Jeremiah Graphics
Zephaniah becomes a prophet | Jeremiah becomes a prophet | King Josiah killed in battle | Daniel taken captive | Ezekiel begins to prophesy in Babylonia | Judah falls; Jerusalem destroyed; Jeremiah's ministry ends | First exiles return to Judah | 640 B.C. | 627 | 609 | 605 | 593 | 586 | 538 |
Vital statistics
Purpose: | To urge God's people ti turn from their sins and back to God | Author: | Jeremiah | Original audience: | Judah (the southern kingdom) and his capital city, Jerusalem | Dare written: | During Jeremiah's ministry approximately 627-586 B.C. | Setting: | Jeremiah ministry under Judah's last five kings-Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. The nation was sliding quickly toward destruction and was eventually conquered by Babylon in 586 B.C. (2 Kings 21-25). The prophet Zephaniah preceded Jeremiah, and Habakkuk was Jeremiah's contemporary. | Key verses: | "Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!" (2:19) | Key people: | Judah's kings, Baruch, Ebed-melech, King Nebuchadnezzar, the Recabites | Key places: | Anathoth, Jerusalem, Ramah, Egypt | Special feature: | This book is a combination of history, poetry and biography. Jeremiah often used symbolism to communicate his message. |
The Rulers and Prophets of Jeremiah's Time
710 | 700 | 690 | 680 | 670 | 660 | 650 | 640 | 630 | 620 | 610 | 600 | 590 | 580 | 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | | Kings of Babylon | | | | | Neo- Babylonian Empire | | | | | | Nebopolassar 625 605 | 605 Nebuchadnezzar 562 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 612 Assyria and Nineveh are destroyed by Babylon | | 605 Egypt defeated Babylon at Battle of Carchemish | | | | | | | | | | | | Jehoahaz (Joahaz/Shallum) three months | | | Jehoiachin (Coniah or Jeconiiah) 3 months | | Last Five Kings of Judah | | | | 640 Josiah 609 | Jehoiakim (Eliakim) 609 - 597 | Zedekiah (Mattamih) 597 - 586 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 70 - years Jewish Captivity 536 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three Stages of Captivity | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 605 Daniel and friends | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 597 Ezekiel and ten thousand captives | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 586 Destruction of Jerusalem | | | | Jeremiah and His Contemporary Prophets(Southern Kingdom) | | | Nahum 650 620 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | JEREMIAH 627 (53 years of ministry) 574 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 636 Zephaniah 623 | Habakkuk 621 609 | 593 Ezekiel 559 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 605 Daniel 536 | | 710 | 700 | 690 | 680 | 670 | 660 | 650 | 640 | 630 | 620 | 610 | 600 | 590 | 580 | 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530
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("Discover the Bible for yourself" by Kay Arthur .p139)
The Call of Jeremiah
Who?
Where?
When?
Why?
Origin?
Jeremiah’s response
God corrects him
God enables him | The son of Hilkiah (1:1)
Anathoth in Benjamin (1:1)
The reign of Josiah, 626 b.c. (1:2)
Ordained a prophet to the nations (1:5)
Decided before his birth (1:5)
“I am a youth” (1:6)
“I am with you” (1:7, 8)
Given words of power (1:9, 10) | The dramatic character of Jeremiah’s call highlights the principle that when God calls a person to a task, He also equips that person for the task. Like Jeremiah, we list our weaknesses and limitations, But God promises His enabling presence. Like Jeremiah, we anticipate fearful situations. But God promises His deliverance. God does not call us to a task He cannot help us to fulfill.
