JEREMIAH [22 - 29 JUNE DAY 174 - 181]

INTRODUCTION

This book is a compilation of Jeremiahs preaching in Jerusalem by a scribe named Baruch (chapter 36) It was done during his ministry about 627-586 B.C. The prophet Zephaniah preceded him and Habakkuk was his contemporary.

Jeremiah lived through the time of five kings. They are Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiakin and Zedekiah. He was a Judaean priest called to be a prophet in the 13th year of the reign of King Josiah about 626 BC (II Kgs 24-25) and continued his ministry until and after the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

Chapters 124 Prophecies against Judah.

It begins with Gods call of Jeremiah. His message concern Gods justice and grace to Israel as well to the nations. His words will both uproot and tear down but also plant and build up. There are fourteen messages of judgement. The Jews have broken the covenant through idolatry. He used different symbolic acts to show Gods reproof. He made repeated condemnations of lying prophets like Pashur, Hannaniah, Shemiah. and announced the coming of the Babylonians to attack them. They rejected, rebelled and refuse his message to repent (2:26; 5:3; 8:20). This resulted in his persecution and imprisonment.

Chapters 2545 - Judgment and Hope for Israel.

He deliberated on the Babylonians attack and the exile for 70 years (Chapter 25). Jeremiah begged Israel to turn back how he warned them right up to the last minute but the leaders of Israel kept rejecting him. With it was also a message of hope that the people would survive the exile and return home God will inscribe the law in their heart and they will return to the Land as the new covenant (Chapters 30-33). Again, is the prophesy of the future covenant with Christ. Gods faithfulness will bring about their restoration. Jeremiah was then kidnapped and taken to Egypt and the fall of Judah (Chapters 34-45) This second part, which is mostly prose and usually speaks of Jeremiah in the third person, probably owes its to Baruch, the scribe (Chapter 36),

Chapters 4651 Prophecies against foreign nations and Babylon,

The nations mentioned are Egypt, Philistia, Damascus, Edom, Moab, Amon, Finally, the judgement against Babylon themselves.

Chapter 52 Final Destruction of Jerusalem and Exile.

The prophecies about Zedekiahs torture and death (II Kings 24:1825:30) and Jehoiachin released and ate bread regularly before the king.