Autor: eabrazil

In Jeremiah 45, which is a short 5-verse chapter, the prophet conveys a word from the Lord to his good friend and scribe Baruch acknowledging that he is worn out and low in spirit, no doubt feeling overwhelmed by all he had written down from Jeremiah’s dictation. God then confirmed that he was about “overthrow” and “uproot” Judah but in it all he promised let Baruch “escape with his life”.

Word now came from God through Jeremiah to the Jews in Egypt reminding them that the reason for the great disaster in Jerusalem and the towns of Judah was the blatant unrepentant idolatry of the people. But now they have returned to pagan idolatry and would therefore suffer a similar fate. God warns them that such judgement is imminent and the remnant of Judah will be subject to eradication by sword or famine. “None will return except a few fugitives”. God condemned the Jews for burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her. The Jews point blank refuse to give up her worship so God is adamant that he will judge them with widespread extermination. As a sign of the divine commitment to this action he says that he will hand over Pharoah Hophra to his enemies that seek his life.

 Azariah, Johanan and all the arrogant Israelites called Jeremiah a liar because he opposed them going to Egypt. Then “they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord”. Now Jeremiah buried some large stones at the entrance to Pharoah’s palace symbolic of Israel in Egypt and then said that Nebuchadnezzar would soon attack Egypt setting fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt and bring death and captivity to all. Thus the very place that the Israelites had sought refuge against God’s will would be their doom.

Then Johanan and his accompanying army officers asked Jeremiah to pray for God’s guidance for them and promised to obey come what may. 10 days later Jeremiah received word from the Lord telling them to stay put and God would bless them, but if they refused to stay and insisted on going to Egypt then all will die by sword, famine and plague. In this case “you will be an object of cursing, horror, condemnation and reproach, and you will never see this place again”.

Jeremiah 41 tells of how Ishmael came with 10 men and murdered Gedaliah and all the Jews with him. However before word had spread about the killings 80 men arrived bringing grain offerings and incense to the temple, so Ishmael slaughtered them all and threw their bodies into a cistern. Then Ishmael took everyone else there captive. When however the word got round about all the killings Ishmael had carried out Johanan and some army officers came after Ishmael, but he and 8 of his men escaped. Then Johanan and all the survivors of Jerusalem fled to Egypt. 

Jeremiah 39 tells of how the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem finally led to the city wall being broken through and all the Babylonian officials took up seats of authority in the city. Thus King Zedekiah and his soldiers fled but they were pursued and captured the king in the plains of Jericho taking him before Nebuchadnezzar. He slaughtered all the King’s sons before his eyes as well as all the Israelite nobles. Then he removed King Zedekiah’s eyes, put him in Bronze shackles and sent him to Babylon. The Babylonians then broke down the walls of Jerusalem and torched the royal palace and houses, but they left poorer people in the city. Jeremiah was left unharmed amongst his people.

Jeremiah 38 tells of how the prophet warned everyone that if they stayed in Jerusalem they would die and told everyone to go over to the Babylonians who will capture the city. The Israelite officials said Jeremiah “should be put to death” for reducing the morale of the Israelite soldiers, and King Zedekiah handed Jeremiah over to them and they put Jeremiah in a muddy cistern. However Ebed-Melech went and appealed to the king against this and the king sent 30 men to hoist Jeremiah out of the cistern. Then King Zedekiah consulted Jeremiah giving him life assurance, so he told the king that the only way for him to survive was for him to surrender to the Babylonians. Then Jeremiah stayed under house arrest in “the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured”.

 Zedekiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar and he sent word to Jeremiah asking for prayer for God to help them whilst there was a lull in the Babylonian siege thanks to an Egyptian advance. Jeremiah warned Zedekiah that Egypt’s help would come to nothing and that the Babylonians would soon be returning with full strength. Then Jeremiah was arrested for allegedly “deserting to the Babylonians!” The officials had Jeremiah beaten and then imprisoned him. Jeremiah was put in a vaulted cell in a dungeon and left there for a long time. Eventually King Zedekiah sought out Jeremiah and asked him if he had any word from the Lord? Jeremiah told him straight that he did and that he would be handed over to the King of Babylon. Jeremiah insisted on his release and he was at least put under house arrest in the courtyard of the guard and grateful to longer be confined to the dungeon. 