New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Jr 1.7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Jeremiah’s Times
686 Manasseh becomes sole king
648 Josiah born
642 Amon succeeds Manasseh as king
640 Josiah becomes king
633 Josiah at 16 seeks after God
628 Josiah at 20 begins reforms
627 Jeremiah at 20 called as prophet
621 Mosaic Law found in the temple
612 Nineveh destroyed as Nahum prophesied
609 Josiah slain in battle at Megiddo;
Jehoiakim becomes king
605 Babylon defeats Egypt at Carchemish;
Daniel, others taken hostage to Babylon;
Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of Babylon
604 Nebuchadnezzar receives tribute in Palestine
601 Nebuchadnezzar defeated near Egypt
598 Jehoiakim set aside; Jehoiachin rules from December 9 to March 16, 597 and is deported April 22 to Babylon
597 Zedekiah becomes king in Judah
588 Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem on January 15
587 Jeremiah imprisoned (Jer. 32:1–2)
586 Zedekiah flees July 18; destruction of city begins August 14; Gedaliah killed and Jews migrate to Egypt against God’s command October
Jeremiah’s Messages During Josiah’s Reign
2:1–3:5 |
On Judah’s sinful heart |
3:6–6:30 |
Jerusalem to be destroyed |
7:1–10:25 |
Ruin and exile coming |
18:1–20:18 |
Message on the potter |
Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (404). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
Godly Fathers, Troubled Sons
|
Father |
Son(s) |
Isaac: pleaded with God to give his wife Rebekah a child (Gen. 25:21). |
• Jacob: used deception to deprive his brother of his father’s blessing, touching off generations of conflict (Gen. 27:6–29, 41–46); later began to fear the Lord (32:24–32). |
Aaron: helped lead the people of Israel during the Exodus, and was consecrated as the nation’s first high priest (Ex. 28:1). |
• Nadab and Abihu: dishonored the Lord in their official duties by offering “profane fire” before the Lord (Lev. 10:1–3). |
Gideon: obeyed God’s call to lead the Israelites in a successful rout of the Midianites (Judg. 6:11–14; 7:19–22). |
• Abimelech: hired assassins to murder his 70 brothers, and led a treacherous assault on Shechem (Judg. 9). |
Manoah: worshiped the Lord during a period of great spiritual darkness (Judg. 13). |
• Samson: dishonored his parents’ Nazirite vow, visited prostitutes, and gave little indication of fearing the Lord until the end of his life (Judg. 14–16). |
Samuel: judged Israel with integrity and anointed its first two kings (1 Sam. 3:19–21; 9:27–10:1; 16:11–13). |
• Joel and Abijah: accepted bribes and violated justice in their positions as judges in Beersheba (1 Sam. 8:1–5). |
David: served as God’s choice for Israel’s king, and described as a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). |
• Amnon: raped his half sister Tamar, provoking his half brother to murder him (2 Sam. 13:1–18).
• Absalom: had Amnon assassinated, and later led a rebellion against his father David, hoping to grab the throne for himself (13:21–33; 15:1–18:33).
• Adonijah: schemed to wrest the right of succession away from his brother Solomon (1 Kin. 1).
• Solomon: turned away from the Lord in later years because of the idolatry of his numerous wives (11:1–8). |
Solomon: was granted unprecedented wisdom by God (1 Kin. 3:5–15), and built and dedicated the temple (5:1–6:38; 8:1–64). |
• Rehoboam: rejected his father’s wise counselors in favor of his own companions, whose advice triggered a permanent split in the kingdom (1 Kin. 12:1–19). |
Hezekiah: enacted numerous reforms, and remained faithful to the Lord during a siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians (2 Kin. 18–20). |
• Manasseh: thoroughly reversed his father’s reforms, reinstituted idolatry, and ruled by violence (2 Kin. 21). |
Josiah: cleaned out the temple, renewed the covenant, and restored true worship (2 Kin. 22:1–23:30). |
• Jehoahaz: rejected his father’s ways during a brief reign marked by evil (2 Kin. 23:31–33).
• Jehoiakim: returned to idolatry, overtaxed the people, had the prophet Urijah executed, and actively opposed Jeremiah (2 Kin. 23:35–37; Jer. 26:20–21; 36:26).
