Categoria: Jeremiah

This final chapter of Jeremiah is an historical addendum covering the fall of Jerusalem, the Babylonian exile before concluding with a glimmer of hope. The chapter recalls events from 2 Kings 25. King Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon so the Babylonians sieged Jerusalem for 18 months causing mass starvation, and the city was burnt and destroyed. Zedekiah was blinded and taken captive to Babylon. Then the Babylonians looted the temple and stripped everything of value. Then the craftsmen and upper-class people were taken to Babylon leaving behind only the paupers. In all 4,600 people were taken into exile. Then the chapter ends on a nicer note with exiled King Jehoiachin being released by new King Evil-Merodach of Babylon after 37 years in jail and he was given a seat of honour above the other captive kings. “For the rest of his life he ate regularly at the king’s table… and he even received a regular allowance”!

Jeremiah 51 prophesies the destruction of Babylon and he uses the Medes and the Persians to this end: “The Lord has stirred up the king of the Medes… to destroy Babylon… the Lord will carry our his purpose, his decree against Babylon… the Medes are my war club, my weapon for battle… with you I shatter everyone… I will repay Babylon for all the wrong they have done… I will stretch out my hand against you… and you will be desolate forever… we will lay waste the land of Babylon… may the violence done to our flesh be upon Babylon… Babylon will be a heap of ruins… I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter… her towns will be desolate… come out of her my people and run for your lives!… I will punish the idols of Babylon… Babylon must fall because of Israel’s slain… the Lord will destroy Babylon… the Lord is a God of retribution… and God says he will make Babylon’s leaders drunk and they will sleep forever”. Then Jeremiah sent Seraiah to read the scroll with all these prophecies in Babylon and then tie a stone to it and throw it in the Euphrates symbolic of how Babylon would sink forever”.

Jeremiah 50 predicts God’s judgement on Babylon. It is true that God had used Babylon to punish nations including Judah, but their cruelty to Judah and their paganism made them liable to destruction by God opening the way to Judah’s restoration. “Babylon will be captured, Bel will be put to shame and Marduk (Babylonian gods) filled with terror… for I will bring against Babylon an alliance of nations from the north… Babylonia will be plundered… and will be totally desolate… I will punish the king of Babylon… as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah no-one will live there… God will completely destroy their pasture”. Jeremiah also prophesies that in those days “the people of Israel and Judah will go in tears to seek the Lord their God… they will ask the way to Zion… flee out of Babylon and no longer be as lost sheep… I will bring Israel back to his own pasture… and I will forgive the remnant I spare”. God’s judgement upon Babylon is decreed… “Pursue, kill and destroy them declares the Lord… I set a trap for you O Babylon… completely destroy her and leave her no remnant… woe to them! For their day has come… the time for them to be punished… summon archers against Babylon… let no-one escape… see I am against you O arrogant one!”

 Jeremiah 49 brings prophecies of a series of divine judgements on neighbouring nations and cities around Judah. Starting with Ammon we read: “I will sound the battle cry against the Ammonites and it will become a mound of ruins with its villages set on fire… put on sackcloth and mourn… for you trust in your riches… though eventually I will restore your fortunes”! Next comes Edom to whom God says: “Turn and flee and hide in deep caves… why should you go unpunished?… Bozrah will become a ruin and an object of horror, reproach and cursing… you will become like Sodom and Gomorrah… I will chase Edom from its land in an instant”. Next comes Damascus: “It has become feeble… panic has gripped her… anguish and pain have ceased her… all her soldiers will be silenced on that day… I will set fire to the walls of Damascus”. Next come the nomadic tribes of Kedar and Hazor which are targeted for Babylonic destruction. They thought they were invincible because of their isolation, but God shows that nobody and no place is out of range for him. “Their tents will be taken… with all their goods and camels… Nebuchadnezzar has devised a plan against you… I will scatter to the winds all those in distant places… Hazor will become a haunt of jackals”. Finally there is Elam which is located in today’s Iran. “I will break the bow of Elam… I will scatter them to the 4 winds… I will shatter Elam and bring disaster on them… yet eventually I will restore their fortunes”.

Jeremiah 48 is a prophecy concerning Moab who God is about to judge. Initially Moabite towns like Nebo, Heshbon and Kiriathaim “will be disgraced and shattered… the sword will pursue you… Moab will be broken… the destroyer (Babylon) will come… not a town will escape”. God will judge Moab because “we have heard of her pride – her overwhelming pride and conceit, arrogance, haughtiness and insolence… I have stopped the flow of wine from the presses… the wealth they acquired is gone… there is widespread mourning… Moab has become an object of ridicule… I have broken Moab like a jar which no one wants… the cities will be captured… Moab will be destroyed as a nation because she defied the Lord… woe to you O Moab!… although I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come”.

