes the remnant to Egypt in disobedience to the Lord’s command. (Jeremiah 42:19-22)
Jeremiah 46-51 – Pulling Down the Nations; Jeremiah’s ministry was not exclusive to Israel. He was called to be a prophet to the nations. Here he gives words of comfort to Israel and judgment to the nations around her. (Jeremiah 46:28)
Jeremiah 52 – Promises Fulfilled; The Lord had promised Jerusalem’s destruction, and He makes good on that. But the Lord had another promise to keep. A promise that all of Scripture is pointing toward—salvation through the Son of David, Jesus Christ. (Jeremiah 52:3)
Where Do We See Christ?
Jeremiah 23:5-6 presents a prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. The prophet describes Him as a Branch from the house of David (v. 5; Matthew 1), the King who would reign in wisdom and righteousness (v. 5, Revelation 11:15). It is Christ who will finally be recognized by Israel as her true Messiah as He provides salvation for His chosen ones (v. 6; Romans 11:26).
Point of Application
How can we apply this to our lives today?
Seeing God’s patience with His people in the Old Testament reminds us that God has always been and continues to be merciful. That His chosen people routinely ignored the covenant they made with Him for the better part of a millennia without immediate death and destruction should give us hope in our own struggles with living well for God. Though we fail Him, He is patient with us, working in us to bring about the best for our lives.
But the book of Jeremiah also reminds us that an end will certainly come, a truth that should spur us to follow after God wholeheartedly. Will you follow Him?
Discussion Questions
Have you felt like the Lord was leading you to do something for which you felt incapable and inadequate?
Have you allowed those feelings of inadequacy to stop you from stepping out and doing the thing you felt God has led you to do?
Closing Prayer
Lord, help us to be mindful that our limitations pale in comparison to your power when we are called to do your will.
Prayer List
Doc – renewed vigor to join us on Saturdays
Richard Brooks – faith and courage during the next stage of his journey in Christ
Bob & Gaynelle – Breast cancer (from Mike Arras)
Julia (Arras) – praise for health
Jim Allen, friend of Daryl, heart issue, praise
Jim Sachs – praise
Darryl’s employee Tara – lung cancer, in US
Darryl’s Son Jonathan and Wife Lizz – spiritual renewal
Tom and Jeanice – praise and prayers for continued recovery
Becky and Lee Davidson, health and healing, difficult situation
Jim & Melissa, father-in-law’s heart condition and spiritual health, marital closeness
Mike Arras’ daughter, praise
Mike Allen – sister Adele and brother
Joe & Deb – continued prayers for Deb’s Dad, travel for Deb
Brian – Job situation
JC – health issues
JC’s granddaughter Kylie, Tiffany, and Tommy
Todd – medical issues (sinuses, hands)
Wisdom about meeting location
Our country & our world
Gayle (Karl’s wife) – wisdom, peace, strength in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds
Karl’s friend, Jesse – PRAISE! Found a good church body to join
Additional Content
FOR GREATER HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING: SCRIBES
Jeremiah’s scribe and ministry partner, Baruch son of Neriah, wrote down many of Jeremiah’s messages. This was not an uncommon practice. Even in New Testament times, Paul had a scribe, or “amanuensis,” who at times wrote as he dictated his work (Rom 16:22). Even though a scribe might be employed, the Holy Spirit inspired the work of the author who communicated it.
Collections of bullae continue to be uncovered, some of which date to the time of Jeremiah. A bulla is a small lump of clay used to seal a document much the same way wax has been used in more recent times. The scribe wrapped up a scroll and tied it with string, then placed the clay over the knot. He then impressed his personal seal into the clay.
The bulla seal of Baruch the son of Neriah, Jeremiah’s scribe (Jer 32:12–16). The writing is in the earlier paleo-Hebrew font. It reads: “[belonging] to Berachiah, son of Neriyahu, the scribe.”
Ancient bullae like these that survived were fired during the destruction of a building and baked to the hardness of pottery. Thus they survive while the documents they were attached to either perished in the fire or disintegrated over time. In this cache was a bulla with the seal of Baruch son of Neriah (see right) as well as seal impressions from two others mentioned in the book of Jeremiah (Jerahmeel the son of Jehoiakim—Jer 36:26, and Elishama the secretary—Jer 36:11).
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