• Zedekiah: continued the pattern of evil initiated by his brothers (2 Kin. 24:18–20), serving as a weak, vacillating ruler. |
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Jr 37.1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Jeremiah’s Messages During Jehoiakim’s Reign
11:1–13:14 The broken covenant
14–15 Prayers are fruitless
16–17 Jeremiah’s celibacy
22 The king rejected
23 False prophets charged
25 Nebuchadnezzar, God’s servant
26 Jeremiah threatened with death
35 Example of the Recabites
45 Promise to Baruch
46–48 Against foreign nations
Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (406). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
Messages In Zedekiah’s Time
Chapter 21 Advice for the king
Chapter 24 Zedekiah abandoned
Chapter 27 Judah must submit
Chapter 28 God’s iron yoke
Chapter 29 Letter to the exiles
Chapter 34 Judah’s broken covenant
Chapters 37–39 Jerusalem’s fall
Chapter 49 The nations warned
Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (409). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
Relationship between Law and Other Covenants
Other Covenants |
Law Covenant |
1. Express divine commitment as a promise/oath. |
1. Express divine commitment as a promise/oath. |
2. Expressed purpose not related to human actions. |
2. Express purpose ?S linked with actions of His people in obeying or disobeying His commandments. |
3. Focus is on the future and what God intends to do at history’s end. |
3. Focus is on the present and how God will ureas living generations. |
4. The covenants state an unchanging purpose and intention of God and will not be changed. |
4. The Law is temporary, to be replaced by a better, New Covenant. |
Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (416). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
Time Line of Jeremiah
Power Shift | Year | Major Event | King | Response / Efect | | 626 | Neo-Babylonia started by Nabopolassar | Josiah (640-609) | In 622, Spiritual Revival by Josiah's reforms | Assyria > Babylonia | 612 | Fall of Niniveth (Assyria) by Babylonia | Josiah | - Enjoyed independence until 609 | | 609 | 1st Battle of Carchemish | - Josiah was dead - Jehoahaz (3 month) - Jehoakim (609-598: 11 years) | - Josiah tried to stop Egypt (NEco 2) in Megiddo - Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt - Neco appointed Jehoakim as vassal king. | Egypt > Babylonia | 605 | 2nd Battle of Carchemish Babylonia defeated Egypt 1st Deportation Some vessels of Temple (Dan 1:2) Daniel was taken captive | Jehoakim | Johoakim switched alliance from Egypt to Babylon | | 601 | Babylonia suffered a major defeat by Egypt | Jehoakim | - Jehoakim switched alliance from Babylon to Egypt | | 597 | 2nd Deportation by Babylonia - 10.000 captive : officials, warriors, artisans - Ezekiel was taken to Babylon - Precious vessels to Temple (2 Chron 36:10) | Jehoakim was dead Jehoiachin (3 month) Zedekiah (597-586) | - Jehoakim was dead during the attack - Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon - Zedekiah was installed by Babylon as vassal king | | 588 | Pharaoh Hopra enticed Judah to revolt from Babylon | Zedekiah | - Zedekiah agreed to revolt | | 586 | Fall of Jerusalem - Temple destroyed 3rd Deportation - Exiled rest of people and artisans - Left some of the poorest people | Zedekiah | - Zedekiah was taken to Babylon | | 581 | Wiping the Dish 4th Deportation | | - Jeremiah was taken to Egypt |
Jeremiah
Served as a prophets to Judah from 627 B.C. nil the exile in 585 B.C CLIMATE OF THE TIME
| Society was deteriorating economically, politically, spiritually. War and captivity dominated the world scene. God's word was deemed offensive.
| MAIN MESSAGE
| Repentance from sin would postpone Judah's coming judgment at the hands of Babylon.
| IMPORTANCE OF MESSAGE
| Repentance is one of the greatest needs in our immoral world. God's promises to the faithful shine brightly by bringing hope for tomorrow and strength today.
| CONTEMPORARY PROPHETS
| Habakkuk (612-588 B.C.), Zephaniah (640-621 B.C.) |
The Blueprint
A. GOD'S JUDGMENT ON JUDAH (1:1045:5)
- The call of Jeremiah
- Jeremiah condemns Judah for its sins
- Jeremiah prophesies destruction
- Jeremiah accuses Judah's leaders
- Restoration is promised
- God's promised judgment arrives