 Jeremiah 47 is a short prophecy about God’s coming judgment upon the Philistines. It starts drawing attention that “the waters are rising (for the Philistines) in the north (Babylon)… they will become an overflowing torrent… the day has come to destroy all the Philistines… Gaza will shave her head in mourning… God has ordered attack on Ashkelon and the sea coast”.

Jeremiah 46 is the first in a series of prophecies about foreign nations, starting with Egypt and its defeat by Babylon. Initially the text focuses on the defeat of Pharoah Neco king of Egypt at Carchemish by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and Jeremiah mocks the Egyptian soldiers defining the battle as a day of vengeance from the Lord. Jeremiah then predicts that Babylon would not stop at Carchemish but would invade Egypt and “The Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame, handed over to the people of the north”. Egypt is compared to a hissing snake fleeing its enemies’ advances. Then the chapter ends with a message of comfort and encouragement for Israel with God saying: “I will surely save you out of a distant place… Jacob will again have peace and security… do not fear, O Jacob, for I am with you”.

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. 

Jeremiah 21 tells how King Zedekiah sent Pashhur and Zephaniah to ask for God’s help against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who was attacking them. God’s reply through Jeremiah was that to the contrary God would attack Judah owing to their persistent sin and disobedience. “I myself will fight against you with an outstretched arm in anger and fury and great wrath”. God then says that he will attack Jerusalem’s inhabitants with a terrible plague and will then hand over King Zedekiah and his officials to Babylon. “Whoever stays in Jerusalem will die by sword, famine or plague, but whoever surrenders to the Babylonians will survive”. Then God will give Jerusalem into the hands of Babylon who will destroy it by fire. Then the chapter ends with a specific word of the Lord for the house of David telling them to administer justice and protect the vulnerable or face God’s wrath… “and I will punish you as your deeds deserve”.

Jeremiah 20 tells of the clash between priest Pashhur and Jeremiah because Pashhur didn’t like what Jeremiah was prophesying so he had him arrested, beaten and put in stocks for the night! When Jeremiah was released he immediately made a direct prophecy for him renaming him ‘terror on every side’ and foretelling that he and all Judah would soon be taken captive by the Babylonians to face death and captivity. Then Jeremiah pours his heart out to God because he feels humiliated and devastated with all he was going through just because he proclaimed God’s truth. In his lowest moments Jeremiah curses the day he was born as things had got unbearable for him, but he didn’t give up because God’s “word is in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed I cannot”.

In Jeremiah 19 God tells the prophet to “go and buy a clay pot from the potter” but this time he doesn’t remake the pot with moist earth, but he breaks the pot before the people symbolizing the destruction that God is about to practice on his people. For the people have forsaken God… burning sacrifices to foreign gods… they have built the high places of Baal and practiced infant sacrifice so that the Valley of Ben Hinnom was re-named the Valley of Slaughter! The bodies will be eaten by bird and beast and also in a future siege people will resort to cannibalism eating their own children! So when Jeremiah smashed the clay pot he said this was what God was going to do to Judah! And Jeremiah confirmed that God was about to carry out all his threats.

Jeremiah 18 brings us the famous metaphor of the potter and the clay. Who hasn’t heard a few sermons on this passage of scripture? The text describes a potter remaking a clay pot as the original version wasn’t satisfactory. So God, says Jeremiah, can do the same with any nation (or person) who needs changing or who repents of his sin. The text goes on to say through Jeremiah: “I am preparing a disaster for you… so turn from your evil ways… but the people stubbornly insist on their own ways”. God says this is horrible… “my people have forgotten me and they burn incense to worthless idols… so their land will be laid waste… I will scatter them before their enemies”. Then plotting against Jeremiah erupts again because people are angry at his constant warnings about judgement and disaster. Jeremiah calls to God in the face of the evil slander he is facing and asks for God to punish the people in anger”. 

 Jeremiah 17 contrasts trusting man with trusting God. It starts saying that Judah’s sin is engraved in their hearts with a flint stone as too it is on their pagan altars. As a result they will be enslaved to their enemies and exiled, because they have kindled God’s anger. “Cursed is the one who trusts in man… and turns away from the Lord… he will be like a bush in the wasteland… but blessed is the man who trusts the Lord… because he will be like a tree planted by a stream”. The text then goes on with the famous verse: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?… God searches the heart and examines the mind… and rewards according to what his deeds deserve… all who turned away from the Lord will be put to shame because they have forsaken the spring of living water”. Then Jeremiah cries to God: “Heal me O Lord… save me (he was under a lot of pressure because of his unpopular prophecies)… the people keep ridiculing his prophecies that never come to pass… you Lord are my refuge in the day of disaster”. The chapter closes calling the people to keep the sabbath and not to treat it as any other day. If they do this Jerusalem will last forever… “but if they don’t keep the sabbath God will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem”.