 Jeremiah 36 tells how God commanded him to write on a scroll all the warnings and threats to Israel and Judah since the reign of Josiah, so he dictated everything to Baruch who wrote everything in ink on a scroll. Then Jeremiah sent Baruch to read the scroll to the people in the temple and when the officials heard it they were shocked and Micaiah asked for the scroll to be read again for them to hear clearly, and Baruch confirmed that all had been dictated by Jeremiah. Then they took it to King Jehoiakim and as he heard it read he cut it piece by piece and burnt it. The king then sent for Jeremiah and Baruch but they were well hidden. Then came the word of the Lord condemning the burning of the scroll and telling Jehoiakim that he will have no-one to sit on the throne of David and his body will be thrown out and exposed to the elements. “I will punish him and his children for his wickedness”. And Jeremiah and Baruch then wrote another scroll.

Jeremiah 35 makes a stark contrast between the resolute obedience of a nomadic tribe called the Recabites and the constant disobedience of God’s people. God tests the Recabites telling Jeremiah to get them together and offer them wine to drink. They however refused because their ancestor Jonadab had given them a tee total order, and nor should they build houses or plant vineyards but they should live in tents as nomads. They were only in Jerusalem to shelter from the Babylonian invasion. God therefore pointed to the obedience of the Recabites as an example for the Israelites. 

 Jeremiah 33 contains a message of hope and restoration which he received from God when he was imprisoned whilst Jerusalem was under siege from the Babylonians. God says: “I will restore the fortunes of the land… I will bring health and healing to it… I will bring Israel and Judah back from captivity”. God also promises: “I will make a righteous branch sprout from David’s line… David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne… nor will the priests fail to have a man to stand before me… and such a covenant is as sure as day follows night… I will restore the fortunes of the descendants of Jacob and David”.

Jeremiah 32 tells of the prophet purchasing a field in the home town of Anathoth as directed by God, whilst he was imprisoned by King Zedekiah for having prophesied what he didn’t like whilst Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians. This purchase was a real estate object lesson about how God would one day restore prosperity to his people and “once more fields will be bought in this land… because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord”. The legal documents for the purchase were stored in an earthenware jar so as to survive the judgement period of God. Then comes a prayer by Jeremiah which expresses his bewilderment at the purchase of the field under God’s guidance in such an unfavourable time. God replies to Jeremiah’s prayer saying that his judgement was due to his people’s sinful idolatry but he promises eventual redemption and restoration to the land.

Jeremiah 31 is a famous chapter promising a new covenant and restoration for God’s people. Initially God says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love… I will build you up again… you will go out and dance with the joyful”. God then promises the return of the exiles including the lame, the blind and expectant mothers. Then it’s mentioned about “Rachel weeping for her children” (Joseph and Benjamin) but says “there is hope for your future… your children will return to their own land”. Then God says through Jeremiah: “I will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah… and I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts… and I will remember their sins no more… and Israel will never cease to be a nation”. Then the chapter concludes promising the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Chapters 30 to 33 of Jeremiah are often referred to as the ‘Book of Consolation’ when the Book of Jeremiah transitions from judgement to a message of hope and restoration. The text envisages the restoration of Israel and Judah, the return from Babylonian exile and the salvation of God’s people. The word comes from God to Jeremiah telling him to write in a book that he will bring his people home from captivity and restore them to the land he had given to their forefathers. Jeremiah then describes a period of intense suffering like a man enduring child birth but that eventually God will deliver his people and save them. “I will break the yoke off their necks… no longer will foreigners enslave them… instead they will serve the Lord… so do not fear… I will surely save you”. God goes on to admit that the situation of his people was grave and apparently incurable…. but God had dealt with his people as he had owing to their great sin… but “I will restore you to health… I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents… the city will be rebuilt… from them will come songs of thanksgiving… I will punish all who oppress them… their leader will be one of their own… so you will be my people and I will be your God”.