| Jeremiah confronts many people with their sins: kings; false prophets, those at the temples, and those at the gates. A lack of response made Jeremiah wonder if he was doing any good at all. He often felt discouraged and sometimes bitter. To bring such gloomy messages to these people was a hard task. We, too, have a responsibility to bring this news to a fallen world: Those who continue in their sinful ways are eternally doomed. Although we may feel discouraged at the lack of response, we must press on to tell others about the consequences of sin and the hope that God offers. Those who tell people only what they want to hear are being unfaithful to God's message. | B. GOD'S JUDGMENT ON THE NATIONS (46:1-52:34)
- Prophecies about foreign nations
- The fall of Jerusalem
| Jeremiah lived to see many of his prophecies come true - most notably the fall of Jerusalem. The fulfillment of this and others prophecies against the foreign nations came as a result of sin. These who refuse to confess their sin bring judgment upon themselves. |
The Kings of Jeremiah's lifetime
King | Story of his reign | Dates of his reign | Character of reign | Jeremiah message to the king | Josiah | 2 King 22:1-23:30 | 640-609 B.C. | Mostly good | 3:6-25 | Jehoahaz | 2 Kings 23:31-33 | 609 B.C | Evil | 22:10-12 | Jehoiakim | 2 Kings 23:34-24:7 | 609-598 B.C. | Evil | 22:13-23; 25:1-38; 26:1-24; 35:1-19; 36:1-32 | Jehoiachin | 2 Kings 24:8-17 | 598-597 B.C. | Evil | 13:18-27; 22:24-30 | Zedekiah | 2 Kings 24:18-25:26 | 597-586 B.C. | Evil | 21:1-14; 24:8-10; 27:12-22; 32:1-5; 34:1-22; 37:1-21; 38:1-28; 51:59-64 |
God's object lessons in Jeremiah
Reference | Object Lesson | Significance | 1:11, 12 | Branch from an almond tree | God will carry out his threats of punishment. | 1:13-15 | Pot of boiling water, spilling southward | An enemy army will invade from the north | 13:1-11 | A rotten linen loincloth | Because the people refused to listen to God, they had become useless, good for nothing like a useless linen loincloth. | 18:1-17 | Potter's clay | God could destroy his sinful people if he so desired. This is a warning to them to repent before he is forced to bring judgment. | 19:1-12 | A shattered clay jar | God would smash Judah just as Jeremiah smashed the clay jar. | 24:1-10 | Two baskets of figs | Good figs represent God's remnant. Bad figs are the people left behind. | 27:2-11 | Yoke | Any nation who refused to submit to Babylon's yoke of control would be punished. | 43:8-13 | Large rocks | The rocks marked the place where Nebuchadnezzar would set his throne when God allowed him to conquer Egypt. | 51:59-64 | Scroll sunk in the river | Babylon would sink to rise no more. |
Function of the Prophets
Period | Function | Audience | Message | Examples | PRE-MONARCHY | Mouthpiece-leader | People | National guidance Maintenance of justice Spiritual overseer | Moses Deborah
TRANSITION: Samuel
| PRE-CLASSICAL | Mouthpiece-leader | King and court | Military advice Pronouncement of rebuke or blessing
| Nathan Elijah Elisha Micaiah
| CLASSICAL | Mouthpiece-social/spiritual commentator | People | Rebuke concerning current condition of society; leads to warning of captivity, destruction, exile and promise of eventual restoration Call for justice and repentance
| TRANSITION: North - Jonah South - Isaiah
Writing prophets Best example Jeremiah
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Jeremiah Overview
Illustrations of God's Judgment
- An Almond Branch (1:11, 12)
- A Boiling Pot (1:13-16)
- Lions (2:15; 4:7; 5:6; 50:17)
- A Scorching Wind (4:11, 12; 18:17; 23:19; 25:32)
- Wolf (5:6)
- Leopard (5:6)
- Stripping Away JUdah's Branches (5:10)
- Fire (5:14)
- Making This House (Worship Center) like Shiloh (7:14)
- Snakes, Vipers (8:17)
- Destroying Olive Branches (11:16-17)
- Uprooting (12:17)
- Linen Belt Made Worthless (13:1-11)
- Wineskins Filled with Wine and Smashed Against One Another (13:12-14)
- A Potter's Jar Smashed (19:10, 11; cf. 22:28)
- A Hammer [God's Word] Breaking a Rock (23:29)
- A Cup of Wrath (25:15)
- Zion Plowed like a Field (26:18)
- Wearing Yokes of Wood and Iron (27:2; 28:13)
- A Hammer [Babylon] (50:23)
- A Destroying Mountain [Babylon] (51:25)
- Trial by Death Threats (11:18-23)
- Trial by Isolation (15:15-21)
- Trial by Stocks (19:14-20:18)
- Trial by Arrest (26:7-24)
- Trial by Challenge (28:10-16)
- Trial by Destruction (36:1-32)
- Trial by Violence and Imprisonment (37:15)
- Trial by Starvation (38:1-6)
- Trial by Chains (40:1)
- Trial by Rejection (42:1-43:4)
- The Linen Belt (13:1-11)
- The Pot Marred and Remade (18:1-11)
- The Jar Smashed upon the Rocks (19:10-11)
- Two Baskets of Figs (24:1-10)
- The Wooden and Iron Yokes (chaps. 27, 28)
- The Purchase of Land (32:6-44
- The Stones in Egypt 43:8-10)
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