God is about to judge Judah and so he commands Jeremiah not to marry, not to go to funerals and not to take part in celebrations as a symbolic demonstration of being ready for the impending demonstration of the wrath of God. Then when the people ask the reason for such impending judgement Jeremiah is told to tell them it is because their fathers forsook him and followed and served other gods. However the current generation is worse still following the stubbornness of their hearts. So as punishment God will throw them out of their land and send them into exile where they can serve foreign gods as much as they like, but God will show them no favour. Despite the pronouncement of ruthless exile the chapter progresses to a more positive note with God promising to send out fishermen and hunters to find his scattered people and bring them to justice because “their sin is not concealed from my eyes… I will repay them double for their wickedness… and detestable idols”. There ensues however still a promise of deliverance of God’s people so much so that they will remember more the deliverance from Babylon than the deliverance from Egypt, and the nations will realize that their hand-made gods are not gods at all. 

Jeremiah makes it clear that God’s mind is made up to judge Judah owing to their sin and unrepentance, and not even Moses and Samuel intervening would make any difference! The message from God through Jeremiah is devastating: “Those destined for death let them die; those destined for the sword let them have it; those destined for starvation let them starve; and those destined for captivity so be it!” God goes on to say: “You have rejected me… so I will destroy you… I will bring bereavement and destruction on my people… because they won’t change”. Then the prophet cried out to God weighed down by the message of doom and despair that he is commissioned to deliver. “Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth… everyone curses me”. But God replies saying he is with Jeremiah and will “make his enemies plead with him”. Jeremiah responds asking God to remember him and care for him questioning why he has to suffer so much “pain unending” in the service of God? God reacts to Jeremiah’s complaints calling on him to repent of his moaning and get on with the job. “If you repent I will restore you that you may serve me… and promises Jeremiah to protect him with a wall of bronze… saying he will save him from the hands of the wicked”. 

Jeremiah 14 tells of a catastrophic drought which came upon Judah as judgement from God. “Judah mourns… they go to the cisterns but find no water… the ground is cracked with the drought… and even the wild animals are affected”. So Jeremiah intercedes regarding the situation but to no avail. God refuses to relent with his judgement and says that even if the people fast he will not attend their cries as he has had enough of their unfaithfulness! Then Jeremiah switches the blame onto false prophets for prophesying lies, but God agrees about false visions but does not relent from his wrath. In fact God says he will kill the prophets by “sword and famine”. Jeremiah ends the chapter asking God if in fact he has rejected Judah completely? Jeremiah acknowledges Judah’s wickedness but says: “Remember your covenant with us and do not break it!”

Jeremiah 13 contains a warning concerning God’s coming judgement on his people owing to their idolatry and stubbornness. Initially God tells Jeremiah to buy a linen belt and wear it round his waist. God then told him to hide the belt in a crevice in the rocks. Some time later he dug it up and it was “ruined and completely useless”. So God says this will happen to Judah. Then Jeremiah tells the people to fill every wineskin with wine as God is going to fill the people “with drunkenness” and smash them one against the other in destruction. Then Jeremiah calls upon the people to stop being arrogant: “give glory to the Lord before he brings darkness”. However Jeremiah says he will weep at their inevitable lack of repentance as he says: “all Judah will be carried into exile”. He then declares: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?” So Judah is so accustomed to sin, rebel and commit idolatry that change for the better is impossible! So “I will scatter you like chaff… because you have forgotten me I will expose your adulteries and prostitution… woe to you Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?”

Jeremiah 12 commences with a question: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” He goes on saying “they grow and bear fruit but God is on their lips but far from their hearts”. God doesn’t give a direct answer to the question, but challenges him to endure so that he will be able “to compete with horses”. God then bemoans the state of Judah saying: “My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me so I hate her… they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland… because there is no-one who cares… so the sword of the Lord will devour everything… and they will sow wheat but reap thorns.” But God finally promises eventual restoration if his people repent. “After I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and country”.

In Jeremiah 11 God speaks to his people through the prophet Jeremiah reminding them of the covenant they have broken: “Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant… obey me!… but they didn’t listen or pay attention… they have returned to the sins of their forefathers… so I will bring them a disaster they can’t escape… for you have as many gods as you have towns!… the Lord Almighty has therefore decreed disaster for you”. Then God revealed to Jeremiah a plot to assassinate him, so he prayed for God’s vengeance upon them. So God answered saying the young men would die by the sword and their children would die by famine so that there would be no survivors of these schemers and would-be assassins! 

Jeremiah 10 brings a stark contrast between the power and greatness of God and the weakness and frailty of idols. It should be noted that the tree being cut and decorated in verses 3 and 4 has nothing to do with Christmas trees as some argue, but is a condemnation of pagan idol fabrications! Jeremiah ridicules idolatry saying: “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk”! He goes on to exalt the greatness and power of God standing in contrast to idols. The Lord is the true God… the living God… the eternal king! However these gods will perish… but God made the earth! He makes thunder and lightning, wind and rain… but images are a breathless fraud… but God is the maker of all things. Then Jeremiah foretells the impending Babylonian exile: “Gather up your belongings to leave the land… a great commotion from the land of the north… pour out your wrath on the nations… for they have devoured Jacob”.

 Jeremiah 7 is often called the ‘Temple Sermon’ attacking a hypocritical façade of religiosity whilst living far from God. God commanded Jeremiah to proclaim his message at the gate of the temple: “Hear the word of the Lord all people of Judah”. The people trusted in the temple yet sinned oppressing aliens, orphans and widows, committed adultery and perjury and followed Baal and other gods! They felt they were covered by the temple to do what they liked! So God says through Jeremiah that his anger and wrath is kindled… obey me and I will be your God! However Judah ignored God’s message and were “stiff-necked”. The people have done “evil in my eyes” God said. They have set up idols in the temple! They have set up pagan high places to sacrifice and burn their children! God says that thousands of people will die in judgement and vultures and beasts will feed on their skeletons! “The land will become desolate”.

Jeremiah 6 predicts impending “disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction… prepare for battle… Jerusalem must be punished… build siege ramps against Jerusalem… I will make your land desolate… to whom can I give warning? Who will listen to me?… I am full of the wrath of the Lord… pour it out on children… young men… husband and wife… the old… prophets and priests all practice deceit… peace, peace they say where there is nor peace… they will fall among the fallen… ask for ancient paths and walk in them… I am bringing disaster on these people… your burnt offerings are not acceptable… look an army is coming from the north… they are cruel and show no mercy… there is terror on every side… put on sackcloth and roll in ashes… for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us!”

In Jeremiah 5 God commands the prophet to search for just one honest person in Jerusalem so as to trigger forgiveness, but he couldn’t find one. Jeremiah thinks it was because he was just looking at the poor so he turned to the leaders who were in the same boat: “For their rebellion is great and their backslidings many… they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. They are well-fed lusty stallions neighing for another man’s wife… the house of Israel and Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me… the prophets are but wind and the word is not in them… they have forsaken me and served foreign gods”. So God declares that he will judge his people: “Announce this to the house of Jacob… you have eyes but do not see… these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts… should I not punish them?… as you have forsaken me and served foreign gods, so you will serve foreigners in a land (Babylon) not your own”,

Jeremiah 4 is a powerful prophecy concerning the imminent judgement of God from the north, calling on God’s people to repent whilst there is opportunity. Initially we read: “If you will return, O Israel, return to me… break up your unplowed ground (prepare your hearts for change)… circumcise your hearts (prepare yourselves for a deep spiritual change and not just external ritual)… or my wrath will break out!” Then comes a severe warning of “disaster from the north (Babylon)… a destroyer of nations has set out… your towns will lie in ruin… look he advances like the clouds, his chariots come like whirlwind… wash the evil from your hearts and be saved… a besieging army is coming from a distant land… your own conduct has brought this upon you.” Then Jeremiah expresses his anguish at the imminent devastation of Judah: “Oh my anguish. I writhe in pain… disaster follows disaster… I looked at the earth and it was formless and empty… there were no people… the birds have gone… the land was a desert… the whole land will be ruined… all the towns are deserted… I hear the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath!

Jeremiah 3 sees God’s condemnation of Israel and Judah for spiritual adultery through idolatry. “You have lived as a prostitute with many lovers… you have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness… you have the brazen look of a prostitute and don’t even blush with shame.” So God sent a call to repentance offering mercy: “Return faithless people declares the Lord!  For I am your husband… How gladly would I treat you like sons… but like a woman unfaithful to her husband you have been unfaithful to me… they have perverted their ways and forgotten the Lord… Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” Then the people acknowledged their sin and said: “Surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel… from our youth shameful gods have consumed us… we have sinned against the Lord.”