Jeremiah 29 contains a well-known letter from Jeremiah the prophet as sent to the Judean exiles now living in exile in Babylon. The letter encouraged them to settle happily into Babylon, marrying and giving in marriage, and increasing in number and not diminishing. The Jews were encouraged to go for the long haul and not to expect a quick release as they were going to be in Babylon for 7 decades. So they should build houses, settle down and plant gardens, and they were to pray for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Jeremiah stresses that the Jews should not listen to false prophets promising a quick fix. Specific condemnations were prescribed for Ahab, Zedekiah and Shemaiah who were misleading the people. And God says clearly to his people; “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

In Jeremiah 28 the false prophet Hananiah took off the yoke from Jeremiah and broke it saying that this was what God would do for Judah delivering them from Babylon within 2 years. Jeremiah reacted saying that this would be great if it happened, but said let’s see if this prophecy comes to pass! Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah saying that in fact the wooden yoke Hananiah had broken would be replaced with an iron one to the extent that Nebuchadnezzar would control absolutely everything including the wild animals! God then predicted death for the false prophet Hananiah within the year, and in the 7th month he died. 

In Jeremiah 27 God instructs Jeremiah to make and put on a wooden yoke with straps. This symbolic act was a visual prophecy that Judah, plus neighbouring nations, had to submit to the yoke of Babylon or face destruction. Word was sent to this effect to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon and Judah. The people were warned not to listen to the false prophets who were saying the opposite. Thus God said: “Do not listen to them… they are prophesying lies to you… serve the king of Babylon and you will live”. 

Jeremiah 26 tells the dramatic story of the killing of one prophet and the threat to kill the prophet Jeremiah because the priests, prophets and people of Judah didn’t like what was being prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem, as with Shiloh, and the subsequent destruction of the temple in the process. Jeremiah answered his accusers that he was just conveying the word of the Lord and that if they put him to death the guilt of innocent blood would be on them and the city. Eventually Jeremiah escaped unharmed thanks to the support of Ahikam son of Shaphan.

In Jeremiah 25 God speaks through the prophet to tell Judah that he had decided to place them in Babylonic exile for 70 years, banishing all joy and gladness, and the whole country will become a desolate wasteland. When the 70 years are up God will punish Babylon for their guilt and repay them according to their deeds. Then God gave Jeremiah the cup of the wine of his wrath and told him to give it to be drunk (that is experienced) by a variety of nations in the known world. Then the chapter ends with a poetic description of the onslaught of  God’s judgement: “roll in the dust you leaders of the flock… hear the cry of the shepherds and the wailing of the leaders… the land will become desolate… because of the Lord’s fierce anger”.

 Jeremiah 24 is a short chapter telling of a vision of baskets of figs which God gave to Jeremiah. The basket of good figs represented the Jews in Babylonian exile who God says “will return to me with all their heart… my eyes will watch over them for their good… and I will build them up”. However the basket of poor figs represented King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials and the surviving remnant of the Jews in Judah… “I will make them abhorrent… and an object of ridicule… and I will destroy them”.

 Jeremiah 23 brings a strong condemnation of corrupt leadership: “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying the sheep… I will punish you for the evil you have done… and I will raise up a King who will reign wisely… and God’s people will live again in their own land. Concerning the prophets… the land is full of adulterers… both prophet and priest are godless… and I will bring disaster on them… they prophesied by Baal and led my people astray… they commit adultery and live a lie… do not listen to the prophets who invent their own visions… so the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath… for I did not speak to them but they have prophesied… I have heard what the prophets say prophesying in my name… they are lying prophets… I am against the prophets who steal and wag their own tongues with false dreams… I will forsake those who distort the words of the living God… I will surely forget you and cast you out… and I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace”.

Jeremiah 22 is a prophecy for the kings of Judah. It points to the fall of the Davidic dynasty owing to sin, social injustice and idolatry. Initially God demands care for the foreigner, orphan and widow saying that the Davidic lineage depends on this. God then warns about his impending destruction of Judah and then says that King Shallum will die in captivity. He then goes on to say that his brother Jehoiakim, who succeeded him, was condemned for his worker exploitation and his desire for opulence. Jeremiah prophecies that Jehoiakim will receive the funeral of a donkey being dragged out and thrown from Jerusalem. Then the chapter concludes with a message for Coniah, Jehoiakim’s son, saying that God would rip it off even if he was just a signet ring on his hand, and that he and his mother will be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar.